We pray for many different things. Some ask God for financial blessings, healing,
significant others, friends, and more. Our faith is encouraged when God answers our prayers, and life becomes much more bearable. When we experience God supplying our needs due to His riches and glory, we are reminded that God cares. As God provides, do we ever find ourselves in a state of contentment? Contentment means achieving a feeling of happiness or satisfaction. Canadian-based philosopher Matshona Dhilwayo says,
"When truth looks in the mirror, virtue looks out.
When courage looks in the mirror, faith looks out.
When charity looks in the mirror, love looks out.
When contentment looks in the mirror, peace looks out."
If contentment produces peace, how can we achieve a state of contentment? I have a few
suggestions that have helped me to embrace more of a life of contentment.
Be grateful seeing God's power in action.
God's power makes a tremendous difference in our lives. In 1 Corinthians 6:14, Paul says, "And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power." We notice God's power in action daily by the creature comforts we enjoy. Waking up, arriving at our destinations safely, having food to eat, or having family and friends who make up our village and who care about us. Reminding ourselves often that God is all-powerful helps us to flee from hopelessness and reach a place of contentment. Contentment is possible as we trust that God's power is experienced by those who believe. This power is always active, and when we are reminded of this, we trust that God and God's power are always for us.
Be thankful every day.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says, "Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." Contentment and thankfulness are inextricably tied together. It is essential every day for the question of what I am thankful for to be answered. Many of us reach for more and often overextend ourselves when we neglect to note what we are thankful for. I have recently begun writing in a gratitude journal on most days. This helps me to focus on thankfulness no matter what I am experiencing. Every day, there is something to be thankful for; as we highlight our reasons, we can see that it helps us remain content even as we hope for more.
Understand that contentment will need to be renewed.
We often think that contentment is permanent, but it is not. Our state of happiness or
satisfaction is something that must be renewed often. Although we walk by faith and not by
sight, it is human to fall into the trap of comparing our lives to others. When this happens, we can find ourselves restless, desiring for more. Although wanting better isn't wrong, we must never allow our ambition to cause us to overlook the blessings we have access to right now. It is possible to live a life of contentment when we don't allow ourselves to depend on
comparisons and make thankfulness our lifestyle. Contentment is achievable as we rest in the power and provision of God. So this week, be grateful, be thankful, and allow God to place you with and where God wants you to be.
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