March 20, 2020
Defeating Discontentment, Part 1
Gwen Smith
Today’s Truth
“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” (Lamentations 3:24, ESV)
Friend to Friend
I am a lot of things, but low maintenance is not necessarily one of them. Straight up, I am a girl with some constant cravings. Though I try to savor life moments with gratitude, I fail all the time.
Many days, I find myself looking beyond my now to my next, longing in discontent. I seek God’s blessings instead of seeking God. I seek His hand instead of His heart. This frazzles my peace and messes with my joy. It tangles my heart in knots until I begin to dance through my days to the tune of, “I can’t get no satisfaction!”
Why do we desire God’s presents in our lives more than His presence?
Isn’t that what we do when we stomp our feet before His throne and grumble about all of the things that need fixing instead of praising Him for the strength, He graciously gives us to get through? While we’re certainly encouraged by Scripture to make our requests known to the Father (Philippians 4:6), the highest calling on our lives is to love God with all of our hearts, souls, bodies and minds (Matthew 22:37). We can do both, but we are commanded to seek God first: to look to Him as our Ultimate. Our Portion.
Asaph wrote Psalm 73 with a lot on his mind. He was flustered about all the bad people around him. He wondered why God wasn’t smacking them around for being so wretched and was struggling to keep his eyes on his own life. Sound familiar?
Then his woes turned to worship as he entered into the sanctuary of God (v17). His heart began to untangle as he remembered God’s sovereignty. In Psalm 73:26, he finally landed in a good place. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
He took a deep breath and found his God-confidence.
Oh, how I can relate to that!
The Bible shows us time and time again that when we prioritize God – when we look to Him to be our Portion – He supernaturally satisfies us in Himself.
Do you remember that old hymn His Eye Is On The Sparrow? Girlfriend, God doesn’t miss a trick. He knows what’s going on.
“And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, He will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?
“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘what will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need.
“So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” (Matthew 6:30-34, NLT)
If divine eyes rest on tiny sparrows and flowers of the fields, how much more are the needs and desires of God’s children known to Him?
Let’s Pray
Dear Lord, Would You be my Portion today? Help me to trust Your plan and rest in Your grace – beyond what I see or feel.
In Jesus’s Name,
Amen.
Now It’s Your Turn
Read Psalm 73.
Consider these questions. How has God met your needs in the past? Do you trust that He is able to meet them today? Let’s take the conversation deeper. Click here to tell me what that might look like for you.
More from the Girlfriends
Are you struggling to trust that God can actually be your Portion? Think His promises are for everyone but you? Learn how God wants to bring you beyond your past heart-wounds and your present challenges to His wholeness, strength and beauty by listening to the latest episodes of the GRACEOLOGIE with Gwen Smith Podcast.
Each GRACEOLOGIE with Gwen Smith podcast episode is filled with fun, faith-focused, grace-filled conversations that will help you know and trust God more.
These discussions encourage you in meaningful ways to live out and lean on the GRACE of Jesus in the midst of cluttered, messy days. CLICK HERE to listen on iTunes, or visit GwenSmith.net/Graceologie for more information.