It is so easy to be discontent, isn\u2019t it? In this day and age, there is so much available that we could always have more, newer, bigger, better. Our sinful nature wars against our new creation in Christ when we compare ourselves to others both in material possessions and in life circumstances. That person is thinner, happier, has a spouse or family\u2026whatever the case, I think it\u2019s safe to say that the temptation to be discontent is there every day.<\/p>\n
We know we are to be content, and that the Bible tells us a lot about contentment. But how do we fight that fight and have victory over our tendency toward discontentment? The Bible holds wonderful truths and promises that we can dwell on as we seek to renew our minds when discontentment comes knocking, and we will be looking into just a few of those in our next couple of blogs.<\/p>\n
One passage that addresses this topic beautifully comes from Psalm 84. Let\u2019s check out a few sections of this passage, and see how these rich truths impact our fight against discontentment:<\/p>\n
How lovely are Your\u00a0dwelling places, O\u00a0Lord\u00a0of hosts! My\u00a0soul longed and even yearned for the courts of the\u00a0Lord; My heart and my flesh sing for joy to the\u00a0living God. For\u00a0a day in Your courts is better than a thousand\u00a0outside. I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God Than dwell in the tents of wickedness. For the\u00a0Lord\u00a0God is\u00a0a sun and\u00a0shield; The\u00a0Lord\u00a0gives grace and\u00a0glory; No good thing does He withhold\u00a0from those who walk uprightly. O\u00a0Lord\u00a0of hosts, How\u00a0blessed is the man who trusts in You!<\/strong> \u2013 Psalm 84:1-2, 10-12<\/p><\/blockquote>\nThis popular Psalm starts out with the writer proclaiming his deep passion for the Lord. Notice the emotional language used here: \u201cMy soul longed\u201d and \u201cyearned.\u201d \u201cMy heart and my flesh sing.\u201d It is clear that the psalmist is truly in love with his God.<\/p>\n
This is one of the most important things to consider in the fight against discontentment: am I truly seeing that the Lord is better than anything else? Think about it. Our God is the Creator of the entire universe. He didn\u2019t have to do that. He loves us enough to want a relationship with us. He doesn\u2019t have to do that. He wanted a relationship with us so badly that He was willing to sacrifice His own Son, Jesus, to provide a way for us to know Him personally. He definitely<\/em> didn\u2019t have to do that.<\/p>\nAnd not only that, but think about Who God is and His characteristics. He is faithful, even when we aren\u2019t. He loves perfectly without selfish motives, even when we cannot master that kind of love in our own lives. He is completely trustworthy to never leave us. He is always and completely good and does what is absolutely best for our good and His glory, all the time. Who wouldn\u2019t long for a God like that?<\/p>\n
It\u2019s easy to forget just how amazing God is, isn\u2019t it? When we take our eyes off of Him and fail to remember the truths about the God we serve, we tend to start believing the lie that other things, people, or situations are better. We think He is not enough for our peace. We think He won\u2019t provide joy, hope, and satisfaction. But sin is deceiving, and our hearts are so easily deceived (Jer. 17:9). The truth that we must choose<\/em> to believe and live by is this: God is the only source of perfect and lasting joy, peace, and satisfaction. In His presence is fullness of joy. Following and worshipping Him only truly is<\/em> better than anything else we could ever obtain.<\/p>\nSo, no matter our feelings about a situation, we can remember the truth that God is better. When you are struggling with discontentment, set some time aside to search the scriptures and be reminded of the characteristics of the God we serve. Remember and believe truth: He is better.<\/p>\n
Keep checking in for more discussions on the topic of contentment!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
It is so easy to be discontent, isn\u2019t it? In this day and age, there is so much available that we could always have more, newer, bigger, better. Our sinful nature wars against our new creation in Christ when we compare ourselves to others both in material possessions and in life circumstances. That person is… read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":73,"featured_media":3263,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0},"categories":[1],"tags":[10680,98,21],"yoast_head":"\nContent in Him: Part 1 - Vision of Hope<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/blogs.faithlafayette.org\/voh\/2017\/01\/22\/content-in-him-part-1\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Content in Him: Part 1 - Vision of Hope\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"It is so easy to be discontent, isn\u2019t it? 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