Cultivate Contentment {Day 15}
This is the fifteenth post in my 31 Days of Living on Less Series. If you’d like to read all the posts in order, go to Day 1.
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“I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” ~Philippians 4:11
I find it so easy to be content when things are going well. When the house is clean, no one is sick, the bills are all paid, and things are going the way I want them to, then being happy and content is no problem for me. Isn’t that true for all of us?
If only things would always be just the way I want them, then I could be truly happy. Even though I know this isn’t the way I’m supposed to think, so often I realize that’s exactly what I’m doing.
There will be trouble, discouragement, heartache, and difficulty. People will get sick, transmissions will break, pipes will leak, and money will be in short supply.
We can either choose to get bogged down with discouragement, or we can choose to cultivate contentment. It doesn’t come naturally to me, but I’m fighting against the natural feelings of discouragement that try to assail me too often these days.
I was greatly encouraged by this “Prescription for Contentment” from Linda Dillow in Calm My Anxious Heart:
- Never allow yourself to complain about anything–not even the weather.
- Never picture yourself in any other circumstances or someplace else.
- Never compare your lot with another’s.
- Never allow yourself to wish this or that had been otherwise.
- Never dwell on tomorrow–remember that tomorrow is God’s, not ours.
As the days pass and my husband still hasn’t found other employment, I remind myself that part of living on less is learning contentment. And that’s not a bad thing to have to learn.
“Contentment requires humility, which requires a willingness to receive what He gives, to relinquish what He takes, to suffer what He sends, to do what He says, and to be what He requires.” ~Elisabeth Elliot
I had to chuckle…it was pooring rain this morning. We have not yet gotten the garage cleaned out to park my van inside. I remembered this post and did not complain about the weather…I did however complain about not having the garage cleaned out yet. I just reread and saw that is says to complain about nothing. I blew it! Desiree
It's so hard to remember not to complain, isn't it? I was complaining about something yesterday (I didn't even realize I was doing it!) and my husband reminded me about my own blog post! 🙂
That perspective is very powerful. Never imagine yourself in any other place especially jumped out at me today. Thanks for sharing those!
I was just thinking about that same one today, Kristen! If only I could learn to think this way all the time!
So true! Thanks for being real and an encouragement to look to the one who brings true contentment!
Thank you for stopping by and encouraging me, Rebekah!
A powerful and important message. Thanks!
Thank you!
I really really like this and need the constant reminder to be content.
I need to be reminded of this constantly, too. Being content doesn't come naturally! I hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Great guidelines. I needed to be reminded. How I need to offer Him thanks and praise when things aren't going quite right or how I'd like them to just as much as I do when it's smooth sailing. He sees the whole picture. Thankyou for this reminder.
Christina
I'm so glad He sees the whole picture! That's one thing that comforts me when things are hard. Hope you have a great weekend!