September 16, 2005
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A Contented Heart
I’ve been watching the tragedy of New Orleans on the news and grieving for all the loss. I watched as thousands, perhaps millions, of refugees waited 4 days to get relief. The pain was too much to endure at times and I had to take breaks from watching. My mind would race to all the ‘what if’s’ … what if a disaster separated me from my family?….what if I saw one of those I loved swept off in a flood of water and I was not able to save them? The thought is too painful to even meditate upon. I thanked God that for TODAY I do not have to endure such loss. I’ve had to make a choice to obey Scripture and not worry about tomorrow. Matt. 6
What was even more painful to watch were the different responses coming forth from people’s mouth. Some were praising God that He had protected them and looking to Him for their safety, while other’s cursed the government for not moving fast enough to save them. All were under the same heavy trial but out of the abundance of the heart, each mouth was speaking what they believed in the frame of their soul. Trials and afflictions most definitely will expose what is in our hearts. Think about the Israelites and how each one responded to their circumstances. I wondered what my response would be. No one knows for sure until that time comes. Peter predicted he would respond in one way to future trials but, just as the Lord knew, he denied Christ under pressure. I pray that God will prepare me today for what lies ahead tomorrow. I pray that I will be able to bring glory to Him by displaying a quiet and contented heart under trial and that my words would give people hope in His grace. We are so dependent on Him for His grace.
As I pondered that question I reminded myself that TODAY is my training ground for tomorrow. Scripture teaches that each day is full of it’s own trouble. Matt. 6 How I am responding to the small trials and afflictions in my life TODAY will most likely be a mirror of how I would respond to the harder trials tomorrow. I can begin today by not murmuring or complaining about the inconveniences or the seeming ‘lack’ in my life or the small interruptions that crowd my day. I can ‘practice’ living a life of contentment TODAY!
Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. Phil. 4:11
Blessings,
Georgene
