This passage has been circling my mind lately. I am notorious for jumping into a new plan faster than I can say the word "plan". The truth is, we don't know what tomorrow holds, so we should be content with what we have today.
25 “So I tell you, don’t worry about the food or drink you need to live, or about the clothes you need for your body. Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothes. 26 Look at the birds in the air. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, but your heavenly Father feeds them. And you know that you are worth much more than the birds. 27 You cannot add any time to your life by worrying about it.
28 “And why do you worry about clothes? Look at how the lilies in the field grow. They don’t work or make clothes for themselves. 29 But I tell you that even Solomon with his riches was not dressed as beautifully as one of these flowers. 30 God clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today but tomorrow is thrown into the fire. So you can be even more sure that God will clothe you. Don’t have so little faith! 31 Don’t worry and say, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ 32 The people who don’t know God keep trying to get these things, and your Father in heaven knows you need them. 33 Seek first God’s kingdom and what God wants. Then all your other needs will be met as well. 34 So don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will have its own worries. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
(Matthew 6:25-34)
Modern Life.
We were tired of our day to day- work, home, work, home life. Do you ever feel like you weren't meant to live like we do in the modern world? I feel this deeply. I long for simplicity.
Adulting in 2019.
When I was a little girl, I had dreams of what I wanted to be when I "grew up" (ha ha, I'm 26 years old and still don't feel "grown up"). I dreamt up scenarios of me as an adult, doing whatever I wanted to do, lollygagging with my friends, staying up as late as I wanted to, eating junk food for dinner, and generally having no worries. My adult job would of course mean that I would get paid to do exactly what I love (duh).
Reality check...
Modern Expectations.
Turns out being an adult in 2019 means you're expected to work whatever job that makes you the most money, only to spend nearly all of your hard earned money on the possessions you're expected to have. A bigger house means a bigger job, and a nicer car means bigger monthly payments. We collect nice things, and show off our belongings, yet become too busy paying for everything that we don't have time for family and friends anymore.
This isn't the way we are meant to live.
Some of us just accept that this is how modern humans live, but some of us can't help but feel like our life is being wasted. In the long run, the size of our house doesn't matter- it does matter that we have a roof over our heads. In the long run, it doesn't matter how nice our vehicle is- as long as it gets us where we need to go. In the long run, the only thing that matters is the relationships we create in our short time on this earth.
19 “Don’t store treasures for yourselves here on earth where moths and rust will destroy them and thieves can break in and steal them. 20 But store your treasures in heaven where they cannot be destroyed by moths or rust and where thieves cannot break in and steal them. 21 Your heart will be where your treasure is. (Matthew 6:19-21)
Gratitude.
The older I get, the more I realize that the key to fulfillment is to have less. If we can't be grateful for what we have, even when it seems like we have nothing, how can we be grateful when we have much much more than we did before? When do we decide that we have enough? When do we decide that maybe we have too much?
11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” (Philippians 4:11)
Through his faith in God, Paul teaches us one of the most important life lessons; contentment in spite of circumstances.
“12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” (Philippians 4:12)
Though not an easy feat, as we face challenges and trials, I challenge you to choose to be content, no matter what life does or doesn't bring.
Contentment.
If I close my eyes and think about moments where I felt deep contentment, they all have one thing in common... Each unique moment was spent with people I care about, quite possible not doing anything special, but just being with each other. Sharing a laugh, a hug, a beautiful vista.
I believe we were created for the purpose of being in a relationship with God, and having relationships with other people based on our relationship with God. Let's be a light to others and lead them toward things that matter.
"7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him." (Ps 28:7)
Sometimes being grateful is hard when we don't feel like we have anything to be grateful for. We are living in a world with insane access to the internet that can make it hard to be content, especially with social media constantly being rubbed in our faces. Always seeing other peoples happiness, other peoples new toys, other peoples accomplishments. It can make us feel inferior.
33 Seek first God’s kingdom and what God wants. Then all your other needs will be met as well.
Read that again.
33 Seek first God’s kingdom and what God wants. Then all your other needs will be met as well.
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