In my Bible Journaling this month I’m reading about “Being Content”. This is one of those things I have struggled with my whole life. That, and coupled with being a worrier, and having anger issues, it’s a lot of issues that I need to deal with and get resolved. Today’s verse is Matthew 6:31-32, “Do not worry then, saying, ’What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.”
As I said, this is one of the big things I struggle with. Part of it is the old, “keeping up with the Joneses” attitude. The problem is, I was a Jones! So, if everyone is trying to keep up with my family, it’s like there is this thing that says, “You have to keep up appearances for the rest of the world.” The only problem with that is, we weren’t wealthy, didn’t have every latest thing that came along, but we managed. Even though I was reared in a Christian home, it was by no means perfect! I have a lot of issues to weed through from my past. So, in thinking through all of this today, my mind went back to yesterday and the sermon our Pastor delivered. The title of his sermon was, “What Were You Thinking?” He spoke from the Scripture passage, Philippians 4:8-9, “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence, and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.” It was a tough sermon to hear, because it hit you square in the face. It was one of those kinds of sermons where there wasn’t a peep in the sanctuary because people were deep in thought over what Pastor was saying. Usually, our services are filled with “amen” and “yes”, and periodic applause at something Pastor has said that we agree with. But yesterday, it was like God was saying, “Listen up! I want you to know this, I want you to do this!”
I pondered the sermon for most of yesterday. God was dealing with me. I began to think that maybe this is my time to get this settled, because not only was my study for this month on contentment, but yesterday’s sermon was about where this all starts. In my thoughts! Pastor asked us, “What do you spend your day thinking about?” Wow! It never occurred to me that what I focus on in my thoughts dictates my actions and attitudes. He said that what consumes our thought life will develop our character. Ok, so for me, I guess one of my issues is appearances, or how others perceive me. My hubby has observed that about me. I’m worried about what other people will think if I do something, or how my house will look to other people, whether they will like it, or me, or not. My Dad used to say that I shouldn’t worry about what other people think, even him. I tried all my life as a kid to make my Dad proud of me. Sometimes he would tell me, other times I never was sure. It left me feeling like I wasn’t good enough, that I needed to do something else to gain his approval. I’m sure that is the basis for my worry about how things appear to others. I need to remember that the only person I need to be concerned about what they think of me, is God! My job is to please Him!
The Scripture in Matthew plainly says that we are not to worry! That’s a command, not a suggestion! God already knows what we need, so why are we so consumed by acquiring money, food, clothes, and the things of this world? Part of the issue is what we spend time thinking about. In today’s society, we have television, radio, and advertisements all over telling us that we NEED the latest and greatest whatever it is. We can see and hear these things for so long before it begins to overtake our thoughts. Then we start seeking our WANTS instead of our NEEDS. The news on TV and radio nowadays is filled with negative reports of all kinds of things, and that leads to us worrying about our safety, will something happen to us that will cause irreparable harm? That leads to a lot of “What if’s” that most likely will never happen.
What are we focusing our thoughts upon, the things of this world or God’s Word? Pastor also said that the enemy wants to get our minds away from our focus on God. That means we must be aware of his traps. Trusting God for everything begins with keeping our minds upon Him and His Word. Another thing my Pastor said yesterday was, “The Word of God is a discerner of your thoughts.” God knows what we think about, whether it is good or bad, worth the time to think on or not. Therefore, if we keep our focus on His Word, seeking His opinion rather than others, praying and trusting that He will “work everything for our good” (Romans 8:28) then we have no cause to worry or be discontent with our situation.
In case, my readers think I’m pointing fingers, this is as much a preaching to myself as it is an encouragement for you. For me, this is a long journey, not a sprint, but a marathon. I have a lifetime of issues to resolve. It took a lifetime to develop them and it will take a lifetime to conquer each one of them. I hope this has been an encouragement to my readers, and that you will keep your mind focused on God and trust Him for all of your needs and desires.
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