Contentment. Hmmmm. Yeah, it was something I lived without for way too long. Or at least, permanent contentment. I found things that satisfied me temporarily- like food, clothes, makeup, new this, new that... but soon after, I was looking for the next thing. Isn't it disappointing when you spend a significant amount of time searching for this one thing online- you are pumped about buying it! You get all worked up and compare prices, making sure you get the best deal... You pay for expedited shipping, because you just can't wait 5-7 business days... The next two days you click on your email from the website and click on the tracking number, just to make sure you will get it as soon as they say- you just are so excited! UPS shows up at your door step a couple days later. Ooooh the brown box!! You grab the scissors and fiercely stab the tape, sliding the scissors down the middle of the box. Opening the flaps, you dig through the abundance of foam thingys and voila! Your thing! You tear off it's packaging and drool over it for a minute. You (use, study, try, taste, smell, read) it, and put it away. The excitement is most likely over within the hour. In fact, you're drained from all the energy you used getting so excited about it since you ordered it. The "contentment" you thought it would provide, is already gone.
Godliness in addition to contentment is permanent- it ONLY comes from Jesus. This contentment is satisfying. If you pursue Jesus, and receive this kind of contentment, it will fill you completely, and you don't need anything else. These "temporary satisfiers" will actually work their way out of your life, because when you pursue Him, He makes you more like Him- and He doesn't come with false contentment. That is what transformation is all about! I still have excitement over things I order, but I don't chase after them to make me content anymore. I AM NOT ONLY CONTENT, BUT HAPPY. I don't crave new things all the time, looking to satisfy my hunger for emptiness. God provides in me a totally different hunger- for Him, and I am no longer empty!
In addition to my craving for things, I also craved the rich life. I wanted the dream house, the dream car, the vacations, the clothes, the gold, the diamonds. My parents used to always tell me that I needed to marry a rich man if I was going to get any of those things. Well, I didn't marry a rich man- but a good one. God does not want us to pursue riches, because it leads to senseless and harmful desires. Desires that tend to lead us into idolatry and away from Jesus. There are so many examples of this all over media- even all over your neighborhood. I have given up my desire to be rich, by becoming closer to Jesus.
I challenge you to search your heart. Are you content? Truly content? Contentment that only comes from Jesus? Are you pursuing money? I exhort you to pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness and gentleness- which only come with a relationship with Christ.
~Leanne~
Godliness in addition to contentment is permanent- it ONLY comes from Jesus. This contentment is satisfying. If you pursue Jesus, and receive this kind of contentment, it will fill you completely, and you don't need anything else. These "temporary satisfiers" will actually work their way out of your life, because when you pursue Him, He makes you more like Him- and He doesn't come with false contentment. That is what transformation is all about! I still have excitement over things I order, but I don't chase after them to make me content anymore. I AM NOT ONLY CONTENT, BUT HAPPY. I don't crave new things all the time, looking to satisfy my hunger for emptiness. God provides in me a totally different hunger- for Him, and I am no longer empty!
In addition to my craving for things, I also craved the rich life. I wanted the dream house, the dream car, the vacations, the clothes, the gold, the diamonds. My parents used to always tell me that I needed to marry a rich man if I was going to get any of those things. Well, I didn't marry a rich man- but a good one. God does not want us to pursue riches, because it leads to senseless and harmful desires. Desires that tend to lead us into idolatry and away from Jesus. There are so many examples of this all over media- even all over your neighborhood. I have given up my desire to be rich, by becoming closer to Jesus.
I challenge you to search your heart. Are you content? Truly content? Contentment that only comes from Jesus? Are you pursuing money? I exhort you to pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness and gentleness- which only come with a relationship with Christ.
~Leanne~
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