Choosing to Be Content

This past week was a rough one.

My mind wanted to focus on all the things I don’t have instead of focusing on how blessed I am. I decided to attend the pity party I was throwing for myself —all week. Then the Friday morning devotional I received centered on choosing to be happy with what we have instead of focusing on what others have.

I guess it shouldn’t have surprised me that Friday night’s reading, chosen by my daughter, was titled “Gratitude.” By then, my complaining spirit had somewhat subsided, but God still knew that I needed to be reminded.

The thing is, I know that when I start focusing on myself instead of God, my attitude is bound to change. But I chose to allow myself to remain in a more negative mood. Conversely, I know that had I tried harder to change my focus from myself to God, it wouldn’t have taken all week. I knew I needed to ask for forgiveness. I also recognized how blessed I am, and I tried to keep that in focus, but even in that, I still found things to complain about. Friends, are you going through something that is making you feel as if you don’t have enough? I had to remind myself constantly that I needed to count my blessings more than focusing on what I don’t have.

When we focus on the negatives, I assure you, we will find plenty of negatives. But when we focus on the positives, those multiply too.

As I was reading the “Gratitude” devotional for my daughter and myself, I was tired and decided to read just the first page of scriptures. My daughter asked whether I had read all of them, and I answered honestly that I hadn’t (I was ready to go to sleep).

She suggested I read all of them. I think that was my needed reminder, for one of the texts was, “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18, KJV). Dear Lord, we thank You for the reminder that we ought to be thankful in everything, no matter what we are facing.

Lord, there are times that we can’t see how our present difficult paths are being used to pave the way for the future, but You can see all things from the beginning to the end. I ask that You help us learn to give thanks in all circumstances, even the hard ones, because they ultimately help to build our characters.

Kaysian C. Gordon