Counselor’s Corner: Enjoying Life in the Middle of Difficult Circumstances

Chances are if you have been going through a difficult circumstance that is unrelenting, you have had difficulty enjoying life. Depression can loom over you as you trudge through the muck and the mire of your adversity. Some mornings you just feel like pulling the covers over your head and would rather stay in bed until the calamities have passed. It is one thing to have a difficulty come through your life and leave, but it is entirely different when a difficulty parks and stays a while. Grief hits you smack in the face, and you begin to sink further and further like you were in quicksand. You don’t share with a lot of people what you are experiencing, because you are afraid the weights of what you carry will sink them as well.

It is possible to enjoy your life in the middle of your deepest and darkest pain, or what I like to refer to as, “the dark night of the soul, however, it won’t come easily. You will have to become a resilient fighter. You will have to decide one day when you have had enough of the enemy stealing your life, to choose to get up and live again. If the enemy cannot take you out physically, he will use your pain to turn you against God and rob you of the joy that is your inheritance.

Your pain is real and there is a time to grieve what you have endured or lost, but deep mourning should not be a continually theme in your life. Yes, it is hard to let go of people you love or accept the reality of a situation. When you place those seemingly impossible heartaches into God’s care, peace can rule in your heart. An exchange takes place when you say to God, “I can’t do this anymore, take it from me.” This exchange can open up the channels to begin enjoying your life again. Surrender is key to enjoying life again.

Reflect and ponder: How can you enjoy life when just getting out of bed is a chore? What do you do when your pain overshadows every blessing in your life? Are you willing to fight to get your life back and enjoy what is good in your life? Remember, this won’t come easy if you have been enduring the same difficulties for years. The enemy has enjoyed you being in the pit with no way out, and don’t be surprised as you are climbing out of the pit, he tries to kick you back in. This is where a “don’t give up, no matter what” stance must come over you. If you get kicked back in the pit, quickly get up and out, don’t look around that familiar pit that you are used to. Have a set mind that you will enjoy life again, no matter what!

Counselor’s Corner:

Practical tips for enjoying life in the middle of difficulties:

1.      Let go of everything that you cannot change. Accept what you cannot change. If you have tried over and over to change a situation or person and it has not worked yet-let go!

2.      Limit your “talk” time about your difficult situation. It is okay to share with trusted people, but not 3-4x a week. Run to the throne more than the phone. Opening your mouth and spewing out to other people your woe’s continually or without just cause, can open you up for more problems. Be careful who you share your personal information with. It can bring you true joy to find like-minded people who can walk beside you, and you know they got your back. It is another thing to deal with people who bring you more pain than gain. To enjoy your life again, you will need to stop allowing drainers, whiners, complainers, and manipulators into your life.  

3.      Simplify your life, cut out all non-essentials. Going through difficult times can deplete you of energy. Learn to say, “No,” and say it as often as needed. If someone complains or makes you feel bad about saying, “No,” just ask them if they would like to “walk a mile in your shoes.” Get plenty of rest and take as many stay-cations as you can. Enjoy the simple things in life, a stroll around your block or breakfast in bed.

4.      Learn when you need to pull away from the “crowds.” There are times being with other believers is good and fellowshipping with them, but there is also times where solitude can render inner peace and times of reflection. Being still with God can only happen when you are quiet. There are many times that God will call you to the “still waters.” I am called to these still waters often and I no longer fight these times, but accept that God wants to speak to me and bring me comfort.

5.      Protect your “sanctuary.” My sanctuary is my home, it is the place I have peace the most. This is why I guard my sanctuary carefully. I am very careful who comes in and out of my place of peace and rest.

6.      No more living bound in guilt. Guilt and condemnation are straight from the enemy. If God wants you to do something, He will give His grace, strength and peace. Guilt steals all joy.

7.      Make it a daily habit to bring all your worries and concerns to God. Take a few minutes and pray over your worries and then consciously leave them with God.

8.      Take good care of yourself. Eat balanced meals, exercise, sleep at least 7-8 hours every night, take a multivitamin, and spend time with God as often as you can (daily if possible). The presence of God can bring you much joy. When you feel good physically by taking care of yourself, you can enjoy your life more.

9.      Do something that brings you pleasure or happiness at least 2-3x per week. Maybe a movie and popcorn, planting flowers, painting, or taking a bike ride bring you pleasure. Enjoy the simple pleasures in life as well such as bird watching or swinging on a swing.

10.  Encourage someone or cheer someone up. Be a blessing to someone.

11.  CHOOSE to focus on what is good in your life, and say out loud daily or write down at least 5 things that you are thankful for.

12.  Stop asking, “Why me.” No more being a victim and feeling sorry for yourself. Being negative drains you, instead speak life, blessings and the Word of God over yourself.

13.  Learn to laugh again. You did as a child when you had no worries. Watch a funny movie or comedian (clean though).

Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass, it’s learning to dance in the rain.

Vivian Greene

Is it time for you to dance?

MEDITATE ON THESE SCRIPTURES:

A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

Proverbs 17:22

The thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy. I came that they might have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the fullest, overflowing).

John 10:10

Proven Antidotes for Stress, Anxiety and Fear

Are there things in your life that seem to constantly cause you stress, anxiety or fear?

Are you overwhelmed at times and find it difficult to sleep at night?

90% of what we worry about never really happens, so then why do we worry, stress and plagued by daunting fears? The enemy magnifies those difficult or trying circumstances in our lives, and when we take our eyes off of Jesus and onto these nagging problems we lose perspective. When our eyes are off the Helper, we can easily slip into stress, anxiety and fear. The enemy shows us worst-case scenarios and we begin speaking out what those scenarios look like, but watch out when you begin agreeing with what the enemy says about your circumstances. A lot of the times, the enemy throws one circumstance after another at us, hoping we will take the bait of at least one of them. There is a “wearing-out” the enemy deploys upon us. You may have felt super strong with the first, second, and maybe even the third difficult circumstance, but when they keep coming you better run to the throne of God quickly. When you feel yourself weakening and getting spiritually fatigued, it’s time to run quickly (even and especially if you don’t feel like it) to the feet of Jesus. These schemes diverted at you are not to be taken lightly or not taken seriously. We are never to fear our enemy, but we must know when we are beginning to get attacked.

Another way to know the enemy is trying to get you stirred-up is that you lose your peace and joy and you become restless, even stressed, anxious and fearful.

Random thoughts pop into your mind. You try and take every thought captive but there are so many thoughts coming you find it more and more difficult to gain a hold on the thoughts. When this happens recognize this is a scheme and a plan from the enemy and you must begin to cry out to God for His help.

There are some antidotes I use when I feel attacked, stressed, anxious and fearful. The prescription does not come in a bottle or pill but through the following:

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Antidotes for Stress:

Stop what you’re doing and go to the throne of God; don’t wait!

Trust God even if it looks big and out of control and your feelings say something else.

Rest in God alone and His help; don’t try and figure out the outcomes!

Evaluate if you are tired, hungry, or sick? If you are, you need to take care of those needs.

Sing, worship the Lord. You will feel a lift in your spirit and the enemy will have to flee!

Surrender all fear, worries, anxieties, and concerns to God; do not hold on to them!

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Antidote for Anxiety:

Admit and confess you have been worrying and you don’t have all the answers.

Never give the enemy a foothold by speaking out what he shows you.

X-amine the reasons you are anxious and speak the truth over every anxious thought.

Identify the lies of the enemy concerning every anxious thought and replace immediately with the truth of God’s word.

Evaluate if all your anxiety and worrying is helping and changing things or making you sick, tired, and weak?

Turn your anxieties to God and give them to Him. Do not hold on to them!

Yearn to have a different life! You do not have to live with anxiety!

Antidotes for Fear:

Filter out all fears immediately. When fears come, pull them down, stop them, and replace with faith-filled statements, such as, “I will not live in fear.”

Entertain thoughts are lovely, of a good report, and praiseworthy.

Accept that you have a real enemy and you will have to be aggressive in your thought life.

Run to Jesus! Do not let the enemy terrorize you and cause you to have what-if fears.

To have peace and the joy of the Lord sometimes you have to fight, other times you have to be still until the attack has passed. Ask Jesus to show you what to do, but ask! If you are feeling those nagging thoughts of stress, anxiety or fear, take these antidotes and begin to apply them.

The Importance of Being Thankful

If you are like me, being thankful and appreciative doesn’t always come naturally. I have learned I have to choose to be thankful. Every day, I get out my journal and write out five things that I am thankful for. Writing down my blessing serves as a visual reminder to me that I have more in my life than I think I do. I need this reminder daily! I can always find things to complain and grumble about, believe me I have my fair share of problems and heartaches, but I choose to reflect on what I do have.

When we have an attitude of gratitude, our lives will be transformed.

You might think you do not have a lot to be thankful for, but look around you-there are others who go through far worse circumstances. I’m I belittling your pain? Not at all! I have to tell myself the same things because I have seen so much heartache and loss in my own life. Being thankful is a conscience decision that will change your life for the better.

You can be bitter about your life’s difficulties or you can be better because of them. You get to choose!

If we choose to look at our lack in life or what we don’t have, we can become cynical, hard-hearted, thankless, unappreciative, bitter and even depressed. Being thankful has health benefits, such as fewer aches and pains and overall feeling healthy. Thankful people take better care of themselves by exercising more and eating healthier. Thankfulness also reduces toxic emotions like bitterness, envy and frustration, and decrease depression. Thankfulness also reduces stress, improves self-esteem, and helps overcome trauma. Being thankful can boost your immune system and improve your heart rhythms.

Be aware of what you are thankful for and choose to reflect and ponder daily on all the positives in your life.

7 Practical Tips for Gaining Contentment

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 your 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?

*Portions of this article was taken from Chapter 3 of my book, “Wilderness Mentality Stop Your Stinkin’ Thinkin.”

What is the Christian Wilderness?

The Christian wilderness can be defined as a period of testing and refinement. It may seem during this experience that you have a dark cloud that hovers over you. You may have also encountered several losses during the wilderness time. It can seem like God is distant and does not care or hear your prayers. Your character, sins, and shortcomings are exposed to the light of Christ to bring healing.

There is a preparation period that God brings His people when He needs to correct undesirable behaviors or even to test our faith. This preparation will be used for something greater in the Kingdom of God. If God has called you to a ministry or Kingdom work, you can rest assure there will be a time of preparation. Many people are made whole as the Bride of Christ during the wilderness phase. Yes, it is a lonely and difficult time, but you will make it out if you do not complain, grumble and trust God. Complaining and grumbling over your circumstances will keep you in the wilderness longer, but having a thankful heart will help you get to your promised land quicker.

You may wonder how long you will stay in the wilderness, but it differs from person to person. I believe I would have left the wilderness sooner than 10 years, but I got lost in self-pity, complaining, bitterness, and lack of thankfulness. Was I a bad person? No, I had not learned how to trust God during my time of facing some very difficult circumstances. I felt like Job in the Bible many times, perhaps you can relate?

I also stayed stuck in the wilderness because of my stinkin’ thinkin.’ My thoughts became sour and rotten, and I allowed my thought life to run wild. Some days I felt I had the right to my disturbing thoughts because of all I had been through. I tried everything to take away the pain, everything except running to God. I thought if He allowed all this bad stuff to happen to me why should I go to God for help? I know that is messed-up thinking, but you have to understand I had tremendous pain and losses back to back in my life. I simply did not know that God would turn all the pain in my life for good. I complained and grumbled about my circumstances to anyone who would listen to me. Why? I was needing someone to sympathize me and feel sorry for me. I thought there is NO WAY other people have it as bad as I did. I believed that God must not be pleased with me, and maybe I was being punished for my prior sins.

 I could not see past my pain.

I had so many blessings but I could not see them for all the heartache that was surrounding me. I tried to count my blessings, but it was a struggle for me. I knew God gave me promises, but I saw the “giants” in my promised land like the Israelites did on their journey to the Promised Land.

In the wilderness you may feel isolated from others, distant from God, hopeless, suffer from infirmities, lonely, and may be lacking in ministry work. This is a time to run to God, not from Him. You may be tempted to go back to your former life, or go back to that old comforting sin habit-BUT DON’T! STAY THE COURSE and finish the work God is perfecting in you. It will be well-worth your discomfort now. Don’t give up during your wilderness season, but PUSH and then PUSH some more. I am telling you that you have to push your way through to your promised land. The enemy will try and deter you getting there anyway that he can.

Have you experienced the Christian wilderness? If you are still in the wilderness ask God how you can find your way to the Promised Land.

Check out a book that I wrote on Wilderness Mentality,Stop your Stinkin’ Thinkin’

What to Do When You Have Difficultly Trusting God

This a difficult topic to discuss, but I believe it is one that many people struggle with AND do not discuss. If we can be honest there are times that we just do not understand God’s ways, timing, or plans. This can particularly be true if you have undergone a traumatic event, have experienced afflictions like Job in the Bible, or have been waiting for promises to be fulfilled in your life. Sometimes the very thing we have been praying for and desiring, we can see other people with those very things, and wonder why God has not answered our prayers. To hear someone say, “Thank God, He has finally answered my prayers,” can be difficult for someone to hear who is still waiting for God to come through for them. It can be easy to be cynical and even at times jealous of others who do get what they have prayed for.

We can hear our inner voice say, “Why not me?” Then of course, we get upset at ourselves for even thinking such thoughts. We want to trust God, but sometimes it seems like He is not listening to us or that He does not care. We wonder, “God why have I been afflicted so much?”

If we were raised with an absent father or abusive father, trusting God can be difficult especially when we run into trials and circumstances that appears God is not intervening. We can hear other people tell us God loves us and He has a good plan for our lives, but that can be hard to believe when you have seen much heartache and devastation over your life.

So what happens when you’re not seeing good come from your circumstances, or your prayers seem to go unheard? What happens when you feel like God has abandoned you? I have encountered many people that when they go through these times, they walk away from God. But is that the answer? Would that not make our problems worse?  I am convinced that people who walk away from God or who become Atheist, do in fact believe in God, they are just angry at God and cannot understand His ways. Can we really admit that we have been angry at God? Is it possible to say, “God, I am angry with you and I just don’t understand what you’re doing.” I believe it is possible to do so, and I believe God already knows how we feel anyway. So, if we stop trusting God and turn from Him, what is the alternative? I just know what I was like before accepting Christ as my Savior, and it was a terrible, hopeless place. What if instead, we admitted our true feelings to God, and believed that if God has not answered our prayers in the way we wanted, that He may have another plan for our lives, and that we can TRUST His ways are better than ours. What do we really know about how to orchestrate our lives? Do we really know what is best for us? Is it possible that all the hardships and trials that you have been through, God is using to strengthen you, refine you, and make you fit for His vessel? Is it also possible, that we can believe that God is a redeemer and restorer, and He will work all things out for good for those who love Him?

Can we trust a God that seems to have let us down or disappointed us? I believe the answer is yes, when we surrender what we want and realize that we are not in control of our lives. Dispelling the lies that God is mad at you, does not love you, or is against you, should be wiped from your mind. How do you know what God has planned for the things you have endured? How do you know what God will do with all the pain you have endured? And do you really know the final outcome of your life? If your life is not over, than you do not know how God will come through.

I encourage you today, to stay the course with Jesus. What is the alternative? Do you really want to live a life without God or live not trusting Him? 

ADmit your true feelings to God. Believe that god has a unique plan for your life, despite the heartaches and the SUFFERINGS. ask god to show you that you can trust him. DO NOT GIVE UP ON GOD OR IN TRUSTING HIM. TRUSTING GOD WHEN YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND, IS AN ACT OF FAITH. IT SAYS TO GOD, “I TRUST YOU, EVEN THOUGH I DON’T SEE YOUR PLAN OR UNDERSTAND YOUR WAYS.” 

gOD DOES LOVE YOU! hE DOES SEES YOU. YOU ARE HIS SPECIAL TREASURE, AND A UNIQUE CREATION. HOLD ON TO WHAT YOU KNOW OF GOD. GOD IS GOOD AND HIS WAYS ARE GOOD. EVIL HAS PREVAILED IN THIS WORLD, BUT GOD WILL TRIUMPH OVER ALL YOUR ENEMIES. believe GOD, ASK HIM TO SHOW YOU. HE WANTS TO RENEW HIS FAITH AND TRUST WITH YOU. FOR THE THINGS THAT YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND, WOULD YOU COMMIT THEM TO GOD, AND ASK HIM TO HAVE MERCY ON YOU. GOD IS NOT TRYING TO HARM YOU OR HURT YOU. HE LOVES YOU WITH A LOVE THAT IS SO DEEP AND WIDE.

Proverbs 3:5-6

tRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND LEAN NOT ON YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING; IN ALL YOUR WAYS ACKNOWLEDGE HIM, AND HE SHALL DIRECT YOUR PATHS.

Keep a Right Mind-Set

This is not an article on how to teach you how to think positive as secular psychologists or as new age thinking would, but how to keep a right mind-set through the truth in the Word of God. So many Christians are living pessimistic, defeated, and negative lives. God wants us to think His thoughts and be people of God filled with faith in our speech and in our thoughts. When we beat ourselves up, think negative thoughts about ourselves or others, or think worst-case scenarios over every difficult circumstance that arises in our lives, we are not living the life that God has for us. Most likely, if we are thinking these thoughts we will become depressed, anxious, tired, and be susceptible to a lowered immunity. You may be saying, “Well, you just don’t know what I go through.” I don’t have to know what you go through, I can say my life has been a fight. Nothing has simply come easy for me, and I have faced more trials and tribulations than I could possibly write about. That is why I am writing this article, and have even written a book about it (see below)*. I have endured seasons of wrong thinking, and it left me mentally and spiritually paralyzed. Sometimes, we can have a predisposition for negativity or be dealing with depression, this can make negativity more prevalent. You will have to fight harder to regain control of your thoughts. Yes, I said fight. You can be on all the medications to help with depression but if you are not working to keep right thoughts, the medications will not be as effective.

Be careful of what you allow to enter your mind. Not all thoughts that come into our minds should we dwell, ponder, or agree with. Check your thoughts, and ask, “Does that agree with what God would say?” If it does not, immediately get rid of that thought. Start thinking of something else, a positive, faith-filled thought. If that thought keeps coming back, stop the thought and replace with another thought. It takes time to discipline our thought life, especially if your thinking has been that way for a while, or perhaps you were raised in a home where you were exposed to wrong thinking. But today is the day of change. Ask God to give you His mind and His thoughts. Keep pursuing this until right thinking is automatic, and all traces of your former thinking is far behind.

Focus on what is right in your life, and keep a daily gratitude list or journal. In the beginning this may feel strange or that it is not really helping, but renewing thinking patterns takes time; so keep going until you have achieved a right mind-set. Write out on note cards, scriptures and positive affirmations and say out loud daily, this is a way to purposely think about what you are thinking about. You have to be purposeful in pursuing this change in thinking. It may take a lot of work in the beginning, but it will be worth it. Negative thoughts will come to us all, but we don’t have to accept them. Train your mind to not accept negative, defeated, or discouraging thoughts.

Be mindful of the company you keep, if you are hanging out with negative people; the negativity could rub-off on you. Be careful of the material you read and the things you watch on T.V. Negative reports through the news can dampen our faith and cause us to think negative. Fill your mind and fill your life with positive, faithful people and positive activities. Guard your heart and mind constantly from negativity. When a difficult situation comes up in your life, don’t start speaking what you see, but start speaking faith over your circumstances. It is important not to react to our circumstances, and this begins in our thoughts first.

Scriptures to write on note cards to say out loud daily to help with right-thinking.

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Philippians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Ephesians 4:31-32 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Romans 12:22 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by renewal of your mind. Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

*For additional reading on right thinking, order your copy of, “Wilderness Mentality, Stop Your Stinkin’ Thinkin’.

Contentment where you're at in Life

                                    

How many times I have caught myself saying, “I will be happy when…” I have waited years for answered prayers and longings of my heart to be fulfilled. Can anyone relate? What happens to some is during the “wait” we become discontented and begin to grumble and complain about our circumstances. Is it possible to have contentment right in the middle of your trials and difficult circumstances? I say, “Yes, it is possible but not easy to overcome, but yes possible.”

Be joyful and content today!

In my book, “Wilderness Mentality, Stop Your Stinkin’ Thinkin’,” I devote an entire chapter on the art of learning contentment. I will share with you some excerpts from chapter 3 of my book.

The definition of contentment is to be calm, relaxed, and free of worry? Does that define you? If not, why? Ask the Lord to show you why you are discontented.

 If you are not content with your lot in life you will complain. I have learned (the hard way), that contentment is accepting God’s control over ALL of my circumstances. Most of us are content when circumstances are going well, but God wants us to have contentment in all things and in all seasons in our lives. 

Wait for the Lord in confident expectation. Be joyful today, not when your circumstances are perfect. Enjoy your life now. God molds, teaches, and trains us through our circumstances. Surrender all to God and release control to our Savior. Stop dwelling, pondering, wishing, and wondering when, why, and where. Stop being controlled by your emotions and circumstances. Do not wish to be anybody else or have what someone else does. You really do not know what other people go through, that perfect family and perfect spouse you see; may not be all that perfect. Some people are better at hiding and covering up their problems.

Stop trying to force things to happen on your own time. It’s about timing, and God’s timing is perfect. Do not compare your situations to others. God has a unique plan for each of us individually.

Contentment means wanting nothing more than what God has given you. It is not saying you can never have desires, but if those desires become idols (idols are anything we place above God), then you are risking losing contentment.

I know all too well about the “wilderness mentality.” For so long, I was truly not content with my life (and now it’s a daily, conscience choice to be content). I had a lot of pain and heartache, and I just wanted to slip into someone else’s life. I soon realized that everyone has problems.

Instead of talking about how big your problems are, start thanking and praising God instead. It will confuse the enemy when you praise instead of complain. Stop being a victim, there are many people who go through pain and losses as well. Change your perspective about your life, is it really that bad? Is there anything that you have been blessed with?

Take it one day at a time, and refrain from magnifying everything by saying, “My life will always be this way.” The enemy will always try and keep you focused on what you don’t have, he will even show you! But don’t take that bait! REFOCUS on what you do have and what is right in your life.

Disclaimer:

And yes, everything I write here to you, I had to apply in my own life. I write from my personal experiences with contentment. It has been a journey, but I pray you will take from my experiences and learn something that took me a long time to get.

Scriptures to meditate on for contentment, ponder and reflect over these, say them out loud:

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 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. Philippians 4:11-12

Give 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 Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires plunge men into ruin and destruction. 1 Timothy 6:6-10

For further reading and to order your copy of “Wilderness Mentality, Stop Your Stinkin’ Thinkin’,” Go to www.createspace.com/4036785

Thank you and may the Lord God speak to you through this book, and let me know how He does!  

Soar like an Eagle over Your Storms

Have you ever watched an eagle fly? They soar, they don’t flap their wings like the other birds, but they ride on the wind currents and soar. When storms or high winds come, the eagle rises above the storms, they don’t stay in the middle of the storms like the other birds; they go above.

God will protect you from the storms in life.
Soar like the eagle over your storms.

That is what we are to do when the “storms” come into our lives, we are to rise above them. If we stay focused on our situations and difficult circumstances we will get defeated and overwhelmed. But Jesus wants us to keep our eyes focused on Him, and not the difficulties in this life.

Tragedy, heartache, and difficult circumstances happen to everyone. Some people lose their focus during these times, and get stuck in the storms of life. When you get stuck in the storms of life, you will experience fear, worry, anxiousness, depression, and stress.

When the storms come be like the eagle who rises above the storms. An eagle never appears worried or upset when a storm is approaching, but the other birds seem distressed, panicky, and some even appear fearful. Jesus wants us to be like the eagle, and when problems come, surrender them. How do we soar above the storms? By not gazing at our problems, by not focusing solely on the problem, by not trying to fix, solve, or analyze the problem, and by completely trusting God that He is in control and has a plan.

But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength;

They shall mount up with wings like eagles,

They shall run and not be weary,

They shall walk and not faint.

Isaiah 40:31

When we wait on the Lord to take care of our problems and fulfill His promises to us, we gain His strength to help us rise above life’s distractions and difficulties.

We are going to face a number of difficult circumstances in our lifetimes, such as prodigal children, dysfunctional families, sickness, death of a loved one, and rejection to name a few. When those hard times come, keep steady like the eagle and don’t incessantly focus on the problem. It is not easy to do, it will come with experience and lots of practice, but once you begin to rise above your circumstances you will enter in God’s true peace and rest for you.

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