If only.....
Lord, You have assigned me my portion and my cup, and have made my lot secure. Psalm 16:5
I have this scripture on a bright yellow note card over my kitchen sink, I need a daily reminder of this.
Many days, I can get an overwhelming wave of discontent washing over me. It will come out of nowhere, and flood my heart and mind with wrong thoughts.
If only _________, I could really be happy.
If only my husband would ____________, my life would be complete.
If only my kids would ________________, I could finally be happy.
If our bank account had______________, I could finally be at peace.
If I could change ____________ about my body, I could be happy.
If God would just give me __________________, I would really trust Him and believe Him.
When this happens, I have a choice. I can give into these emotions that lie, or I can trust God's assignment over me and my life. I can trust and obey. Or, I can worry and doubt.
The world is constantly throwing things in our faces that tempt us to desire more. If only we had more, we could be truly happy.
Remember Jesus in the desert? Satan tempted Jesus over and over. The last temptation was this one:
Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”
Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only. Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him. Matthew 4:8-11
If we are not careful, if we do not defeat the enemy with Truth, we can fall right into his temptation trap.
Satan wants us to believe that "if only" we had certain things, we would be happy.
Jesus uses the Word of God to fight back the enemy's words by saying, "it is written...."
Then, the next line knocks my socks of.. "Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only...."
In essence Jesus is saying....the greatest treasure in the world is not found in earthly riches or desires....but in worshiping and serving God alone.
Whew.
So, when my marriage feels like it is falling apart...
Or, when my children are not acting and performing like I think they should...
Or, when my finances seem like they will never quite be enough....
I can trust in God's plan for my life.
I can worship Him in the mess, in the lack.....
and I can serve Him.
I can serve Him in my words.
I can serve Him in my actions.
I can serve Him by serving my family with a cheerful and joyful heart.
I can serve Him by trusting that everything in my life is filtered through His Hands...for my good.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28
Every assignment for my life is measured and controlled by God for my eternal good. Everything.
When I am caught up in the "if only's"....
I am not accepting the assignment and portion that He has given me for this day.
I am refusing to believe that He is enough for me.
One more time...I am refusing to believe that He is enough for me.
Tears rolling down my cheeks, I repent.
I repent in believing that somehow He is withholding good from me.
I repent in believing that He just isn't enough...
Oh, friends. When these thoughts rule our hearts, we are held captive in the trap of the enemy.
And, it's an empty and lifeless place to be.
It's dark, and gloomy, and hopeless.
You will not find the fruit of God's riches there. You will not find an ounce of joy. You will only find discontent heaped upon more discontent. Gloom upon gloom. Misery upon misery.
However, when we raise up our eyes and lock them into the One who made the heavens and the earth and everything in it....we will be set free.
"Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." John 8:32
When we can grasp what David says to the Lord in his psalm, we can truly be freed from the "if only's"...
One thing I ask from the LORD, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple. Psalm 27:4
One thing, and one thing only, David asked for and sought after....
The Lord.
How would our contentment change if this were our daily, minute by minute focus? How would our attitudes change? Our marriages? Our children's lives? Our relationships?
Let's gladly accept God's will and plan for our lives. With open arms and open hearts....trusting that no matter what comes our way....it is for our good and His glory.
accepting my assignment,
jill
I have this scripture on a bright yellow note card over my kitchen sink, I need a daily reminder of this.
Many days, I can get an overwhelming wave of discontent washing over me. It will come out of nowhere, and flood my heart and mind with wrong thoughts.
If only _________, I could really be happy.
If only my husband would ____________, my life would be complete.
If only my kids would ________________, I could finally be happy.
If our bank account had______________, I could finally be at peace.
If I could change ____________ about my body, I could be happy.
If God would just give me __________________, I would really trust Him and believe Him.
When this happens, I have a choice. I can give into these emotions that lie, or I can trust God's assignment over me and my life. I can trust and obey. Or, I can worry and doubt.
The world is constantly throwing things in our faces that tempt us to desire more. If only we had more, we could be truly happy.
Remember Jesus in the desert? Satan tempted Jesus over and over. The last temptation was this one:
Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”
Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only. Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him. Matthew 4:8-11
If we are not careful, if we do not defeat the enemy with Truth, we can fall right into his temptation trap.
Satan wants us to believe that "if only" we had certain things, we would be happy.
Jesus uses the Word of God to fight back the enemy's words by saying, "it is written...."
Then, the next line knocks my socks of.. "Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only...."
In essence Jesus is saying....the greatest treasure in the world is not found in earthly riches or desires....but in worshiping and serving God alone.
Whew.
So, when my marriage feels like it is falling apart...
Or, when my children are not acting and performing like I think they should...
Or, when my finances seem like they will never quite be enough....
I can trust in God's plan for my life.
I can worship Him in the mess, in the lack.....
and I can serve Him.
I can serve Him in my words.
I can serve Him in my actions.
I can serve Him by serving my family with a cheerful and joyful heart.
I can serve Him by trusting that everything in my life is filtered through His Hands...for my good.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28
Every assignment for my life is measured and controlled by God for my eternal good. Everything.
When I am caught up in the "if only's"....
I am not accepting the assignment and portion that He has given me for this day.
I am refusing to believe that He is enough for me.
One more time...I am refusing to believe that He is enough for me.
Tears rolling down my cheeks, I repent.
I repent in believing that somehow He is withholding good from me.
I repent in believing that He just isn't enough...
Oh, friends. When these thoughts rule our hearts, we are held captive in the trap of the enemy.
And, it's an empty and lifeless place to be.
It's dark, and gloomy, and hopeless.
You will not find the fruit of God's riches there. You will not find an ounce of joy. You will only find discontent heaped upon more discontent. Gloom upon gloom. Misery upon misery.
However, when we raise up our eyes and lock them into the One who made the heavens and the earth and everything in it....we will be set free.
"Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." John 8:32
When we can grasp what David says to the Lord in his psalm, we can truly be freed from the "if only's"...
One thing I ask from the LORD, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple. Psalm 27:4
One thing, and one thing only, David asked for and sought after....
The Lord.
How would our contentment change if this were our daily, minute by minute focus? How would our attitudes change? Our marriages? Our children's lives? Our relationships?
Let's gladly accept God's will and plan for our lives. With open arms and open hearts....trusting that no matter what comes our way....it is for our good and His glory.
accepting my assignment,
jill
