Not Gone, Just Almost Forgotten

What's important to you?  What do you seek?  Is it more money, an updated wardrobe, a new car?  If getting these would you be content in life?  Probably not.  You'd want more money yet again, new clothes again, and yet another new car.  What can allow each of us to be content with where we are currently at right this minute?  It's not looking at our life in a negative way that we are selfish and become wrapped up in what we want and don't have.  Being content with our current state lies in our view of God.  Are we satisfied knowing that He will meet our needs in ways He knows are best?  Can we view our own life in seeing it through God's perspective; meaning our focus is upon what we should do for Him thus for others, or can we not get passed ourselves and the feeling of what we believe is owed to us/what we should have?  We can see all of this in the Apostle Paul and in God's Son, Jesus Christ.  Look at Philippians chapter 4.  Paul is in prison yet again, being persecuted for sharing his faith and telling others about Christ.  Yet Paul is content and joyful.  He isn't caught up in what negativity is thrown his way.  Instead, he trusts God to meet his needs in all things, even if it means the courage to face his own death.  He goes on to tell the folks at the church of Philipi to rejoice (meaning that our inner attitude does not have to reflect our outer circumstance).  We are to find this contentment in our knowing that though we won't get everything that we want, we won't go through life without experiencing pain and discomfort in various formats at times, but that what we need while here on earth Christ well deliver.  He will always supply if we believe, trust and put our faith in Him.

This is extremely difficult at times to live out.  I have struggled a lot with this like all of us have.  Being reminded through Scripture of the above definitely helps me out.  Without Christ and His assurances, I do not know where I would be at mentally or what condition my heart would be in.  When I get caught up in things of this world and compare myself to others based off of materialistic things, I get really down on myself.  I grow angry because I am disgusted with who I am because of what I do not have.  But instead of concentrating on this selfish way of thinking, I am brought back to what is true when I turn to God.  He is my Comforter.  He has helped me from destructing.  He gives me peace in knowing that He has it all figured out already.  He reminds me of what is most important.  Through Him, I am refocused.  My eyes are turned back on Him and not upon my own self and the things Satan tries his hardest to lure us away from Christ; things of the world.  I am reminded of all the ways that God has met my needs, my wife and I's needs.  I am reminded of His love, care and protection in things of my past and in reading about His mercy and love to others throughout Scripture.  Then and only then I am brought back to Paul's type of contentment and joy in life, regardless of the circumstances and situation.