Sometimes, I annoy myself.  In fact, often times I annoy myself.  I’m a whiner. Sometimes to my husband, mostly to God. Why don’t people like me? Don’t they appreciate my talent? Why does everyone else our age get to go on regular vacations, and we don’t?
The list is endless. Makes me sick. Lately, I have been doing a study titled, “The Battle Plan for Prayer.” The section covered last week was Locks and Keys of Prayer. Studying the Bible has been somewhat of a passion for me over the last few decades, so it didn’t surprise me when some of the locks were unconfessed sin, repeated words, and unforgiveness.

It was the third key that tripped me up — strive for contentment. If you met me, you wouldn’t say I showed the signs of discontentment, that is why it was hard to diagnose — mostly because it generally doesn’t have to do with money. But sometimes it does. Mostly, I am discontent with my situation at any given time. Or can be. I complain to God about my husband, and my husband about God. I murmur about my drive or car or job when in truth I do not deserve any of those things, much less a caring husband who listens. 1 Timothy 6:6-10 says:
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. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. (NIV)

So, I may not love money, but I am certainly not content with just food and clothing. And yet, most of the world doesn’t have their basic needs met. It’s like the illustration J.D. Greear gave when teaching on the book of Colossians. He talks about staying in a Holiday Inn Express for two nights. After the first night, you go down to the manager and say, “I think I’d like to add granite counters, and expand the bathroom.” The manager would wonder why the big changes when you’re only staying one more night. Those two nights are the time we spend on this planet.

During this Thanksgiving Season, I want to concentrate on today. Be content. Be truly grateful because we are rich. Look at this text found in 2 Corinthians 8:9, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.” (NIV) I would just like to pray for you right now my friend. Join me in the short prayer below;

Our Great God. Thank you for sending your son so that through his poverty, we might become rich. Thank you for salvation, for the holy spirit who lives within us, for eternity with you. Help us to invest in heaven now. Forgive us for when we spend our time and energy on fluff. Expand our horizons out of our comfort zone to share and to pray. And during this Thanksgiving season give us your grace to be not only content, but eternally grateful. In the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Copyright © 2018 Pauline Hylton, used with permission.

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