The last 2 years have been a journey with the Holy Spirit on becoming content & grateful. I found myself in a very discontent & negative state of mind that came on by me not guarding my heart & mind.

I wasn’t truly grateful for anything. One night I had an encounter with Him & the desire to become so content & to only let gratitude come from my heart & mouth became so strong. I could feel the Holy Spirit saying, “You’re going to have to become violent in this approach to change your way of thinking.” In that moment I made a decision to only speak life & truly let gratitude flow from my life. It was then that true contentment began taking root.

“Don’t be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing. Be saturated in prayer throughout each day, offering your faith-filled requests before God with OVERFLOWING GRATITUDE. Tell him every detail of your life, then God’s wonderful peace that transcends human understanding, will make the answers known to you through Jesus Christ….”Philippians 4:6

The word overflowing means to be so full that the content goes over. It’s noticeable to those around you. It spills into your atmosphere.

How do we stay grateful?

“So keep your thoughts continually fixed on all that is authentic and real, honorable and admirable, beautiful and respectful, pure and holy, merciful and kind. And fasten your thoughts on every glorious work of God, praising him always.” Philippians 4:7-8 TPT

The word grateful means feeling or showing an appreciation of kindness; thankful. One enemy of gratitude is comparison. If I compare my life to those around me instead of being grateful for the season & place I’m in, I’ll never be truly grateful or content.

Being grateful means I’m constantly in a heart posture of being thankful for EVERY glorious work of God.

“You can pass through his open gates with the password of praise. Come right into his presence with thanksgiving. Come bring your thank offering to him and affectionately bless his beautiful name!”Psalms 100:4 TPT

Have you ever struggled to enter in to His presence? Be thankful. We enter into His presence with OVERFLOWING GRATITUDE.

Gratefulness is the forerunner to contentment.

“Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”” Hebrews 13:5 ESV

”Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.” Philippians 4:11-12 NLT

“And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19 NLT

Contentment is a state of happiness & satisfaction.

“Let joy be your continual feast. Make your life a prayer. And in the midst of everything be always giving thanks, for this is God’s perfect plan for you in Christ Jesus. Never restrain or put out the fire of the Holy Spirit.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-19 TPT

Feasting on joy brings contentment. When I’m choosing to be joyful & feasting on the joys of life, there’s a deep contentment that takes root within. Then even in difficult seasons I can still have joy because contentment is present. They go hand & hand.

“Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.” James 1:2-4 NLT

When we’re content, we won’t rush seasons away, even hard ones. In 1 Thessalonians, the very next verse after it says be thankful, says “never restrain or put out the fire of the Holy Spirit.”

A lack of gratitude puts out the fire of the Holy Spirit in my life, it actually restrains Him! When I operate in extreme gratitude, it welcomes the Holy Spirit to do what He wants in me & through me. THIS is the will of God in our lives. Knowing you’re operating in the perfect will of God & the Holy Spirit is present & free in your life, leads to the greatest contentment.

“I overflow with praise when I come before you, for the anointing of your presence satisfies me like nothing else. You are such a rich banquet of pleasure to my soul.” Psalms 63:5 TPT

Only Jesus truly satisfies. When I know that & I’m satisfied with Him & Him alone, deep gratitude & contentment takes root & flows out.