May 31, 2012 ~ Contentment

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.

Philippians 4:12

Thoughts~

As I drove home from dinner at a nice restaurant with two long time friends, I had plenty of time to reflect on our evening. I’d spent a magical evening sharing food and friendship in a very pretty setting. I talked to the Lord on the way home and thanked Him for a special night and an opportunity to share my faith a little bit.

Generally I do not go out to eat at “nicer” restaurants like I did when I was married. I miss those times, and yet, I know that perhaps because it is not an everyday happening for me, I was able to appreciate the evening more. God has taught me that I must be content in all situations and not be dissatisfied with where He wants me right now. A wise friend once said that if God wanted us somewhere else, we’d be there. While we are not puppets, God still has a plan for us and as we trust in Him, he will move mountains to get us into place.

I am perfectly content in my current life; as God knows, I am willing to accept whatever He gives to me. Like Paul, I have had plenty and now have far less. And yet, my faith carries me like a ship in the ocean; staying on course in my walk with the Lord. Contentment has come to stay in my life.

Action~

Words that are the opposite of the word contentment are: 

Unhappiness

Disgruntled

Discontented

Dissatisfied

Restlessness

Those words alone make me want to be ready and willing to eliminate them when they creep into my life. When I sense any of those feelings knocking on the front door, I let them know that they are not welcome in my home. Those negative words depict negative emotions and they are eager to pull me away from contentment and are certain to take my eyes off of the Lord.

Have any of the words made a home in your life? Get rid of them today.  Ask God to teach you how to be content. He is such a great teacher and will do that quickly because contentment brings peace to you and glory to Him.

Pray~

Father, I know how much You love me and thank You for showing me how to trust in You and embrace contentment.

Trusting in Him,

Becky

Like my Facebook page here:

May 30, 2012 ~ Worried?

Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?

Luke 12:25

Thoughts~

I certainly know this verse well as they held me up in hope during some rough years when worry wanted to move into my life. I didn’t know then how much those times of utter dependence on God would have such an impact on my spiritual life. Without the trials I waded through, I would never have come to know how much I could trust the Lord. He showed me so many times that worry was not to be entertained because I was not trusting Him but trying to trust my instincts.  And my instincts don’t have the track record that the Lord has.

Sometimes we are unaware of the sneaky way worry enters our minds uninvited and begins building a home there. Worry darts in and out, nudging us gently, so we begin to feel comfortable with its presence. Before we are fully conscious, it has taken up residence, and we begin mulling issues over and over in our mind, probing at them like a jelly fish lying dead on the beach. And suddenly, we are aware: Worry is living in our hearts!

Worry does not belong to God: it is the property of satan. And in very clever ways, the enemy of God pushes worry, breaking into our minds like a thief in the night. The perfect peace and contentment we have when we are in our “trusting mode” is sabotaged, leaving us feeling hopeless.  However, we don’t need to despair: To our rescue comes the Holy Spirit who reminds us that God is in charge and will be every day of our lives.

Action~

It’s important to come to terms that worry is always going to be tossed at us. It is one of the robbers of joy and the enemy loves to destroy our joy. God promises to give us everything we need (not want!) so relax and let Him provide for you.  This does not mean to sit back and watch reruns of I Love Lucy.  But it does mean to know that God expects us to be ready and willing to be ready to move and follow His lead.

When we worry we are basically saying “I don’t trust You, Lord.” Ouch. 

Corrie ten Boom said it best:

Pray~

Lord, show me how to recognize worry before it takes over my life.  Help me to see it for what it is: a thief of the joy You have given me. It’s a time waster and I don’t want to waste another moment on something that is so destructive.

Trusting in Him,

Becky

Like my Facebook page here: