Contentment

"There are two kinds of people: those who say to God, 'Thy will be done,' and those to whom God says, 'All right, then, have it your way.'" -C.S.Lewis

I suppose we all go through times in our life when we think we have it figured out. The interesting thing is that when we don't think we have it figured out, life doesn't turn us on our heads. You can't plan on life. Saying you know where you will be in a year is like saying you know that this leaf on this branch will fall from this tree at 2:30.01 pm on October 15th.

God's really been working on me with contentment. I'm learning that contentment isn't just being ok with the situation I'm in; it's more what you taught me when you taught me to see the beauty in the moment. God doesn't want me to just be ok with where I am and the situation I'm in. He doesn't want me to be restless. And while he does want me to hope with expectation for the future, He wants me to embrace the situation I'm in and see it for all its beauty. I may never be able to speak to thousands of people and teach them about the truth I know, but He gave me a beautiful glimpse of the sunset after my class this evening. I can be content in that beauty He's blessed me with. I can be as victorious telling a complete stranger at work that I'm a Christian as I can be preaching the gospel to the nations.

A lot of this practice is done by seeking and knowing God's will, which is frankly much easier than people make it out to be. Do you remember the "What Would Jesus Do?" bracelets? The idea was to take each moment and try to live it as Christ would. Now, seeing as how those bracelets were extremely popular when I was in middle school, the notion wore out quite fast. I had a hard time applying the thought to Earth Science and recess politics. What would a smelly, short Palestinian who walked this earth 2000 years ago in sandals and long hair do during a boring lecture about cumulus clouds or during a game of four square? Well, anyhow that's how my mind worked in middle school. I'm sure it worked better for a lot of people. It made more sense to me, though, to ask, "What would Jesus have me do?" Knowing God's will is just as simple as asking this question.

The process we go about in getting the answer is laid out for us, plain as day.

"-Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.-" (The Apostle Paul's Epistle to the Romans ch.12 vs. 1-2 NIV)

Great! So we just offer our bodies as living sacrifices and become transformed by the renewing of our minds! ....Say what?

It's really much simpler than it sounds. Realize that this life is not your own and live it for Christ, and keep challenging your mind and keep it fresh by studying the word and seeking Truth in every part of your life. This Truth being, of course, Christ and what reflects Him.

In His own words, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him." (The Gospel According to the Disciple John ch.14 vs.6-7 NIV)

We know God by knowing Christ, we know God's will by knowing Christ's Truth and Way of right living. When we do this, we can truly embrace every moment for it's Truth and ever situation with full vivacity. This is my Reality.