Heart of Discontent

"You shall not covet your neighbor's house.

You shall not covet your neighbor's wife,

or his male or female servant,

his ox or donkey,

or anything that belongs to your neighbor."

Exodus 20:17

Luscious, crimson carpeting felt like cushions beneath my feet.  Beautiful paintings peered at me from the meticulously painted walls and books peeked out from the most unusual places, giving me a sense of wonder.  Great care had been taken to bring beauty into the living quarters through the clever placement of fresh flowers and curious trinkets.  Stepping into my friend's dwelling place was like walking into a model home straight out of Better Homes and Gardens.

It was easy for me to feel discontent after spending some time in this talented woman's home.  While I thought I was perfectly pleased with my own home, a check of my heart betrayed it's true state of discontent.

It's easy to look at what others have, whether it be relationships, positions, gifts and talents or material possessions, and want them for myself.  The fact of the matter is that God has given me many blessings but when I covet what another has been given, I betray a heart of discontent.

Focus on Self

As a child, the most uncomfortable part of the day was when I had to board the school bus that stopped by my house each morning.  Living in the country, the houses were few and far between so I usually got front-door service when it came to the bus.  While I waited at the end of the driveway each morning, however, my anxiety levels would rise as I thought of what was to come.   

Stepping onto the bus with all those eyes upon me made me feel vulnerable, as if I was standing on a stage in my underwear.  I never noticed any of the other students, instead walking blindly to an empty seat where I quickly sat down.  From that safe vantage point, I then surveyed my surroundings and looked to see where my friends might be sitting.

I have been plagued by insecurities my whole life.  The root of this problem, I have found, is a sense of self-centeredness.  I am so concentrated on me and my perceived flaws that I fail to look outside of myself.  Unfortunately, this fleshly-mindset also spills over to how I feel about all the good things God has freely and lovingly given to me.  When I am focused solely on myself and my desires, I develop a spirit of discontent.

Instead of being happy for the gift of homemaking my friend has been given, then, I long to have it for myself and labor to imitate her style.  Whereas I could find a reason to be thankful for the tight budget my family adheres to, knowing that God will use this time of struggle for our good, I instead look longingly toward those around me who are able to buy whatever they want.  While there is much good to be found in my present circumstances, my selfish heart seems to only notice the blessings in the lives of others.

Cooperating with God as He cultivates in me a selfless spirit will soon turn my covetous, selfish heart into one that is happy with the blessings He has given me. (Romans 12:2)

Focus off God

God had blessed the man with a shrewd sense of business.  As a result, he became quite successful, building a sizable fortune for himself.  While he did think about how he could give away some of what he earned, the greater his wealth became, the more he thought about himself.  Soon, he was investing large chunks and saving even more.  Before he knew it, the wealthy man focused mostly on his own retirement. (paraphrased from Luke 12:13-21)

Even though I've never acquired such wealth, it's easy to develop such a self-centered attitude.  While there is nothing wrong with planning for the future, God deemed this man's attitude foolish because he was storing up things for himself without being rich toward God.  (v 21)

I often have this same problem of distraction.  Sometimes it is my current occupation that steals my attention from the Lord.  Instead of soaking in His Word and cultivating a heart devoted to Him, I drift away as I desire more and more and, as a result, my career takes up a bigger chunk of my awareness.

Other times I simply get caught up in the day to day details of living and never give a thought to the One who knit me together so painstakingly, purposefully allowing situations into my life that will grow me, stretch me and mold me as He sees fit.  Instead of blooming where I am planted, then, I long for a life free from trouble.  (Psalm 139:13-14, Romans 8:28, Romans 5:3-5)

Then there are the times that relationships distract me from the Lord.  I get so caught up in nurturing a bond with someone I love, desiring it to grow deeper,  that I neglect my connection to the Lover of my soul. (Psalm 103)

When I go after things outside of God's will for me, I've removed my attention from God and the plan He has for my life.

Spirit of Thankfulness

It was a curious thing; no matter how lush and green the grass was in our pasture, our cows would always stick their heads through the barbed-wire fence in an effort to nibble on the enticing blades found in our neighbor's field.  I guess the saying really is true: The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence!

While I couldn't understand why our small herd could not be happy with the grass in our own field, a closer look at my own heart reveals a similar condition.  Spending too much time looking at what others have tends to develop a state of discontent.  Instead of cultivating a spirit of thankfulness for what I do possess, I end up seeing only what I don't have.

Even though my home is beautiful, spacious enough for my own family and filled with comfy furniture, for example, it's easy for me to desire a larger porch with grand archways like my friend has, or classy furniture like I see in the magazines.  

Whereas God has blessed me with a tight-knit family who works together as a team, we still have our moments of discord.  I often find myself paying more attention to the times of disharmony instead of looking for all the good that is right before my eyes.

Although I could thank God for the gift of writing, there are many times I desire to sing to the Lord a beautiful melody like the worship team does or know how to serve others like I see my friend do when she utilizes her gift of service.  Instead of thanking God for what He has given to me, it is like I am chastising Him for what He hasn't.

While it is pleasing to God when I develop an attitude of thankfulness, a covetous heart steals that spirit away.

God has blessed me in many ways.  When I focus too much on myself, allow distractions to remove my attention from God, and let my desire for more squelch my spirit of thankfulness, it is apparent that I have a problem with covetousness.  Instead of being happy with His blessings, then, I discover that I have developed a heart of discontent.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can take a sober look at the state of my heart.

When do I let the things I don't have distract me from all the good I have been given?

How does my desire for more take my attention away from God? 

Stay True

"You shall not commit adultery."

Exodus 20:14

The man willfully and willingly married a prostitute, knowing full well the promiscuous nature of her lifestyle.  She bore him three children, never knowing for sure if he were the biological father.  Still, he loved his wife and family, treasuring them as his most prized possession.

Hosea was a prophet through whom the Lord graphically illustrated the infidelity of His people and His great love for us. (Hosea) When he cherished his wife, it was a beautiful picture of how God loves us despite our unfaithfulness to Him.  There also is a sober warning, however, and that caution is as follows:  "Your deeds won't let you come to God again, for the spirit of adultery is deep within you, and you cannot know the Lord."  (Hosea 5:4)

The adultery of which God forbids my participation in is so much more than an act of sexual passion outside of marriage.  The adultery I also must guard against is the way I fail to stay true to God and His ways.  Therefore, I must be careful not to stray.

   

Purity of Mind

The List- everything I must accomplish today.

My master plan- what I need to do to reach my goals.

Relationship Assessment-a continuous evaluation of all the relationships in my life and the part                                                I play in their health.

Financial Report- a running estimate of expected income, bills due and expenses looming.

If my mind were a computer, these are the programs I'd be constantly running in the background of my consciousness.  While there may be nothing wrong with keeping tabs on my responsibilities, there is a problem when there's no room left for thoughts of God.  If I were to track the percentage of brain power I utilize for meditating on God and His Word, pondering thoughts of Him, or thanking and praising Him throughout my day, I wonder how much it would be?  25% . . .10% . . . 2% . . .

There is so much to corrupt my way of thinking, distorting the Truth as I've been taught.  Even more than that, though, there is so much petty, meaningless and godless stuff with which I fill my brain.  Since I have a Father who knows what I need, I am wasting my precious brain power on pondering things that have to do with the necessities for living.  Instead, I can fill my mind with kingdom thoughts, focusing on the true, good, right, pure, lovely, excellent and praiseworthy things.  (Matthew 6:31-34,Philippians 4:8)

When I am tempted, then, to analyze my present situation, looking for a solution or inspecting all the possible outcomes, I can instead channel my thoughts toward what I've learned about the character of God.  He cares for me, loves me unconditionally, provides for everything I need on a daily basis, and holds the masterplan for my life in His mind.  Suddenly, I will find myself resting in His capable hands.

Other times I may dwell on upcoming activities, vacations or trips, daydreaming about the things I will do.  Instead of wasting brain power on such temporal things, I can form a mental picture of my heavenly destination, putting together all the qualities of my eternal home that can be found in scripture.  This is the kind of hope I need to keep before me when the days ahead get rough.

As soon as my mind begins pondering the hopelessness of my horrible health and all the pain I must endure, I can instead look for ways God is renewing my inner strength each and every day.  (2 Corinthians 4:16)  Thoughts about the spiritual body I will receive in eternity can guard my mind with peace. (1 Corinthians 5:42-44)

Staying true to God and His ways means I must practice purity of my mind.

Purity of Heart

My heart cannot be trusted.  Even though the world constantly tells me to "follow my heart," the Lord warns me of such folly.  Only He knows the wickedness found within myself.  (Jeremiah 17:9-10)  God also reminds me that my heart is the center of my being; the wellspring of my life.  Therefore it is important that I guard it from things that will influence me to stray away from the good the Lord has prepared for me. (Proverbs 4:23)  It seems the enemy is within and without!

Simply put, I can't trust my sinful nature but neither can I rely on the wisdom of this world.  Instead, I would be wise to stay true to God, placing all my hope in His ways.  In order to keep my heart pure, then, I need to be aware of the corruption that comes from my own selfish desires, and the filth that flows from the world.

My first line of attack is to realize this reality.  If I go through life oblivious to either the untrustworthiness of my heart that entices me with selfish pursuits, or the danger found in the world that tells me to go after pleasures, possessions and power, then my ignorance makes me vulnerable.

My next step is to come up with a strategy to resist the temptation of my sinful nature and guard my heart from ungodly corruption.  Staying rooted in the Word of God and trusting in the Lord as my sole source of hope and confidence will bolster my faith in just the way that will accomplish this objective.  (Jeremiah 17:7-8, Psalm 119:11)

Once my roots are deep and I'm drawing from the Living Water, the temptations that come from within will lose their power, and the lure of the world around me will become strangely dim.  Still, I can never let my guard down.  Instead, I will always need to be aware of the treacherous nature of my heart while guarding it against outside influences.  Right when I think I'm safe, that is when I will need to raise my defenses.

Staying true to God and His ways means I must practice purity of heart.

Purity of Body

Fitness is big business today.  Many health professionals have recognized the importance of preventative health care, of which exercise is an important part.  What really seems to be driving the industry, however, is the popularity of muscled and well-toned bodies.  Everybody wants a hard body.

While it is important to take good care of my body, it doesn't take much for me to enter into the realm of idol worship.  When my fitness regime itself becomes my focus, instead of it being a desire to simply take care of what God has given to me, then I have a problem.  My body ceases being a temple of God and has slowly morphed into a god itself.

But this is not the only way my body can be used to draw my fidelity away from God.  The Apostle Paul said I can either use my body to please myself, or I can use it to honor God.  When I offer my body as a living sacrifice, I am worshiping Him in a powerful and tangible way.  (Romans 12:1)  This means thinking of my body as belonging to God and letting Him use it in the way that He best sees fit.  

So, if I want to wear clothing that shows off my hard work in the gym, I had better check my motivation and ask myself if this would honor God.  If my pursuit of health becomes more important than my pursuit of Jesus, I must ask myself if my priorities are God-honoring.  If the pain within my body monopolizes my thoughts and focus, I must look for the grace of God that becomes my strength in the midst of weakness.

Staying true to God and His ways means I must practice purity of body.

I may not struggle with sexual infidelity, but adultery is so much more than that.  God wants me to pursue purity of mind, heart and body.  In these ways I will stay true to Him.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can keep focused on God and His ways.

How do I dishonor God in the way I use my body?

When do I let my heart lead me instead of seeking God's guidance?   

Christ and Him Crucified

"I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting

the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ

and are turning to a different gospel--

which is really no gospel at all.

Evidently some people are throwing you

into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ.

. . .As we have already said,

so now I say again:

If anybody is preaching to you a gospel

other than what you accepted,

let them be under God's curse!

Galatians 1:6,7,9

The flyer attached to my mailbox with the telltale fish sign drew my eye as it fluttered in the wind.  Curious, I walked over and plucked it off the post.  "Now is a good time to return to the Catholic Church."  The flyer gave an invitation to Catholics to come back to the flock and gave ten reasons why people decide to return to a Catholic congregation after a prolonged absence.  Reading through the pamphlet, I discerned a different kind of gospel than what I've been taught.

Followers were encouraged to come back so they can receive true forgiveness by confessing their sins to a priest where they will receive absolution, that only the Catholic Church has the fullness of grace and truth, and that the communion ceremony holds some kind of special power and gives spiritual nourishment.

While it is true that the Catholic Church boasts millions of members, the message they preach is not consistent with the Gospel I have learned through scripture. Staying true to the Gospel as I've been taught is an issue of life and death.

Blood

It was a necessary act, this spilling of innocent blood.  As this life-giving fluid flowed from the body of the Son of God, He gave up His own life while simultaneously giving millions of the guilty a chance to live. (2 Corinthians 5:21)  This spilling of innocent blood became the ultimate sacrifice.

Many believe they can get right with God through effort or good intentions.  Others think confession in itself can save them.  The truth is that no one can reach God's standards on their own and that He cannot forgive my sins, no matter how repentant I am, without the blood of Jesus to cover over my transgressions.  (Romans 3:23, 1 John 1:7-9, Hebrews 9:22)

The Gospel I've been taught includes the importance of the blood of Jesus to the forgiveness of my sins.

Law

He held the stones in his hand, aware of the gravity of the words God had personally engraved into the tablets.  Moses had just spent 40 days with God on the mountain, receiving the specific rules and instructions He wanted His people to follow.  As he prepared to present the word of the Lord to those who awaited his return, Moses could hear the sounds of revelry.  (Exodus 32)  This man, chosen by God to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, knew deep down inside that the holy tablets he carried in his hands could do nothing to change the wicked heart of man.

I can try my best to obey the law as found in the Bible, but my best will never be good enough.  If I follow a gospel that tells me I must obey the rules as a way to become righteous, I will set myself up to be judged according to the Law.  (James 2:10)  God will then condemn me as a law breaker and send me to eternal death.  (Romans 6:23a)

If it were possible to become righteous by following the law, then why would God go through such heartache and pain in sending His Son to die on the cross?  If I was able to live righteously on my own, then Christ died for naught!  (Galatians 2:21)

Instead, I must remember that the law is powerless to save me, but can only show me where I fall short and need a Savior. (Romans 4:15)  Thus, the law draws attention to my need for Jesus!

The Gospel I've been taught includes the powerlessness of the law to save me.

Grace

The very one who made her life a living Hell lay on his deathbed.  Here was her chance for revenge, for some kind of retribution.  He's only getting what he deserved, she thought as she remembered all the hurt he had caused her.  

Then, she did the extraordinary.  This victim who had suffered at the hand of evil, forgave.  Instead of exacting vengeance, she offered grace, and shared the saving message of the Gospel to the man she wanted to kill for so many years.

It is not easy to offer grace to those who hurt me.  Sure, for the ones I love I would gladly lay down my life.  For those whose evil intent is obvious, though, I could not imagine doing anything nice for them, let alone giving my life so they might live.  Yet, that is exactly what Jesus did for me!

While I was still a sinner, bent on living my life my way and unwilling to even acknowledge my Creator as Lord, He loved me enough to send Jesus to die for me.  My uncovered sin made me an enemy of God!  (Colossians 1:21)  Even so, Jesus paid the ultimate price to cover a debt I couldn't pay: the death penalty my sin deserves for breaking His law.  (Colossians 2:13-14)

The Gospel I've been taught includes the gift of grace God offers through faith in Jesus Christ.

While some messages I hear may sound good or may be a part of a tradition I grew up with, I must be careful to stay true to the Gospel as I've been taught.  Only the Gospel of Christ and Him crucified can save me from eternal condemnation. (1 Corinthians 2:2)

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can keep the truth of the Gospel at the forefront of my mind.

When am I easily swayed by a message that sounds good but may not be true?

How do I try to earn grace by what I do, forgetting that Jesus already did everything required to earn me God's favor?

One True God

“You shall have no other gods before Me."

-The One True God-

(Exodus 20:3)

The List

• My Relationships
• My To-Do-List
• My Marriage
• My Family
• My Blog
• Exercise
• My Garden
• My Appearance
• My Schedule

This is a list of some of the things which are always in danger of becoming gods in my life.  Many times I place theses things in a position of importance above God.  They either monopolize my thoughts, or I give them a majority of my time. 

Jealous  When Ezekiel was sent to deliver messages from God to "a rebellious nation" (Ezekiel 2:3), the people of Israel were in exile in Babylon and had a serious problem with their own list of gods.  God warned them of His coming wrath and then said,  "I'm a jealous God and not to be trifled with." (Ezekiel 5:13 The Message)  

First Position  As our Creator, God deserves the first position in our lives.  But many times we are just like the Israelites, letting other people, things and activities take the place only He should hold.  If I profess to follow Him, I can't just label myself as a "Christian," and continue living the way I always have.  Instead, I must give Him the top and most prominent place in my thoughts, in my words and in my deeds.  I love the way Mark Harris said it in his song, "One True God*."



I don't have a God I can put on a stand
Or a God I hold in the palm of my hand
I have a God that's holding me


And I don't have a God that I can create
In the place I live with the money I make
I have a God, He made everything


So I don't need a temporary man-made deity
When I got the real thing, I got the real thing


He's the Lord of all the earth, the maker of all things
He alone is the one true God
Kingdoms rise and fall but even through it all
He remains the one true God

The place God holds in our lives illustrates who we really think He is.  Is He Lord of all the earth, or only Lord of certain things?  Our perception of who He is does not change the reality: He is Lord of all the earth!  But is He Lord of all my heart?

My prayer as I begin this day is that I will purposefully set aside all others things and place The Lord in the position of my One True God.

What monopolizes my thoughts?

How am I not honoring the Lord as my One True God?

* http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/m/mark_harris/#share