Finding Contentment in the past, present and future
How do you find contentment in the past, present and future? God has really been working on me when it comes to being content. I have the type of personality that is always looking a driving for a goal and something greater. That in itself is not all bad, however it can be bad if you are pursuing these characteristics and leaving God out of the equation. For me, the way God is working on me to find contentment with Him is through two means. The first is He is telling me not to look ahead. I don’t mean you can’t plan and consider what is coming in the future. But what God is saying to me is…”Don’t be so obsessed with where you want to be that you miss what I have for you right now.”
When you are driving, setting goals and always trying to get to the next level, you can be so obsessed with those goals that you miss the opportunity and the preparation that is necessary to get you to that next level. Step one for me is to be content and slow down, look around at my current circumstances and see what God is doing and teaching me right NOW. God may allow me to succeed when He has refined me to the point where I do not need to succeed to be happy. I can tell you that the refining process is the tough part. God also has shown me that even if He did move me to the next step that I would eventually grow discontent there as well. So, the “a-ha” moment is that my contentment is not in my situation or circumstances, but with Him and in me.
The second step is to not look in the rear view mirror. Stop looking to the past and the things that use to be and trying to re-live or get back to that place. I cannot be content in the present if I am looking to the past. Likewise, stop looking to the past at failures and hurts. Holding on my past failures and hurts will always create baggage that will weigh me down and interfere with my present contentment. I found this quote on a message board and I thought it truly outlined what I am trying to say…” I’ve got too many bad memories from the past, and I can’t stop dwelling on them. The day I stop thinking about unimportant events from the past will be the day when I become content again”.
Looking to the future can be just as damaging as looking to the past. God wants your FULL attention today and for you to focus where you are at right now. The bible says to not worry about tomorrow because tomorrow has enough worries of its own.
The amazing lesson in all of this…TRUE CONTENTMENT CAN BE FOUND TODAY… not in the future of what is to come or in the past on what has already happened. Ask God to help you focus on today and to be mindful of how He is at work around you in your current circumstances. Then ask Him to help you find your contentment in Him and not your situation.
Comments
Leave a Reply
-
Page Views Since January 2008
-
