Food makes me very happy especially if it is burgers, Paella, Indian food, chili cheese fries, or tacos. I dream of having these food items served to me daily, but suppose I had to eat burgers all week long there is a possibility that I may begin to dislike it after a while . So do we know how to experience contentment in the regular things?

It made me realize that we are like the little kids who get fed up playing with the same toy for more than a few minutes. What we wear, what we like to eat, who wants to be our friend today, all that changes based on the seasons in our lives.

We are never content with what we have and wonder if the grass is greener on the other side.

We tend to be discontent with our spouses, our children, extended families, our wardrobe collections, size of our houses, fellow believers or colleagues ,our jobs, our leaders, and our community overall.

The desire to have more makes us discontent at all times.

Jesus said, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?” (Matthew 6:25).

Paul in the Epistle of Philippians 4:11-13(NLT) pens to the believers from the prison walls while waiting for possible execution on where to find contentment.

“for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.”

What is Contentment?

“contented with one’s lot, with one’s means, though the slenderest “

Who can keep us content?
True contentment comes from accepting Christ and knowing that God’s Grace, Provisions, and Power is sufficient to carry us through every circumstance that lies ahead of us.

4 Truths on how to experience Contentment as a Christian 

1. Contentment is a learned virtue :

It does not come naturally and does requires great practice to change our discontent heart to lean on God’s grace for every need of our lives. Contentment is allowing one self to be totally at the disposal of God’s timing and placing in our lives over our plans.

“Do not wear yourself out to get rich; have the wisdom to show restraint. Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off the sky like an eagle (Proverbs 23:4-5)

2. Contentment is Heart Oriented :

Our hearts must find contentment with “less is also better”. Ladies, let us be content with our wardrobes, and shoes. A lot of things vie for our attention making us easily distracted and dissatisfied when our expectations aren’t met. A contented heart is far away from a covetous heart

Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also- Mathew 6:21 3.

 

3. Contentment can solely be found in Christ:

Christ wants us to find contentment in Him and not the earthly things. Beauty, health, and wealth will all pass away one day, and what we have invested in Christ will stay.

“Seek ye first the kingdom of God and all these things shall be added unto you.” Mathew 6:33

4. Contentment is Christ-sufficiency and not self-sufficiency :

Contentment comes from placing our trust in God and knowing that He is in control of our lives.

It doesn’t mean being complacent, but reaping rewards through hard work. It also means trusting on the Sufficient and Sovereign God to give strength during hard times.

As Paul says ,“God is able to make all grace abound to you, that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed.” 2 Corinthians 9:8

Reflection :

-Are you able to experience contentment in your life right now, my friend?

-Do the grass on the other side seem greener?

Let us be content by focusing on what we have today, and not on what we wish to have.

Until we meet again here,
Learning to be content,

Diana