Give Me Jesus - September 2021

Have you ever thought things like, “If only I could earn a higher salary at work I would be set” or, “Let me lose around 15 pounds, then I would finally reach my goal weight” or “Once I get that new truck I have had my eyes on I will be the man.” Honestly, we have all had thoughts like this. On the outside we seem thankful for what we have, but on the inside we're not satisfied. We see our neighbors with a bigger house, and we think they work so much harder than we do. We see our friends traveling all over the world without having to “check-in” because they aren’t married or don’t have children, and we think we are missing out on something. We see the celebrities that we follow on social media doing extravagant things, and we begin to wonder if we will ever get a chance to do things like that. Why is it second nature to compare our lives to others? Why do we measure how blessed we are by what someone else has or doesn’t have? I don’t know about you but to me it sounds like a lack of contentment. (Galatians 6:4)
 
The dictionary says to be content is to be free from worry or restlessness, or to have peaceful satisfaction. Society encourages us to want more, desire more, and “hustle to get what we want”. As a result, content is often the last thing that we would consider ourselves. We think we need status and money to be what exactly? Accepted? Admired? Enough? In reality, the approval and the admiration that we are seeking from things and people will never satisfy us because God didn’t make us that way. (Proverbs 27:20) The Word of God is clear. As tempted as we are to do it, we don’t have to worry about our lives. (Matthew 6:25) God promised to provide our every need. If we would only turn from the things of the world and turn to the One who controls it all, we would be so much more content. We must seek God above all things so that we can hear the direction He desires for our lives. (Matthew 6:33) 

Life will always present us with challenges. (John 16:33) In some seasons we may have more than we do others. In other seasons we will feel as though everything in our lives is wonderful, not knowing hardship is around the corner. In either situation, God wants us to be content (Philippians 4:11-12) and trust Him above all else. (Psalm 9:10) Is it ok to want things? Of course it is. We all want nice things, and sometimes even extravagant things. Jesus wants us to have a rich and satisfying life, so we don’t have to settle for less than what He wants for us. (John 10:10) However, when our worldly desires begin to clash with God’s desire for us, that’s when we begin to have a serious problem. The things of the world will always be temporary, and we must never lose sight of that. (1 John 2:15-17)
 
So how can we combat our worldly desires? By holding on to Jesus with everything we have. The answer to our every want and desire is Jesus. The way to get to heaven is through Jesus. (John 14:6) The path to contentment starts and ends with Jesus. If you don’t know Him, try Him. Once you try Him, begin to trust Him. Once you trust Him, let His light guide your life. 
 
“In the morning when I rise don’t give me things - Give Me Jesus!”

References
Contemtment: Merriam-Webster Dictionary. (2021, September 3). Retrieved from Merriam-Webster Dictionary Website: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contentment

Tyndale House Foundation. (1996, 2004, 2015). Holy Bible, New Living Translation. Carol Stream, Illinois. All rights reserved.: Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers.