The Power of Thanksgiving - Rich in Contentment

-



Gratefulness brings contentment.  

Contentment is defined as "a state of happiness and satisfaction." When a person is grateful (a.k.a. thankful) they are content in what they have.


The apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 4:11-12  "Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want."

 Being thankful for where we are in life, and for what we have, brings a sense of contentment that cannot be obtained in any other way.  When we let go of 'things' and stressors in our lives, it gives us the freedom to trust in God. When we trust God, we are letting go of the fear of controlling our own lives. We search for things to satisfy a hunger that only God can fulfill when we buy more things, or busy ourselves to the point of exhaustion. When we give thanks for what we have, little or much in whatever it is; material possessions, family and friends, or our health, we begin to see our blessings and learn to be content with them.  God instructs His people to watch what enters into the heart, because what comes out of it can either make or break one's destiny in Him. (Matt 5)  What is entering into your heart? Do you want more 'things' or are you content with what you have?

Lord, give me a grateful heart. I want to be rich in contentment. I want to be content in YOU.

Comments

  1. SarahNovember 14, 2013

    Yes, amen! Struggle with this but the Lord is working on me in scary yet exciting ways - I think 2014 is going to be a very interesting year...in a good way. I feel more hopeful than I have in years. Because I'm hoping not for a change in circumstances or even a change in how I look (as intensely as I desire that) - but a change in my heart. To be content with Him, in Him. Only Him. Thanks, Mindy.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Howell BlessingsNovember 14, 2013

      Sarah, it's always exciting, even though sometimes scary, when God starts working in our lives and changing the way we've always done things to what he desires of us and in us. I'm glad you are encouraged!

      Delete

Post a Comment


Popular posts from this blog

The Power of Thanksgiving - Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart

-
Image
There is a song  called 'Give Thanks',  written by Henry Smith and recorded by songwriter and singer Don Moen. 'Give Thanks' is simple in it's lyrics but powerful in it's message. "Give thanks with a grateful heart  Give thanks unto the Holy One  Give thanks because He's given Jesus Christ, His Son   And now let the weak say, 'I am strong'  Let the poor say, 'I am rich  Because of what the Lord has done for us'   Give thanks" I Thessalonians 5 says " 16  Rejoice always,   17  pray continually,   18  give thanks in all circumstances;  for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." So many people struggle to give thanks when life hits hard. This scripture doesn't say to give thanks FOR those trials, but to give thanks IN all circumstances as we go through them.  There is power in thanksgiving. God has been trying to teach me to give thanks in all circumstances for a while now. When I was going t...
Read more

In a Heartbeat

-
Image
  It was a dark and stormy night…… Just kidding My story starts on a beautiful day in Hocking Hills, Ohio. Our family all met together down south of where I live, in the beautiful county of Hocking Hills, Ohio. My husband Dave couldn’t join us due to his work schedule.   I traveled three hours to meet up with our daughter, her husband and 3 children and our son, his wife and their four children, where we all stayed in cabins and agreed to meet up the next morning at Cedar Falls, one of the gorgeous falls in the area. We had a wonderful time hiking, wading and climbing. All the kids got along great with each other, whom they hadn’t seen in way too long, and between 5 adults constantly counting 7 children, we felt safe letting the kids climb and explore the caves and caverns in the area. We eventually went to Ash Cave and ended our hiking that day at Cantwell Cliffs.   I remember when our son announced our last stop for that Thursday was to go to Cantwell Cliffs, I remarked...
Read more

Think on These Things...

-
Image
  I’ve been around the sun more than a few times since I was born. It goes without saying that things in this world have changed…quite dramatically. My generation was raised to be kind and to respect others.   We gave up our seats for our elders, we didn’t talk back to our parents (or get away with it), and we respected authority, at least outwardly. Even if we didn’t agree with other people, we were taught that “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything.”   Fast forward to today, where people feel the need to comment as rudely as they want, without knowing the facts behind what is going on most times.  And you are wrong if you don’t agree with what they are putting out there, so they won’t skip a beat to tell you so.  It’s hard to feel compassionate for those types of people, yet scripture encourages us in Ephesians 4:32 to "be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” Most days I just roll my eye...
Read more