I want -- to be able to walk in a store and buy an outfit without worrying about cost. I want -- to buy new furniture for the living room, good quality that will last and will look good. I want -- to remodel the house and fix it up NOW and not wait and do it slowly over 5 or 10 years. I want -- to hire a lawn service to take care of the yard for a year, feed it, aerate it, etc., to get it back in better shape. I want -- I want -- I want......
Attitude. Boy, that can make all the difference, can't it? How you look at your surroundings determines contentment with your life. If all you think about is what you DON'T have, you can forget about being content and happy. If all you think about is what other material things other people have, you'll never be happy with what you have. If all you think about is how "easy" it is for other people and how they apparently don't have the struggles you do, you'll never be motivated to improve things for your self. By the way, the above tends to boil down to jealousy, and the Bible definitely instructs us against this: see Galatians 5:19-21 and James 3:16, just for starters.
When I start feeling discontent, I try to purposely thank God for whatever it is I'm unhappy with: Thank you, Lord, for this couch that is ripped and torn and stained, for I have snuggled with my children on it, rested on it, and entertained friends on it. Thank you, Lord, for all these dirty dishes piled up on my counter, for that means that we have plenty to eat and fresh water to clean them with. Thank you, Lord, for the damp basement, for it is the foundation of my house, it keeps the litter boxes from the main floor and provides needed storage and laundry facilities. This activity doesn't necessarily make me love whatever I'm discontent with at the moment, but it does help me appreciate it more.
I also try to look at my discontent and see if God has not allowed those feelings for a reason. If I were not discontent with our previous church, I would not have stepped out in faith and found Dayspring. If I were not discontent with my financial situation, I would not be looking for ways to increase income and decrease expenditures and would not have started this blog or found the wealth of information available on other blogs, which has saved us quite a bit of money.
I also try to look for ways to turn my "I wants" into "I haves." For example, I want to walk into a store and be able to buy an outfit without worrying about the cost and spending too much. Normally I think "JC Penney" or "Kohls," but just a couple months ago, I walked into Salvation Army and was able to walk out with not 1, not 2 but 3 outfits and a dozen tops without worrying about the cost! Will I ever truly be able to buy something without thinking about cost implications? I doubt it. Even if by some Divine Intervention I come into an amazing amount of money, I will probably always shop sales and clip coupons. I would not be a good steward of God's financial gifts if I didn't.
By striving to be content with what we have, spending time in prayer and reading and studying the Bible and seeking wise counsel of Godly friends and pastors when appropriate, we become more in tune with the Holy Spirit speaking to us and directing us. When we strive to eliminate earthly distractions and truly desire to change our attitudes to those more Christ-like, then we are better equipped to be more joyful and willingly obedient to the call of the Holy Spirit. And in being obedient to the Holy Spirit, He will give us the discernment for which areas of discontent just need an attitude adjustment versus that which needs concrete action. It is something I am still working on and will more than likely be a lifelong process, but by taking care of my home and that which has already been entrusted to me, I hope to continue to lift my eyes to the Lord, from where my help comes. (Psalm 121)
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