CONTENTMENT

Woke up with the word CONTENTMENT on my mind… I know it was from God because I spent a good chunk of time yesterday being discontent about my job. Not because the job itself is bad – I actually like it – but because I want to be in a job where I’m writing, or not have a structured job at all so I can be home writing and/or traveling etc.

But this morning, I realized (again – sometimes God has to reteach me life lessons until I get them solidly in my mind) that my job is really ideal for me. The variety, the different people I meet, the great relationship I have with my boss, the fact that when I come home at the end of the day I can forget about it. It is my nature to strive, and lately I have been working very hard on this – which is actually an oxymoron if you think about it, because working very hard is also a form of striving…

Oh, how God must shake his head at us humans. Today, I want to spend more time thanking God for His many provisions and spend a lot less time grumbling about the circumstances of my life that unsettle me.

“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

(I Thessalonians 5:17)

Encouraging Yourself

I'm sitting here staring at the blank screen trying to muster up something refreshing and brilliant to say that will encourage and uplift. But the truth is I'm sleepy and feel like I have about as much to offer today as a dry well in a sandstorm. But then I realize that this too is part of living every day with Jesus.

So what does one do when you feel this way?

I remind myself of all the things  God has done for me. And I quote scripture or sing worship songs. It's amazing how much this helps. The Bible confirms this in Colossians 3:15-17 because it says:

"And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him."

Keeping a Gratitude Journal is another way to give yourself a spiritual uplift. I haven't done this consistently, but the times I have done it have always made a big difference. The idea is to write down what your thankful for that happened each day. Then, when you are having a down day you review what you wrote and thank God for it. This too has a Biblical foundation because I Thessalonians 5:17 says

"In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."

So, my dear readers who I value so much. Tell me what you do to encourage yourself. I'd really like to know....