Do you need to find contentment in Christ more than in a perfect home? Author Katie Bennett has some tips for you!
Finding Contentment in Christ and Not a Perfect Home
In today’s idea-rich online world, it is easy to desire a life and home that measure up to all we see they could be.
I personally enjoy home design and decorating. I’m not particularly good at it, but I like to give it some serious thought and effort. I recognize this can be a blessing to others, a reflection of God’s beauty, and a tool He uses for His glory when it’s offered to Him whole-heartedly.
However, all that superbly-staged Pinterest perfection is not what will lead us to a satisfied life and contentment in Christ. We might think it will or even has, for about a millisecond. Then we turn around and see there is still more to want. There is always more to want.
However, there is a spiritual truth at work. You see, this world is passing away.
The Bible says,
“From now on those who have wives should live as if they do not; those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away.” 1 Corinthians 7:28-31
The truth is, the things we too often give our hearts to, the things of the world, are completely fleeting. They’re not worth our heart’s desires.
So, what does it mean to live a contented life as a 21st-century homemaker?
I’ve been asking this question lately. I believe this is a discipline, something we learn and exercise through self-control that can change our lives.
For me, walking out contentment in Christ has everything to do with guarding my mouth against complaining, choosing gratitude, and letting go of my perpetual wish list. It has everything to do with hard work, knowing my gifts and limits, and crafting a life that is priority-driven, eternally-bent, perspective-soaked, and simple.
I spent the last nine years living in imperfect homes. My husband and I bought a fixer-upper early in our marriage, and the projects took time to fund and complete. At times, waiting and imperfections provided a temptation to be discontent.
However, as I think back over the past years, I recognize that a perfectly put-together home would not have had any impact at all on today, let alone eternity.
Those days were lived fully, and for the most part, they were lived in the joy of the Lord. The exact details of the situation would not have changed the enduring truths of my life.
How often have I, as a homemaker, viewed comfortable, desirable situations as a central priority?
In hindsight, however, those moments of luxury or convenience are gone, empty and meaningless:
- The times I had a stylish outfit to wear, and those I didn’t
- The home improvement projects neatly completed, and those in process
- The fun activities and outings I enjoyed, and those I missed out on
- The THREE pieces of delicious chocolate cake I had with my coffee this morning, and the times I refrained
Certain things seem so necessary and important and irresistible in the moment, but when I really take time to look, I see that most of it does not hold lasting value.
The things that do hold true meaning are found in the way God was at work in my life and family these past nine years: how I have matured more and more into Christ’s likeness (through trails mostly), the times I loved and served others, the way I pressed deeper into spiritual life with Christ through the Bible and prayer, the times I reinvested this into the lives of others.
Tomorrow, these same truths will remain. Our fulfillment is not in perfection, but rather contentment and trust in the Lord.
Today’s meaning is rooted in Christ alone, and in the supernatural paradigm of God’s Kingdom work.
More about Heavenly Minded Mom
The lives of moms are all too often consumed with wearisome, empty striving. We work to keep up appearances, meet worldly standards, and find satisfaction in the offerings of this life such as success, admiration, and ease. However, God has set eternity in a mother’s heart, and deep inside, we long for more.
In Heavenly Minded Mom, author and blogger Katie Bennett beckons us into a new way of viewing our present reality by rising above the ordinary and routine to see a bigger plan and purpose for motherhood.
This uplifting book offers moms the wisdom of Ecclesiastes, wrapped in the hope of the Gospel, and presented in bite-sized portions. The 90 compelling meditations, scripture readings, and invitations to journal and reflect, will encourage us to reevaluate how we envision our lives and to claim a heavenly mindset towards our mothering tasks. These inspirational readings will help us discover a new way of looking at our responsibilities as a mom through God’s eyes.
Embrace a simpler life filled with God’s promises and love as you reflect on God’s powerful work as it has woven through your past and present in anticipation of its impact in the future and your spiritual legacy.
Purchase a copy of Heavenly Minded Mom
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Katie Bennett is the author of Heavenly Minded Mom and the creator of the Top Mommy Bloggers’ award-winning blog and podcast, Embracing a Simple Life. Katie stepped out of the career world and embraced a no frills, no extravagance or excess lifestyle. Just Jesus and her family—clearing out the excess and making the most of what matters most. Katie and her family live in the St. Louis, MO area.
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