Contentment is Freedom
Mental, emotional, and spiritual freedom are experienced when our desires, worries, and concerns are put to rest; not by being fulfilled, but by being answered. Such a state is called contentment. Contentment is the secret to mental, emotional, and spiritual freedom.
Desires and concerns for money, for relationships, intimacy, food, or any material thing, should be addressed with words of love and wisdom. Words such as, "The Lord is my Shepherd and provides for all of my needs, I lack (need, want) nothing."
Unmet desires cause concern. Unmet desires cause envy, jealousy, anxiety, and unrest. Unmet desires leave us "wanting". Wanting, craving, and desiring often derive from perspectives of fear, and are opposed to humility. Constant desiring ultimately causes suffering in our soul. Suffering, because the soul (mind and emotions) cannot experience rest and peace when it constantly experiences unfulfilled desires. Desires, cravings, and wanting are never fulfilled. They are like insatiable fires. Freedom from the suffering caused by desire cannot be attained by constant gratification of desire. Freedom (peace and salvation) from desire (wanting, needing) and the suffering that it entails, occur when the desires are removed. These are removed only by a change of belief (perspective).
We should learn, like Paul, "to be content whatever the circumstances. To know what it is to be in need, and know what it is to have plenty, yet, to have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want."
Wants and desires cause us to believe that we "need" the objects of our desire. A belief that is often untrue. We easily believe that we need the things we are desiring if we want to experience fulfilmment, happiness, peace, etc. Yet, this is a lie. Instead of believing that every craving, desire, or want is true, we should answer our desires with the disciplined test of delayed gratification, and with the words of Paul, "I will be content no matter what the circumstances are. I can do all this (patiently endure all things) through him who gives me strength" (Philippians 4:11-13).
In Daniel 5:18-30, King Belshazzar did not live humbly (he was not content). God tested him and "weighed his heart on the scales" and he was found "wanting"; always wanting and desiring more. Desires ruled his mind, thoughts, emotions, and actions. God removed Belshazzar from his position because he was no longer fit to be a king. When anyone lives a life ruled by desires, cravings, and wanting, they are slaves, not kings and queens. Such a position is an honor, and is reserved for those who are humble and have learned contentment. They have learned to rule their own souls; their minds, emotions, and desires.
Stop being a slave to desire. Cease from the suffering that constant wanting and desiring causes. Let go of the beliefs that things have to be different before you will be content. Learn to be content in every moment. If things are supposed to change, then God, through your faith, will enact such changes. Our job is to be content, to be at peace, to walk in peaceful faith, and love. Desiring, wanting, and needing are the perspectives of young children who do not have the confident awareness of their heavenly caretaker.
Learn to be content. Contement is freedom. Contement is faith. Contement is knowing that you are fully loved, watched over, and cared for. The more we know and trust God, and His love for us, the more easily we can dismiss thoughts, emotions, and anxious urges of desire.
When I was a child, I believed, acted, desired, wanted, and worried like a child. As I grew up I understood the true power and love of God. The childish perceptions, desires, wants, and worries have been put away.
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