There is incredible freedom in not wanting. Have you ever noticed that?
Think of a time, if you’ve ever had one, when you really wanted something, and it just didn’t happen.
Maybe you wanted a different job, more income, another place to live, a boyfriend, or time to hurry up. And it didn’t happen! How enjoyable was the time you spent agonizing over getting something you wanted and you never got it? Probably not fun at all.
There’s a lesson in all this. God always gives us what we need, but when we put our “I want…” list first before listening to what God has in store for us, we miss out on the supply already at hand.
Harboring an unfulfilled “I want” list is a sure recipe for living a frustrated and discontented life.
I used to have “I want” lists. I probably still do. But I’ve learned to temper them way down. Why? Because they often don’t work out, and something much better transpires.
God always has our best interests in Mind, and a good purpose is constantly being worked out for us.
Constructing “I want” lists is a sign that we see ourselves as lacking, as needing, as uncared for by God. It’s not a good thing, really. Life is much happier when we spend each day grateful for what we have and trust continued blessings to unfold according to God’s plan.
Let go of those “I want” lists and replace them with “I’m grateful I have everything I need to be happy coming from God right now” lists. You’ll feel much better!
“Godliness with contentment is great gain.” Paul
It certainly is.
GREAT post, Evan!
What a lovely thought, Evan! Thanks for sharing!
Evan, thanks so much for the post! It was perfect for me for today. The last couple of days I have been praying about being content and complete and knowing that I and everyone else have everything we need at every moment.
This morning I woke up and felt really refreshed and thought of MBE’s quote from S&H “Higher enjoyments alone can satisfy the cravings of immortal man.” The thought came to me that even if I received everything “I wanted”, there would still be thoughts saying that humanly that was not enough and that I should still want more. I can replace those thoughts with gratitude for what I have and be peaceful about it.
I am grateful for these insights and for being able to trust in God and see that we can all have peace and love and everything we need at every moment, because God supplies it for us.
Thank you.
Just what I needed to read today and thanks too for yesterdays beautiful video, Amazing Grace.
“If you want something, you deny its presence” – that’s what I have been taught and to me that seems very true. In my – still ongoing battle – I find that wanting is one of the worst and first mortal mind evils. It can translate into so many negative things like envy, discontentment, unhappiness and the feeling of lack.
Wouldn’t it be great to everyday NOT want something?! But rather to HAVE, i.e., to enjoy, to be grateful for something?! I want(oops, done it again!) to say thanks for that topic.