Anywho, I'm sure you're just dying of curiosity, wondering "what on earth will Sarah's blog be about this month???" Well I will ease your misery. It is about being content. Were you surprised? :-P
This is something I've really been thinking alot about lately...well....I've been thinking about this subject alot these last few years. lol! But, as the Lord continues to teach me, I'm seeing it in a new light here recently.
I am currently reading a book called "Lies Women Believe and the Truth that Sets Them Free" by Nancy Leigh DeMoss. It is a very good book (though she doesn't use KJV so bring along your own Bible) and in the last chapter of the book, the last lie they talk about is the lie about our circumstances. I was in shock over how selfish and "about me" I act! I never really saw it that way! I'm not one of the selfish ones! I'm the ever-helpful-older-sister type! Well, I might be that, but appearantly I've still got a selfish streak and it's alot bigger than I realized!
When we, as young women, start talking about being content, everyone automatically assumes we're talking of marriage. Not to say that that isn't one of the things I struggle to be content about (....not just one of them. It's probably the biggest) but it sure isn't the only one. I especially realized this after finishing the chapter I was just talking about. I am not only discontent about when I'm going to marry, I'm also discontent about my body temperature; whether or not I want to watch/listen to whatever someone else just put in; what food I eat; when I can run my errands; why I have to stay home while someone else runs their errands; whether or not Mom will let me cook what I want for supper tonight; about having to get up tomorrow morning; why Daddy wants me to feed the cats now instead of when I get to it; why "so-and-so" can be so grumpy but I have to just smile and take it when I want to be grumpy too; why I don't have any children; why I can't have this certain "thing"; why someone else gets that certain "thing" that I want; why I don't have more space in my bedroom; and I could go on and on excpet for the fact the the library closes in an hour so I'm limited on time. (I promise, there was no discontent in that statement :-) ) It's just amazing! But you know what's even more amazing? The peace that passeth all understanding that comes when you decide that you're going to try, with the Lord's help, to re-adjust your thinking and begin being content about everything in your life. Then all of the sudden, when someone asks you "How is your day?" (Jackie :-) ), you start to think about all of the little things that bugged you/saddened you/hurt you/made you mad that day but then remember that the Lord is all that matters and He is still on the throne and is still working in your life making today alot more exciting than you'd think it could ever be. Then you say, "It's going good!" :-) And you can really mean it. I'm still taken by surprise by the happy, peaceful feeling that comes with that phrase...
I want to go ahead and post just a couple of the lies concerning our circumstances that they address in the book and the "Truth" that they combat it with.
~ If my circumstances were different, I would be different.
Truth: My circumstances do not make me what I am; they merely reveal what I am. - If I am not content with my present circumstances, I am not liekly to be happy in any other set of circumstances. - I may not be able to control my circumstances, but my circumstances do not have to control me.
~ It's all about me. (this is the one that I told you I was surprised when I realized it applied to me!)
Truth: God is the beginning and ending and center of all things. All things were created by Him and for Him. It's all about Him! - My life is dispensable. I was created for His pleasure and glory.
When I am tempted to start thinking about me, and complain/be discontent about my life and whatever is in it at the time, I need to remember that it's not about me, it's about Him and I can handle/go through/be content in whatever circumstance I am in because...
"...He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness." II Cor. 12:9a
With Prayers, Sarah