Today has been a day of reflection for me. I have had to work really hard today to remember why I am here in Peru. So I have pulled out a piece of notebook paper that I scribbled some challenging words on. It is from the book Calm My Anxious Heart by Linda Dillow. I haven't read the book because I am still working on the next few lines, they are enough for me right now.
Prescription for Contentment
1. Never allow yourself to complain about anything--not even the weather.
2. Never picture yourself in any other circumstance or someplace else.
3. Never compare your lot with another.
4. Never allow yourself to wish this or that had been otherwise.
5. Never dwell on tomorrow--remember that [tomorrow] is God's,
not ours.
This challenge has been amazingly difficult for me. It is much more fun to think of the things I would change, the things that I miss and dream of how they will be in the years to come. But I think that I agree that allowing my thoughts to wonder only allows them away from what God has asked me to do. So, I have decided to take the challenge from Linda Dillow and work towards contentment in the life that God has given me here and now.
7 comments:
I will be ppraying for you as you take this challenge! You can do it! I enjoyed seeing you sunday through the world wide web. It's so amazing to see all of you and your smiling faces. I should miss you guys. Be of good cheer. Praying for you! Love ya, April
You are an inspiration, Michelle, and I will pray that God is especially near you as you and He work through this challenge.
I have that book and haven't read it yet - I need to!
Michelle,
I was REALLY bummed I didn't get to see you guys on Sunday. Wally and I had nursery duty that day. Michelle, I love how transparent you are in sharing your struggles. To pretend everything is fine would leave you without people praying for the right things! As it is, I'll be praying that the could haves, should haves, would haves, are replaced with contentment with the I did, I am, I will. I Timothy 6:6 says "godliness with contentment is great gain." so I'm cheering you on as you tackle this challenge. I'll also be praying for the perseverance to fulfill your commitment and the wisdom to recognize Satan's lies when he tries to tell you what you're doing doesn't matter. He WILL try that if he hasn't already. We love you and are so inspired by you. Your fan,
Janice
Michelle,
I found myself tossing and turning tonight with a few anxious thoughts of my own. That's how I came to be online to discover your latest blog. It pierced my heart. My struggles seem so small compared to your sacrifice, but I pledge to take the contentment challenge with you. Our prayers and love are with you all.
Michelee I love you! and at times we have very similar thoughts. I just left you a note on facebook.
I hope you still check there every now and then.
I know you will find contentment within yourself. It is just a constant battle to keep it that way sometimes. God will keep you and Brad strong and you will overcome the little voices in your head that cause you to feel like you have tripped up somewhere. You are stonger than you think. love ya. K
I have been spending a lot of time in Isaiah lately and getting much strength and wisdom there. I especially love these verses:
27 Why do you say, (insert your name),
and complain, (insert your name),
"My way is hidden from the LORD;
my cause is disregarded by my God"?
He hears us! He knows our hearts and He cares for what we care about.
And then these verses come next:
28 Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
29 He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
Dad and I pray for you guys constantly. And we love you so very much.
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