Discontent vs. Thankfulness

I Timothy 6:6-8, "True godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can't take anything with us when we leave it. So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content" (NLT). This post is not intended to discourage your desire to succeed in life and to reach your God designed potential but rather it is being written to remind us of our need to be thankful for all that God has provided for us. It is so easy to become discouraged when you take an inventory of your life and YOU don't think that you have made the progress that you desired. But the Word of God teaches us to put into perspective our life and realize that life is more than just being successful in the eyes of other people. Discontent sneaks into our life for a variety of reasons and is released through our life in a variety of actions. We have the tendency to allow our present troubles to overshadow the blessings of God that are present with us on a daily basis. Most of us have no problem thanking God for those "big blessings" (new home, pay raise, new car, birth of a child, etc.); but what about the promise of God that declares "Blessed be the Lord, Who daily loads us with benefits, The God of our salvation! Selah" (Psalm 68:19, NKJV). Even in the midst of our difficulties God is providing daily benefits. We also have the tendency to dwell in the past and miss out on the blessings of today. It is so easy to get captured by "yesterday" and all of the good things of life that we fail to realize that God is at work at this very present moment. Take some time today and recognize those daily consistent blessings that God places in your life. Thank Him for the food on your table, thank Him for the roof over your head, thank Him for your family and friends, thank Him for your church family, and most of all thank Him that He loves you with unconditional love. It should not take you long before you realize that you are walking under the covering of God's blessings!