Daily Devotions

There is something about the person who is content with their circumstances regardless of how good and bad their current situation. 

The story is told about a pilot who always looked down intently on a certain valley in the Appalachians when the plane passed overhead. One day his co-pilot asked, “What’s so interesting about that spot?” The pilot replied, “See that stream? Well, when I was a kid I used to sit down there on a log and fish. Every time an airplane flew over, I would look up and wish I were flying... Now I look down and wish I were fishing.”

It is always tempting to think that others have it better than we do, and that if we just had “a little more” everything would be fine. But contentment cannot be achieved by increasing possessions. Nothing will ever be enough.

The Psalmist put it this way, “Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God. He is the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them — he remains faithful forever. He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets prisoners free.” Psalm 146:5-7

G K Chesterton once wrote, “True contentment is a thing as active as agriculture. It is the power of getting out of any situation all that there is in it. It is arduous and it is rare.”

Contentment can be described a state of satisfaction and peace with one's circumstances, and is often regarded as a blessing of the new life in Christ. It can lead to a more joyful and less anxious life by shifting focus from what is lacking to what is present. 

Dear God, thank you for the many blessings in my life. Help me to cultivate a heart of contentment, even when faced with challenges. Guide me to find joy in your presence and appreciate the good things you have given me. May I be grateful for what I have and not desire more than what I need. Help me to trust in your provision and find peace in your unwavering love. Amen