Sunday Devotional - Dealing with Discontentment

One of the hardest things to deal with as a child of God is when we're disappointed with the One who provides all things. Sometimes we think that we deserve more than we have, better than we have, or something faster than we're getting. It's easy to see other people gaining what we want and then feeling like it's unfair that God's holding back His blessing from us. Especially when we've been good.

Like a child throwing a tantrum, we want to rail at God for being unjust.

Satan moves in like a lion waiting to devour right about now, too - he's there to provide all the coaxing that we need to feed our feeling of dissatisfaction.

• Everyone else has more, even though they aren't even believers.
• You've worked so hard this week, you deserve that reward - but God didn't care to give it to you.
• Why should you bother fighting temptation when it makes no difference?
• Why should you have to keep waiting for what you want?
• God obviously doesn't care.
• He doesn't really love you.

The eyes of all look to you,

    and you give them their food at the proper time.

You open your hand

    and satisfy the desires of every living thing.

(Psalm 145:15-16)

God has not changed who He is. He does love us and He does care. He is the provider of all good things - but in the proper time. His time. Our every desire will be satisfied by His hand. Just because He provides differently from what we expect, or at a different time than we hope, doesn't mean He won't provide. 

When feeling discontented, the first thing we need to do is tell God how we feel. If we're mad, tell Him. If we're sad, tell Him that, too. The Psalms are full of discontented voices asking God to hurry up. Once we've emptied out our feelings, we then need to denounce the lies and remember the truth of God's word. His promises are real and meant for us. We need to remember everything He has provided for us already, then thank Him and praise Him. Lastly, we need to wait upon Him. Wait for the contentment, or the blessing. If we know we are going to receive His promise, but haven't yet, we need to wait for it in great expectation. It's coming, even if it's not on our timetable. 

I've had a great bout with discontentment this week. I felt as though I'd been battling hard, fighting to gain ground, but when I checked to see how much ground I'd gained, I'd actually lost some. I was heartbroken, cried, and spent a few hours having a temper-tantrum of sorts. Then God reminded me of His provision. He reminded me that it's about the relationship I'm developing with Him, not about the outside sources or rewards. 

Jesus is the only source of true joy and satisfaction. He is my reward. 

Yes. I had a child-like tantrum and afterward, I felt a great deal of guilt. But God gave me a good hug and reminded me that I'm already acceptable to Him. If you're feeling discontented like I was, I pray that this short message and testimony will find you where you are and help you remember where you're reward is, too. May God bless you on your continuing journey with Him.

Sunday Devotional: Victory Cannot Depend on our Circumstances

When the road is smooth and dry, it's easy to go along in any vehicle. But if it's a dirt road, and the rain has been coming down, it will soon be mud, and not any vehicle will do. If the way is uphill, a car with a bad engine will struggle, while it's just fine on the downhill slopes.

When life throws us a curve ball, do we continue to walk in victory, or do we hang our heads in defeat? 

When we struggle with addiction, it's when we hit these lows in life that it becomes hard to coast along. The only way we can continue to live in victory over our struggle is to rely upon God. He is the miracle worker. He thrives in doing more than we can do, and loves His children enough to want to help us overcome in times of need. Instead of sinking into the pit, we can be delivered to a firm place to stand.

He lifted me out of the slimy pit,

    out of the mud and mire;

he set my feet on a rock

    and gave me a firm place to stand. (Psalm 40:2)

Only be preparing ourselves for times of trouble by leaning on God in all circumstances can we learn to have victory no matter what our life throws at us. It starts with a simple choice. First, we have to rely upon the truth, and point out the lies. Satan loves to convince us that our circumstances dictate who we are and how we behave. But God wants us to know that peace is possible even in the storm. 

Next run to the Lord in prayer. Tell Him your problems and lay them at His feet. Leave those worries and problems there, and don't pick them back up once you get up off your knees again. 

Then lean upon God and determine not to allow the problems of this moment steal your peace or joy. By relying on the strength of God, we will be fine on the uphill slopes, and the mud will not keep us from moving forward. He is able to deliver us and give us peace in any situation. My prayer for you today is that you put these three simple steps into practice no matter what circumstance you're going through today.

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Fall Into Cash $250 Giveaway

October 15th to November 15th

  Hi Everyone! I'm helping sponsor a huge giveaway, so I thought I'd share it with all my followers ~ Enter for your chance to win a $250 Amazon Gift Code or $250 in Paypal Cash. Thanks to this awesome group of bloggers and authors who have joined with me to bring you one fabulous prize!! Sponsor List I Am A Reader Kris Bock Romantic Suspense author Chris Eboch, children's book author Coupons and Freebies Mom Simple Wyrdings Kimber Leigh Wheaton Krysten Lindsay Hager Author Melissa Wright B. Kristin McMichael Author Dorothy Dreyer Suzi Love Helen Smith Kindle and Me Elizabeth Isaacs Glistering: B's Blog Heather Gray ACME Teen Books - Kids & YA Too! Crystal Collier, YA Author Eric Buffington YA Fantasy Adventure My Life. One Story at a Time. Fat Free Faith Diana's Book Reviews Author D.E. Haggerty Lori's Reading Corner LOVE. WITHOUT YOU CoolCatMysteries Giveaway Details $250 in Paypal Cash or a $250 Amazon.com eGift Card Ends 11/15/16 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use money sent via Paypal or gift codes via Amazon.com. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the authors, bloggers and publishers on the sponsor list. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.     a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sunday Devotional: Bringing Dead Dreams Back to Life

When we were younger, we had so many dreams. We believed we could do anything, become anything, accomplish anything. Walking, talking, reading, riding a bike--these all seemed like impossible tasks until we overcame them, so if we could do that, nothing was outside our grasp. Then reality hit and some dreams became dead to us because we found out they were too difficult for us to accomplish on our own especially when we didn't have the resources to overcome them.

No matter how much we try to push ourselves to overcome the thing, it was impossible to do on our own. Inspired initiative is when we hear God say, "Arise from the dead." (Ephesians 5:14). Only when the inspiration comes from God are we able to arise our dreams from the dead and do the impossible thing. Because God's words come with miraculous power and the resources we need to overcome any obstacle.

But there's a catch to it.

God doesn't give us life until we do as He says. In order to "arise from the dead," we have to get up. In order for the man with the withered hand to heal, he hand to "stretch forth" his hand (Mark 3:1-6). God gives the order, and we have to take Him at His word and move when He says to. If we believe Him and get up, we'll find that God gives us overcoming life immediately. We'll find strength where we had none, help where we didn't see it, and the power to overcome when we were overwhelmed.

So what is God asking you to do today that you think would be impossible? What dream did you think was dead, but God is telling "arise?" My prayer today is that we take God at His word and move forward, believing that He will give us the power to overcome any obstacle.