Being satisfied with my situation …
with my possessions …
with my status …
with my life …
with who I’ve become and who I am at the moment (all of me … body, mind, and soul).
This is hard for me.
Very hard.
Even harder after I read this quote by A.W. Tozer …
“God may allow His servant to succeed when He has disciplined him to a point where he does not need to succeed to be happy. The man who is elated by success and is cast down by failure is still a carnal man. At best his fruit will have a worm in it.”
I am this carnal person.
Consumed with myself and my desires, no matter how hard I try not to be … my flesh is always here to remind me how worthless I am and how much I need to be better …
A better wife …
A better mommy …
A better friend …
A better person.
I struggle so much with trying to be better that I forget to be content with who and where I am.
I will begin to thank God daily for who He has created me to be and not strive to be something else.
I will begin to thank God for the healthy body I have and not complain about the way I look.
I will begin to thank God for what He’s delivered me from and not sabotage my future by dwelling on the past.
I will begin to thank God for the work He is continually doing in me and stop saying, “I suck.”
I will pray for contentment in all things.
That quote … can’t get past it … “The man who is elated by success and is cast down by failure is still a carnal man.” Gosh. Harsh. But, when you think about it … so true.
Contentment … in all times, success or failure … good times or bad … in ALL TIMES.
Daphne,
I have the same worm. This is great insight. A challenging quote from Tozer (One of my favorite authors by the way) and encouraging honesty from someone I am learning to admire more all the time. Even as I ponder what you’ve written, my mind says, “Yes but there has to be a balance. We can’t accept less than God’s best!” (It’s probably the worm talking, huh?)
Jeff
We live in a world that is never content and it is so easy to get caught up. The longer we walk with Jesus, the more He wants ue to find our contentment in Him and Him alone.
Turning each negative thought into an opportunity to thank Him is a great way to “take captive every thought”.
Never forget who you are. You are blessed, chosen, adopted, accepted, redeemed, forgiven, victorious. You are free to be who He made you to be!
Blessings ~ Lisa
When I was learning to snow ski, I remembered something that I’m pretty sure you said…..
to paraphrase…..God has given me abilities and talents. If I use those to my best, I am honoring God. If I question them, I am questioning His Divine Perfection for giving me the gifts I have.
On that mountain, I decided that God gave me the physical ability to stand and the mental capacity to understand and take correction. I focused on what I could do, and not the fear of hurdling down that mountain….all thanks to your words.
Physician, heal thyself.
Our own efforts are all as filthy rags anyway, right? Tough to swallow, but so true. Great post.
Wow, this is so real and hits really close to home. Thanks for posting.
It is indeed a harsh quote, but the fact that you are sensitive to it shows how pliable and receptive you are to growth. Thanks for sharing because we can all relate.
“In all things, give thanks” is a scripture that I try to live by. With many others who are so much less fortunate, all around us, it is easy to adopt this verse and make it a part of our lives.
Your blog and your family are just lovely and I love the bangs!
I feel like you took a peek into my day… I bought my son a FIVE DOLLAR T SHIRT (ok, and a couple of other things) and my husband got a little ill at me. I feel like I am buying cheap and he only sees that I am BUYING.
Wow! That is really good and just what I need to hear. Thanks for sharing it.
In all times … love that.
so hard, yet so necessary too!
Great post with so much food for thought – THANKS!!
being a stay at home mom for 17 years, i need to hear these things. i have seen success and failure and watched most of my friends achieve some sort of ‘new’ status over the years that gives them importance…i have to keep myself from thinking i am less important because i have no titles. carnal thinking on my part. 😉
Wow. I loved this post – although some parts I agree – were harsh. 🙂 Very good. Very convicting!
Tozer quotes always convict me to no end. Very great post.