This morning, I was pouring my heart out in my journal about all the things that I was unsatisfied with in my life. There were wounds from the past that just won't seem to heal and new circumstances that bring fear into my life. I asked God to come through like He has in the past and answer my prayers. I wanted him to bring something new into my life. I felt weary and ashamed about where I was at.
Then, I cracked open my bible that I haven't been reading for the past few weeks (insert monkey covering eyes emoji here!) and started reading where my ribbon bookmark was in Hebrews Chapter 13. There is some good stuff in that chapter that covers a wide variety of topics but this phrase in verse 5 grabbed my attention:
“…Be content with what you have.”
Contentment is always something that I have struggled with. I am either gazing longingly into the future for how things will be better OR I am staring into the past at my “glory days” or my regrets.
To be Content is defined as being “satisfied, adequately happy, willing, [or in a] satisfied state.” (According to my ole American Century Dictionary!)
What enables us to be happy, satisfied, and willing? I immediately thought of that quote that I’ve seen floating around in cute lettering:
“Gratitude turns what we have into enough.”
All day long our focus can be turned towards what we don't have. Social media and iPhones have brought a plethora of information to our fingertips.
We can see everything we don’t have, we can make wish lists on Amazon, and we can see what everyone is doing without us. When we are constantly gazing at those things we can come away feeling discouraged, resentful, and with a bad case of the “I wants.”
What if the remedy for the “I wants” and discontentment is gratitude? What if we turn our eyes away from other people and instead turn them towards what is ours RIGHT NOW? Keeping our eyes on our own marriages, kids, friends, and gifts? Then what if we chose to be thankful for those things?
What if thankfulness paves the way for happiness and contentment?
I want to do a little experiment with this theory for a week and I want YOU to join me! I've created an outline to challenge myself to change my thinking.
Here's what I want us to do (If you are willing, no pressure, but I have a hunch it'll be great!)...
7 Day Contentment Challenge
1. Right now, wherever you are at, check in with yourself. How are you feeling? Are you satisfied or unsatisfied in your life? What specifically is weighing on your mind?
2. Whatever feelings came up, write them down.
3. Everyday, for the next 7 days write down THREE things you are thankful for.
4. At the end of the 7 days, check in with yourself again. How are you feeling? Do you feel more satisfied or unsatisfied in your life? Is there anything still weighing you down?
---- That's it! Sounds easy enough, right?!
I will be sharing my experience on the blog next week and I would love to hear from you about your experience!
If you are interested in sharing your experience in the 7 Day Contentment Challenge, please send me a message or comment!
See you in a week, hopefully feeling more content!
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