Slow down there

Hi Reader,

Welcome to Living Contentment Weekly. Here are your three contentment-related thoughts for today. Something for you to: read | do | pray

RREAD THIS

There is a growing backlash to the always-on, constantly moving, buy-stuff-and-throw-it-away culture in which we live. Slow food (promoting local, traditional ways of eating), slow fashion (that considers the human and natural resources required to replace clothes). We live in such a hyper-consumerist society that we often place speed, convenience, and ease at the top of our desires. We want things as quick as possible, as cheaply as possible, and with as little effort from us as possible. Frozen pizzas, $10 t-shirts, and disposable packaging are all signs of our willingness to put these values at the top of our decisions.

But we do the same with our faith.

We want God to reshape us now - we don't want to go through the process.

We want to be changed -without putting in the work.

We want our temptations taken away - with no struggle.

We want growth - without trying.

But that is not the model that is given to us in the Bible:

James 5: 7-1 Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.

We need to be careful that our constant desires for instant gratification are not causing us to be spiritually weak.

DO THIS

James 1:2-4 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

What trials are you in the middle of right now?

Are you just looking for a way out, or a way to grow?

Would you rather have God remove this trial - or be present with you and teach you something? Really....which would you rather have right now?

If you start looking with the patience of a farmer - who is forced to wait for entire seasons, not being able to force growth - how does your perspective change?

PRAY THIS

God, to whom a thousand years is a day,
with no start, no end, who lives forever,
You have made me finite and bound me in time
but sometimes that makes it hard for me to be patient.
I want you to act now, and how I want.
Give me patience.
Oh Lord, I need so much patience.
Give me the ability to wait on you,
to be patient with others,
and with myself.
Amen.

Talk to you next Thursday!

~George