FINDING CONTENTMENT IN A DISCONTENTED WORLD

Hello fellow momma's and friends please bear with me this one is a long one.
contentment....... what is it and do we really have it???? I think we women struggle with this the most not that men dont I just think it strikes more often in us women
we tend to have the infectious disease of COMPARISON which leads to destruction every time. We women analyze and compare ourselves to each other to see if we measure up when truthfully it only matters if we measure up to God and His standards for each of our lives and not what JANEDOE is doing. Each of us is God's workmanship and are "FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY MADE" our personalities, our appearances, gifts and talents, were given differently to each one to serve a different purpose in the body PRAISE GOD FOR THAT, can you imagine if we were all the same yikes that would be horrible. God created each of us to be who we are and it pleases Him when we are content with how He has created us and the lot He has blessed us with. It displeases Him when we become
preoccupied with material possessions or personal status, we then forfeit the contentment that is rightfully ours in CHRIST JESUS. So where do we find lasting contentment?? Is it found in wealth,power,or fame??? CERTAINLY NOT GENUINE CONTENTMENT IS A GIFT FROM GOD TO THOSE WHO FOLLOW HIM.
When Christ dwells at the center of our families and lives,then contentment will belong to us just as surely as we belong to Him. Are you seeking happiness and contentment today if so may I encourage you it is only found in Christ alone just from experience I went through discontentment for a season and missed out on many blessings the Lord had for me. We were blessed financially in the beginning of our marriage yet it was still not enough and not enough so the Lord took everything from us to give us the right mindset. Then we had nice house wanted bigger one nice things wanted more and more it was Never Enough and this is because our focus was all wrong our eyes were on STUFF and not on our Lord.
Then I struggled with the comparison thing I spoke of earlier, well her marriage is so much better if only............ well she is skinny why am I not ............well they have more money........ and the list goes on and on until I realized the Lord has ME right where He wants me and who am I to argue that I should be thankful for my very life day in and day out. You see the Lord shared with me one day Be content where I have placed you even if it is not exactly where you want to be I have something wonderful instore for you and just remember my child my timing is not that of yours so be patient,trust me, do your best with the gifts I have given you, and expect only the best from Me. Wow I know and guess what He feels that way for all of us not just me. I want to encourage you if this is an area you struggle with please get a copy of "Linda Dillow's" book titled "CALM MY ANXIOUS HEART"
THIS HELPED ME WHEN OUR CHURCH DID A STUDY ON THIS A YEAR OR SO BACK IT IS AN AWESOME HELPFUL BOOK!!! In fact this is something found in the book and I love it and want to share it with you:
this is Ella's prescription for contentment:
1)Never allow yourself to complain about anything-not even the weather.
2)Never picture yourself in any other circumstances or someplace else.
3)Never compare your lot with another's.
4)Never allow yourself to wish this or that had been otherwise.
5)Never dwell on tomorrow- remember that tomorrow is God's , not ours.
may we make Ella's list our list but above all she had her eyes fixed on eternity not STUFF, so may we fix our eyes on Jesus and things of eternity as well and be thankful for the lot He has each one of us in. I will leave you with a few scriptures:

"BUT GODLINESS WITH CONTENTMENT IS GREAT GAIN. FOR WE BROUGHT NOTHING INTO THIS WORLD, AND WE CAN TAKE NOTHING OUT OF IT. BUT IF WE HAVE FOOD AND CLOTHING,WE WILL BE CONTENT WITH THAT.1TIM.6:6-8
"KEEP YOUR LIVES FREE FROM THE LOVE OF MONEY AND BE CONTENT WITH WHAT YOU HAVE, BECAUSE GOD HAS SAID, NEVER WILL I LEAVE YOU NOR FORSAKE YOU." HEB.13:5 (NIV)
"I HAVE LEARNED TO BE CONTENT WITH WHATEVER THE CIRCUMSTANCES."
PHIL.4:11
Remember friends the next time you compare yourself to another's image,stuff,or lot in life to understand that person has or is experiencing the same types of hard times too and we will all come through them to face yet another trial this is what molds us into the likeness of Christ!!
God bless you my sisters in Christ and may we all remember to be content and we will find great joy in that.
Until next time,
Cindy
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