If You Want It - It's Yours

Are you somewhat sad and wish that you were happy?
Real contentment has a special set of laws;
Joy is not for sale, it’s only found in Jesus;
If you want it—it’s yours!
Chorus
If you want it—it’s yours!
If you want it—it’s yours!
Do you want the power to be a better person?
If you want it—it’s yours!

SASB 244, v3 and chorus (John Gowans)

Philippians 4:11 (New International Version)
I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.

Regular readers of my blog will understand my retiscence to use the word 'happiness' when considering where I currently am in my walk of faith. I have seen some great opportunities for service come my way in recent years, however I'm not where I need to be... yet. Some 'strongholds' remain despite much effort and prayer to eradicate them. In some of these areas I am aware that a change needs to be made from within. It's a change in my own attitude of mind that is needed for me to progress, to achieve what I seek. However, if I cannot achieve 'happiness', can I at least achieve 'contentment', the word that I used in a recent blog?

I've blogged on happiness before, but never on contentment. Psychologists say that the formula for happiness is: pleasure + engagement + meaning. Who am I to argue with that? However, contentment seems to be subtlely different. One definition for contentment refers to a lasting quality that has more to do with achieving peace of mind than actual pleasure.

Part of the key to unlocking this is found in General Gowans' lyrics, mentioned at the top of this blog entry. 'Real contentment has a special set of laws'. One thing that I have shared before is a growing understanding of the freedom that Christians enjoy. You see, many friends and colleagues define who I am by what I do - or in some cases, by what I don't do. "You don't drink - you don't gamble - etc". I am encouraged to look at life with an understanding of who I am, not what I do.

When I blogged about life being a game, it wasn't because I wanted to ignore the rules. It was because I didn't want to play by other people's rules. There's another set of rules to follow; these are rules based on a living relationship with your creator, not just on do's and don't's. And as I seek to follow these new rules, and learn to trust Him more and more, He will lead me where I need to be. And in the meantime - He will help me to be content, whatever the circumstances. And I really need that...

Lord, I would clasp thy hand in mine,
Nor ever murmur or repine,
Content, whatever lot I see,
Since ’tis my God that leadeth me.
Chorus
He leadeth me, he leadeth me!
By his own hand he leadeth me;
His faithful follower I will be,
For by his hand he leadeth me.
SASB 725, v3 and chorus (Joseph Henry Gilmore)