| Yesterday we learned about gaining through losing. But how do we become skilled in this kind of subtraction? How do we match our hearts with our circumstances? By feeding the mind and the heart on those things that bring contentment rather than arouse desire! I’m not talking about rule keeping such as “Don’t touch this” or “Stay away from that!” Rules only lead to the arousal of cravings. I’m talking about common sense.
For instance, I can’t exercise like most people, so I have to watch my calories more closely. It’s critical to my health in this wheelchair. Yet I love Gelson’s Supermarket’s blueberry muffins. This means I studiously avoid the bakery counter at Gelson’s. It’s hard, but I stay away from it because I don’t want to feed my cravings. I don’t want my desires to be stimulated by the smell or the sight of those delicious muffins. I don’t keep hard-and-fast rules about avoiding that corner of the market; it’s more like behavior modification. If I don’t want to get myself in trouble, I stay away from things that cause trouble.
Contentment results when you give up one thing for another. It means sacrificing itchy cravings to gain a settled soul. Gaining contentment does not mean “no more discomfort.” First Timothy 6:6 says that godliness with contentment is great gain; however, the gain always comes through loss. No, I can’t enjoy the luxury of those muffins, but that’s okay; the sacrifice is worth my health.
Your desire may not be for blueberry muffins. It may be for a husband or a different living situation. Today feed your mind and heart on those things that bring contentment rather than arouse desire. When you do, you are “sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything” (2 Cor. 6:10).
I want you, Lord, to be at the center of my desires. I feed my mind and heart on you today. With you I am content. |
