How is it that something as simple as feeling grateful and appreciative have the ability to turn your life from frustration and worry to happy and bliss? How is it that it's taken me 37 years to learn it?
It started with just being sick and tired of being sick and tired. Life can just be a little more than I want to handle sometimes. I know that 90% of it is how you respond, and I take full responsibility for how I feel about things. Why fight it anymore? The smartest thing my Dad ever said, and I know I've said this to myself again and again, is "prepare for the worst and hope for the best". As life is about never ending change. Although lately, I find that I have spent an unnecessary amount of time worrying about tomorrow when I should be enjoying today. There are all sorts of things about today that I could find to complain about...not enough money, not enough time, geeze I'd like a new sofa it's 12 years old, but why? It doesn't change anything to complain, and it doesn't offer any solutions except for making you feel like crap.
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| desert rainbow (designzzz.com) |
What snapped me into this discovery? Well, jump back about 6 months, the Lord brought me to a fabulous group of ladies who started a small group study on spiritual warfare (Kay Arthur "Is it Warfare, Teach me to Stand"). Through that study I was so blessed personally and spiritually. For many years I have been craving peace and contentment in my life. After a series of bad choices and unfortunate circumstances, I began to feel like I had lost any chance at peace and serenity. As I've grown older my struggles with depression and anxiety have pushed that chance further and further away. God has shown me, through that study, through a sermon series at church on spiritual warfare, and through another fabulous book on the same topic, Joyce Myer's In Pursuit of Peace,
that Peace takes constant effort to maintain and as a Christian, is a battle. Satan wants to take all joy from my life, and make me miserable with what I have, and with what I don't have. My biggest weapon against him and his tricks? Contentment. Just try it, you'll be amazed. Look at your life and thank God for every bit of it. Name each thing individually that you are thankful for. Look at it as a blessing where once it was a possible burden, embarrassment or source of stress. Thank Him for it, as He laid all the plans out to get you where you are right now. To feel discontent, would be almost like doubting that God even knows what He's doing. I am amazed at how He is able to take my rotten decisions and choices and turn them into good. The secret is not to fight his will, but to drop your walls, open the door and let God's way, God's plan, and God's will into your life. Enjoy today, tomorrow is already taken care of. And when you stress and worry, give that stress to Him. He has power to take it from you, provide for all your needs, and turn everything into his purpose and plan should you just let him.
Don't love money; be satisfied with what you have, for God has said: "I will never fail you, I will never abandon you." Hebrews 13:5
The Lord is for me, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me? Psalm 118:6
I cry to you oh Lord, you are my refuge, my portion, in the land of the living. Listen to my cry, for I am in desperate need; rescue me from those who pursue me, for they are too strong for me. Set me free from my prison, that I may praise your name. Psalm 142:5-7
And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
Phillipians 4:19
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been caled according to his purpose. Romans 8:28
Not only so, but we rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance character, character, hope. Romans 5:3-4
