What an incredible blessing when we clearly see Adonai working change inside us! These times are so incredible that we must hold tight to them and never forget the work He is doing, and has done, in us! Of course we all have a litany of inner warts we would love Him to fix. But we can’t get a “magic pill” from Him. We must do some work on our own — taking every thought captive, filling our minds and hearts with His Word, etc.
Recently, our loving and gracious Abba Father has been dissolving a rock-hard inner fault in my life. Praise to Him! Discontent has been a life-long struggle for me. In the fleshly sense, there’s blame that can be placed on the origin, but that isn’t helpful or productive. I’ve been the one who embraced, fed, and nurtured this ravenous beast. Now…finally (!!) after struggling with this horrible monster, that has not only terrorized me but everyone around me for so many years, I can see and feel the chains being broken! By His power, I have CHOSEN contentment and He is pouring it forth within me!
Our Elohim is not pleased when we are complainers, always wanting something new or better or just different. How can we sincerely yearn to please Him when our lives are characterized by this sin?! Adonai is so loving, patient and forgiving!
Some issues we struggle with are things we know intellectually but don’t internalize and really understand deep inside. Logically we all know that this life is a vapor, just a quick breath of time and isn’t worthy of our focus, worry or obsession. But even with that head knowledge, our lives often demonstrate the opposite. We still long for (and passionately pursue) things of this world, fleeting material possessions, experiences or emotions. Consider a rope stretched from one end of the earth to the other, thousands of miles, circling the globe. This would be an incredibly long rope, wouldn’t it? Then visualize one inch of it painted red. That inch represents our earthly life, whether we live 10 years or 100. Compared to eternity, represented by the full length of the rope, what does that inch mean? And, when you realize that we spend so much time and energy fretting about what goes on during that meager inch of time, it really seems ridiculous, doesn’t it?
That is why our focus should be on the Kingdom of God, not our puny circumstances. How can we waste our short lives being discontented? We should be joyously glorifying our Creator every moment. Eternity will be here for each of us before we know it! So, take it from a recovering “malcontent” — living in YHWH’s joy, peace and contentment is better than fame, riches, and limitless earthly possessions. May His Name forever be praised!
One person dies in his full strength, completely at ease and content; his pails are full of milk, and the marrow in his bones is moist. Another dies with embittered heart, never having tasted happiness. They lie down alike in the dust, and the worm covers them both. ~~ Job 21: 23-26
Not that I am saying this to call attention to any need of mine; since, as far as I am concerned, I have learned to be content regardless of circumstances. I know what it is to be in want, and I know what it is to have more than enough — in everything and in every way I have learned the secret of being full and being hungry, of having abundance and being in need. I can do all things through him who gives me power. ~~ Philippians 4: 11-13
Now true religion does bring great riches, but only to those who are content with what they have. For we have brought nothing into the world; and we can take nothing out of it; so if we have food and clothing, we will be satisfied with these. ~~ 1 Timothy 6: 6-8
Hebrew Roots Homestead 