Finding Contentment

Happy people generally view life as fulfilling, purposeful and pleasant. This doesn't mean that unhappy moments never alter their mood, but they seldom stay in a negative mindset because they have a Christ-centered means for regaining a contented disposition.

One of my professors would remind us, "You can act yourself into a new way of feeling, but you cannot feel yourself into a new way of acting." In other words you can’t wait until you feel like it to take action to change your disposition. It may never happen. Research has discovered if you act as if you have an attitude of contentment, your disposition eventually will change.

Change is often needed in various areas of life. Our emotional disposition will either support or overrule needed change. Happy, contented people, however, tend to experience joy and satisfaction as they acknowledge God's presence in the affairs and usual events of everyday life. I challenge you to look for his handiwork in every area of your life.  

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My friends, fill your minds with those things that are good and that deserve praise: things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and honorable. Put into practice what you learned and received from me, both from my words and from my actions. And the God who gives us peace will be with you.

~Philippians 4:8-9 Good News Bible

Persistent Unhappiness? Time for a Change

Occasionally we meet someone who appears happy regardless of their situation. Then there are those individuals who are unhappy even in the best of circumstances. Research discovered that it's not the exhilarating experiences that create a happy disposition, but it’s frequent pleasant experiences that constitute happiness.

 

While it's impossible to rule out negative experiences, some people believe they’ll never face a crisis that could threaten their relationships. Even in the happiest marriages, discontent will come, but it doesn't mean the marriage is in trouble. Happiness depends on the capacity to change and mature in harmony with circumstances.

When unhappiness persists, you may feel rejected and discouraged. If this is your situation, perhaps it’s time to ask yourself what change is needed that's been difficult to achieve in the past. It may be time to redirect your life to Christ Jesus and commit all you are and can be to him. The Lord God said, "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." 

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He (God) gives life, breath and everything else to all people…God has done all this so that we will look for him and reach out and find him. He isn’t far from any of us, and he gives us the power to live, to move, and to be who we are. We are his children.

~Acts 17:25, 27-28 Contemporary English Version

Create Happiness

A definite connection exists between creativity, happiness and the expression of joy that connotes inner peace. Creativity is not limited by age nor is it restricted by education or wealth. Creativity can include making a specific idea fit your need, regardless of who introduced it.

An elderly woman burdened down by illness possessed a gift for creating warm, inspiring religious poems she mailed out each day to other seniors from her church. Irrespective of how she felt, she consistently projected a contented persona, which she credits to her creative ability for encouraging others.

Despite the array of contaminants that flood our consciousness, everyone still is capable of possessing a pure heart. David asked God to create in him a pure heart. Have you asked God to do the same for you? Jesus said, "Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God." The pure in heart are the ones who acknowledge their need for God's redemption and pursue it like a wonderful treasure.

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Happy are the utterly sincere, for they will see God!

~Matthew 5:8 Phillips – New Testament in Modern English

Who may climb the mountain of the Lord and enter where he lives? Who may stand before the Lord? Only those with pure hands and hearts, who do not practice dishonesty and lying. They will receive God’s own goodness as their blessing from him, planted in their lives by God himself, their Savior. 

~Psalm 24:3-5 The Living Bible

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

~Psalm 51:10 New International Version