Contentment is a great quality to possess.
Where others covet and strive to do as well or better than others around them, it’s a great quality to make the most of what you have and find peace with it. It’s a sign of genuine gratitude to God who has provided. We don’t focus on what we don’t have at the detriment of enjoying what we do have.
My Dad was a great role model of contentment. He would only look to purchase something when what he had was well beyond the stage of usefulness. He didn’t need the latest and the greatest. I hardly recall making that much in the way of a passing comment about the things he wanted and craved. He didn’t need many of the modern conveniences some have mistaken for necessities. He was content with his lot and gave thanks for what he received.
Contentment, however, is not to be confused with being in a state where you have everything you could ever possibly need. An essential part of prayer is to ask God for things. Asking implies that you’re without and you want to be with and you can go to the source to remedy that situation. It’s an act of humility and dependence and expresses that desire to have what you don’t have. The nature of the life of prayer aligns our minds to be attuned to what to ask for and what to seek. There might be an immediate need that appears obvious, but prayer can hep to uncover realities and address the real area of need. Prayer reminds us of who we’re talking to and knowing who He is can help us adjust the requests so that they are not so much about felt-needs in a trifling manner or self-gratification.
As that happens in prayer, often a sense of discontent can arise. A sense of discontent with the spiritual awareness and longing among those who should know better. A sense of discontnet at the situations that some believers are going through. A sense of discontent with how the status quo blinds, seduces, deceives, suppresses and oppresses subtly and blatantly. A sense of discontent at the inadequate levels of response to establish that godly alternative from the saints of the Most High.
God offers an outlet for that sense of discontent. Through song and word, in conversation and expression we can ask God to address the area of discontent for His honour and glory. We can recognise the drought that some are going through in their relationship with Him and we can ask that God doesn’t just allow them to get a brief taste from the mercy drops, but experience the deluge of the showers of blessings that can often break that season of lack.
That same outlet of expressed discontent can work wonders in realigning our idea with God’s vision on His creation, His people – the Body that He has set apart for His Son. We don’t have to merely ask for refreshing drops to fall on us. We can look for an outpouring that lifts people to new levels of intimacy and desiring to know the Saviour of the World and the Creator of the Universe. Not just renewing a spiritual zeal, but invigorating something greater birthed in something deeper welling up into something new in the depths of the relationship with the Great One.
We can talk with each about what we see going wrong around us. We can complain about the situation and murmur at thing appearing to get worse. Doing that, however, doesn’t make the situation any better and doesn’t change our perspective.
It’s only as we look to God, open His Word, behold His Son again, witness what He endured and what His focus was on. Then notice that an outpouring took place not that many days after He ascended to heaven. That outpouring did not change the Caesar, it didn’t affect the state of the military. It did something of far greater importance – it set captives free, it brought unspeakable joy to the lives of many and it gave the opportunity to practice this eternal life granted by the Way, Truth and the Life. It radically turned the lives of people who had previously given themselves over to useless and lifeless pursuits. With this came a hope and trust that withstood the efforts of many and led to many falling asleep assured to rise again with bodies immortal and incorruptible.
This is how someone can remain content in one sense and from time to time recognise isnide that there’s an urgent spiritual discontentment. One that leads them to express gratitude for the mercy drops, but then go onto to cry out to God for the showers of blessings that are needed.
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
Life With CD 