Dave’s Monday Blast – July 16, 2018

Remember that old Rolling Stones song…”I Can’t Get No Satisfaction”? Recently, I was reading that familiar passage in (Philippians 4:11 – 13) remembering that God has provided us with many things to enjoy, but too often our lives are filled with turmoil instead of contentment. Do you ever wrestle with a lack of contentment my friends?

Four practices that create dissatisfaction are:

1. Busyness. We live in a hurry-up society, dashing from one activity to another. Jesus did not rush anywhere, yet He accomplished whatever God gave Him to do. Not once did He tell His followers to move faster. He even praised Mary for choosing to stop her work and spend time with Him (Luke 10:39, 42).

2. Earthly perspective. Too often we live focused on our circumstances. Our minds think about what happened earlier in the week, what’s on today’s agenda, and the activities occurring next week, month, or year. No wonder enjoyment of life remains elusive. The solution is to have an eternal perspective, which acknowledges that God is in charge and our goal is to please Him.

3. Self-imposed pressure. We have all experienced the unavoidable burdens of schoolwork, employment, and relationships. But we bring needless pressure on ourselves when we allow unnecessary “musts” and “shoulds” to rule us. The remedy is to turn to God, acknowledge His right to order our days, and ask for His plan.

4. Unhealthy attitudes. Perfectionism, false guilt, and apathy all undermine our enjoyment of life.
Satisfaction is found in a life that reflects God’s priorities and time with Him come first. Reading His Word, we become mindful of the Father’s great love, learn what He views as important, and experience the joy of belonging to Him. When contentment is elusive, it’s time to examine our priorities.

I love the acronym for BUSY from Nic Vujicic: Being Under Satan’s Yoke