Content, in the plains of life.

This weeks episode finishes out last week on being content. Let me add, being content in some ways is a lot easier said than done. I asked the Lord to give me a word to focus on and I have focused on it a lot. learning to be content with all things not just the little things, not just the ups and downs, but even in the moments I'm frustrated, to just be content. Here are the episode notes for this weeks podcast!

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Last week I talked about being content in the difficult times but did you know many times we aren’t even content in the mundane times. I say mundane because there are times that we may not be down in the valley or even on the mountain top, we are just in the plains of life. I’ve said it my self before and even heard others say that if you’re in the valley that mountain top is coming or if you on that mountain top that the there’s a valley soon. We’ve all said that but can we be honest for a minute?? There are times when we are in the plains. Nothing really good happening, nothing really bad happening. We may sometimes think “well, I’m not facing any hard times, why am I not when others are” or “I’m not shouting down from the mountain top, so what’s going on?” I know I am not the only one who’s had those thoughts before. Today we are going to talk about being content in the plains of life!

The plains of life, are we really content when things are just smooth sailing for us? Think about that for a second. Plains, are just flat areas of land, often times when I think of plains I think of desert plains. Dry, flat area with what seems to have no end in sight. Let’s look at that from a Christian viewpoint real quick. Plains can be dry, sometimes there’s a sand storm that blows in, occasionally a storm, sometimes you’ll even hit a cactus or two. We can look at those times in plains as an area for growing. If we aren’t careful during those times of being in the plains we may become content with being in a dry area! Did you know you can become content with being dry? Have you every heard of “dry christianity” or “spiritual dryness”? It’s when you start to feel depleted, or empty. Maybe you are just going along your everyday life and you don’t feel as though you are depleted or empty. However, how’s that bible reading going? Hows studying Gods word going? Did you only need Gods word when you where in the valley? Did you only need to have a prayer life with God when you where in the valley? What about the mountain top? Is that the only time you gave God the glory? Is it the only time you make sure you are in his word EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. If that’s the case, then what are you doing when life is just going and you are in the plains? Have you become too content, content with the plains or are you using this time to become content in Gods word while in the plains. I get it, I do! You can get content when you aren’t in the valley or on that mountain top but we are looking at being content while in the plains. We are looking at the quietness of mind, the present condition side of the word content. The present condition is the plains, we can find our selves slipping away from the things in our Christian life or we can use that time to find ourselves growing. Use that quietness to stay in prayer. Use that present condition of being in the plains to deepen your knowledge of Christ. Not because you feel like you need something to get you through the trail but to draw you closer to him that way when that valley does come. God can use his word and remind you what you have studied and you aren’t in the midst of a storm trying to find help. It’s the same when you mention being on the mountain top. If you draw closer to God in those plains of life, if you read his word daily, if you glean from him daily, when you are on that mountain top, praising him will come that much easier! I say that but I want to remind you, praise him even in the valley, even in the plains, even on the mountain top. He’s worthy! I always end each episode with the scripture Psalm 150:6 Let everything that hath breathe, praise the Lord, praise ye the Lord. You have a breathe, in the valley, in the plains, and on the mountain top! Sister, this week I want you to know this. Don’t become too content with the every day life while in the plains, yet become so content in the plains as you glean from Gods word that you have strength to carry you through any valley you may face. Or that you have so much praise to give God that when you hit that mountain top you won’t stop sharing! Abiding In Christ, Baleigh Wilson.