Malachi 3:6: The Canadian Rockies-Photo by Mark J. Booth
Dear Heavenly Father,
I live in a world that is constantly changing; yet you do not change. My circumstances may change, but you do not change. My health my change, but you do not change. My financial situation may change, but you do not change. The people in my life may change, but you do not change.
Thank you, Father, for giving me the privilege to call you, Father. Thank you for the blessings of the past year. You showed your mercy towards me every day. Your presence was always with me even when I wasn’t aware of you being with me. Your Word brought direction, comfort, and conviction throughout the past year. You blessed me by using my family, and many other people who showed love and kindness towards me. You gave me strength when I was weak. You gave me wisdom when I was confused. Above all, I thank you for your love that I didn’t deserve.
Father, as I look forward to the New Year, I realize that I am facing the great unknown, but my unknown future is known to you.. For this reason, I commit this New Year to you. Help me to keep my eyes focused upon you.
Please guide me in every decision that I make. Help me to love my wife, my family, and all those that you bring into my life. Give me the strength, patience, and wisdom to bear any trial that may come my way. Help me to draw closer to you each day. Increase my faith, because I often walk by sight and not by faith.
When I am tempted to go astray, bring me back to yourself. When my love becomes lukewarm, woo me back to yourself. When I feel like quitting, let me experience your grace to move forward.
Thank you, Father, for your ears that are always open to my prayers. Take my life and let it be devoted to you. I commit my ever-changing life to you, because you are my unchanging Father. Amen.
Woldumar Nature Center (Lansing, Michigan USA) Photo by: Mark J. Booth
Discontentment is found everywhere, including our own hearts. People are discontent with their marriages, with their jobs, with their health, with their relationships, as well as their possessions. The root of discontentment is covetousness. Covetousness is defined as the inordinate desire to have something. It is also defined as the desire to have something that belongs to another.
Covetousness is a sin that creates a warped view of God. We feel that God has cheated us out of something. Satan used this approach with Eve when he told her that God was wrong to withhold the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Eve coveted the fruit and ate it. The tenth commandment says: “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.” (Exodus 20:17)
God’s gives this commandment for two reasons. First of all, God hates covetousness because it places the coveted object above Him, which is a form of idolatry. It also causes us to have the wrong view of His person and blessings. “For the wicked boasteth of his heart’s desire,and blesseth the covetous, whom the Lord abhorreth.” (Psalm 10:3)
Secondly, covetousness brings harm to us and to those around us. The Bible teaches us that covetousness leads to:
injustice: “And they covet fields, and take them by violence;and houses, and take them away: so they oppress a man and his house, even a man and his heritage.” (Micah 5:2)
harm to ourselves: “But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.”
(1 Timothy 6:9)
departure from the faith: “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” (1 Timothy 6:10)
many sorrows-See the above verse
family problems: “He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house;”
(Proverbs 15:27)
Covetousness is clearly a problem many of us face. The solution to this problem is having a spirit of contentment. The secret of a growing, joyful Christian life is being content in our relationship with God in spite of the circumstances. One person defined contentment as: “Realizing that God has provided everything I need for my present happiness.” How do we go from a spirit of covetousness to a spirit of contentment?
We move beyond covetousness to contentment when:
1. We know that our Heavenly Father will take care of us. Covetousness says: “I want something beyond what God gives me.” Contentment says: “My Heavenly Father loves me and He takes care of all of my needs.” “Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.” (Matthew 6: 31-32)
2. We know that God is with us even in the most difficult situations we face. Covetousness looks at others and thinks that they have a better situation than we have. Contentment doesn’t look at others, but looks to God. God is with us. What more do we need? “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
(Hebrews 13:5)
3. We focus on our spiritual lives above all else. A covetous person focuses upon the physical realm. He doesn’t make his spiritual life a priority. Jesus reminded His hearers; “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33) A contented person understands that in this life we will have difficulties, but he knows that life is more than this material world. His desires are focused upon his soul and his relationship with God.
4. We give God all of our burdens. A covetous person attempts to find security through their own efforts. They always feel that there is something missing in their life to have total security. A contented person gives all of their cares and burdens to the Lord. He is their security. “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” (1 Peter 5:7)
Our Heavenly Father has blessed us beyond what we will ever know or understand.
“Dear Father, thank you for your many blessings. Help me to see you in every circumstance in my life. Help me to trust you to meet all of my needs. May your presence, love, and provision be the focus of my daily life. Thank you for adopting me into your family. Amen.”
Bible Treasures for Today 