How to be More Contented

I always had in mind what I believed would bring me contentment, house with a white-picket fence and 2.5 children. God however had other plans for me than my picture-perfect idea of what I thought satisfaction was. I struggled for years accepting that my life had turned out differently than I had hoped. I lost my contentment by focusing on all my desires that were unfulfilled.

Not that I speak in regard to need, for I learned in whatever state I am, to be content. I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. Philippians 4:11-12

I have learned that contentment is accepting God’s control over all my circumstances. Most of us are content when our circumstances are going well, but God wants us to have contentment in all things and in all seasons in our lives.

Be joy-filled today, not when your circumstances will be perfect or you have everything that you want. Enjoy your life right now. Surrender all to God and release all control to Him. Do not dwell, ponder, wish or wonder when, why, or how come things have happened or nor happened.

Contentment is satisfaction with God’s sufficient provision. Satisfied. Not needing anything else. Contentment means not wanting more than what God has given you. Stop and ask yourself how content you are really? Do you wish you had a different family, a spouse, a child, more money, or a different home? I am not saying never desire or want anything, but when that thing you desire becomes an idol (putting anything above God) than you are risking not living content. Not being content will make you a miserable person.

Instead of talking about how big your problems are, start thanking and praising God instead, it will confuse the enemy! Try not to complain about your life’s circumstances and instead have a thankful and appreciative heart. It will do wonders for you to keep an attitude of gratitude.

Change your perspective! How do you handle life’s problems? Talk non-stop about them, complain, worry, become stressed or anxious or do you thank God that He will cause good to come from your troubles (Romans 8:28).

One of the biggest lies of the enemy is that God is a cosmic vending machine, and He is supposed to be my self-help genie.

7 practical steps to gaining contentment:

1.      Ask God to forgive you for wanting anything more than Him.

2.      Surrender ALL your desires and wants to God.

3.      Take it one day at a time. Try not saying, “Things will ALWAYS be this way.”

4.      Be thankful for what you do have.

5.      Believe God is in control and He knows what is best for your life.

6.      Do not compare your life with anyone else’s.

7.      Don’t complain about anything, the weather, your job, or what you are lacking.

The enemy will keep you focused on what you do not have, but that is a tactic of the enemy to keep you discontent. Contentment comes when we want God more than anything else.

We can complain that rose bushes have thorns, or we can rejoice that thorn bushes have roses. Abraham Lincoln.

What has you discontent with life, and what practical steps can you take today to gain contentment?

Life Lessons on Contentment

This article is based on years of what the Lord has given the author about the subject of contentment. The author has accumulated several journals over the years on contentment. What the author writes in this article are the life lessons the author has learned about contentment.

Have you ever wanted the "White-Picket Fence?"

Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content. I know how to be abased, and I know how to be abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Philippians 4:11-13

You can be content in no matter what state you are in, with Christ who strengthens you. It may not be easy or comfortable to go through difficult circumstances, but you can truly learn to be content in them. Contentment is accepting God’s control over all your circumstances.

We can rejoice too, when we run into trials, for we know that they are good for us-they help us learn to endure. And endurance develops strength of character in us, and character strengthens our confident expectation of salvation.

Romans 5:3-4

Don’t worry about anything, instead pray about everything.

Philippines 4:6

Give all your burdens to the Lord, and He will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.

Psalm 55:22

But in my distress I cried out to the Lord…He heard me from His sanctuary; my cry reaches His ears.

2 Samuel 22:7

Speaking God’s Word over your circumstances is medicine to your soul. Apply these scriptures and any additional ones that the Lord gives you on contentment. Then wait for the Lord to act on your behalf in confident expectation. Don’t get discouraged if your life is not changing in the manner you would like, or your circumstances are seemingly not changing. God is at work, but sometimes there are life lessons we have to learn along the way.

Key Life Lessons on Contentment:

·        Be joyful today, not when your circumstances are prefect. Enjoy your life now.

·        Start doing things bring you enjoyment.

·        Trust God with all your heart and do not lean on Your Understanding of things.

·        Take it one day a time. Don’t focus on tomorrow or dwell on yesterday.

·        Do not be moved or react by your circumstances. Be stable in all your ways.

·        Give God all your desires of your heart and trust that His timing and plans are perfect for your life.

·        Stop dwelling on what you don’t have.

·        Don’t force anything to happen on your time.

·        Never complain about your circumstances.

·        Apply grace to yourself and to others. Don’t have unrealistic expectations for yourself and others.

·        Stop comparing yourself to others.

·        Don’t take life so serious. Things will pass.

·        You are not responsible for everyone’s happiness or contentment.

Contentment comes when we accept our lot in life, and not running ahead of God’s timetable. Take the account of Abraham and Sarah who went ahead of God’s timetable and took matters into their own hands. Countless people get tired of waiting, become discontented and take matters into their own hands.

The most important things to remember about contentment is waiting for God to fulfill His promises to you, and while your are waiting not to enter into complaining. This is not always easy to do, but when you ask God to line your desires with His desires; He will.

Discontentment will cause you to have stinkin’ thinkin’. Most of us are content when circumstances are going well, but God wants you to have contentment in all things and in all seasons of your lives. God teaches, molds, and trains us through our circumstances. Surrender all to God and release all control to our Savior. Do not compare you situations to others or what they have, God has a unique plan for each of us. Contentment means wanting nothing more than what God has given you. So ask yourself, how content are you really? Are you satisfied with what God’s provisions for your life have been? It is okay to have desires, but when we make things we desire “idols,” (things that we put above God) then you risk living discontented. Instead of talking how big your problems are, start thanking and parsing Him instead. Change your perspective. Get your mind off of what you don’t have, start daily counting the blessings that you do have. [i]

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[i] Insert taken from author’s book, Wilderness Mentality, Stop your Stinkin’ Thinkin.’ Order copies from www.createspace.com/4036785

CHOOSE Thankfulness

Choose- means to make a choice. You have to make a choice to be thankful.

What have you given thanks for today?

We have to sometimes CHOOSE to be thankful. Being thankful does not come as easy when we are heart-broken, despaired, overwhelmed or rejected. We have to CHOOSE our attitudes otherwise we can slip into complaining, discouragement, and eventually even depression. You might not feel like giving thanks, but remember it’s a CHOICE! Instead of giving thanks you may instead feel like calling your friends and talking about all what is wrong in your life. Let me encourage you not to complain about your circumstances, first it will overwhelm you, then exhaust you and then cause you to feel sorry for yourself (self-pity). I am not telling you anything I have not told myself countless times, and that I have to practice continually; CHOOSING to be thankful.

Being thankful is a choice. You can CHOOSE to be thankful or you can CHOOSE to be ungrateful. You may not have the spouse you desire, children, a prodigal child, or you may even be going through some sickness, but whatever season you are in you can be thankful for the many blessings that you do have. It is really a conscious decision to focus on what is a blessing verses focusing on what are your hardships and trials. There is always something to be thankful for. Don’t get bitter by your life’s challenges and struggles, but see the silver lining in each circumstance. Being thankful and grateful will cause you to live with passion and zest for life. When we CHOOSE an attitude of gratitude our lives can be transformed and we can begin to have renewed purpose. If you are grateful and thankful it is very likely you then will be content. When you are content, you are then at peace with yourself and with others. Having the ability to be thankful is life-changing.

I challenge you if you have struggled with being thankful to say out loud everyday (5) things that you are thankful for. This task will increase your gratitude and then your attitude. Don’t look at what you don’t have, what you have not accomplished, your fears and failures, and all your unmet desires. That type of thinking will weigh you down and cause you to have an unthankful heart.

This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalms 118:24

I will give thanks due His righteousness, and I will sing praises to the name of the Lord, the most high. Psalm 7:17

In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.  1 Thessalonians 5:18

Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things He does for me. Psalm 103:2

Count your BLESSINGS, name them one by one,

Count your BLESSINGS, see what God has done!

BE THANKFUL AND GRATEFUL this holiday season and COUNT YOUR MANY BLESSINGS, ONE BY ONE!

If you need encouragement, prayer, or support, you can contact me through my website@ www.christianhopecounseling.com or send me an email@ Stephanie@christianhopecounseling.com

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