By Effie Rolfe
Praise is contentment. Appreciating your gift of life is a beautiful and powerful expression of gratitude. To be grateful for the gift of life that God has so graciously given can be rendered as a form of praise. This is gratitude for whatever state you are in, including being thankful for your body type or size, the hair texture and the size of your lips, eyes, feet or hands. “God made me—He made me who I am…” are some of the words to a beautiful song recorded by the Mississippi Mass Choir. I felt these lyrics were rather befitting for this week’s theme of ‘praise is contentment.’
One of the greatest writers in the New Testament, the Apostle Paul, stated “… I have learned how to be content with whatever I have (Philippians 4:11). So being content is not the same as being stuck with your lot in life. Contentment is accepting where you are while pursuing better.
It’s perfectly fine to aspire to more, yet it’s equally important to embrace each and every moment. Right now this moment is all you have. Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift—that’s why it’s called the present. Before you know it—this very moment will be a memory. How you spend it will determine your future.
Your position in life is part of God’s master plan. Did you know you are right where you’re supposed to be—right now? Your present situation has nothing to do with your permanent address. The story is still being written. Some of your best and brightest have come from humble beginnings. You cannot allow your birthplace to define the destiny God has for you (Jeremiah 29:11).
The first time I ever heard that ‘your job is a ministry,’ I was visiting the Baha’i Temple in the northern suburb of Wilmette, Illinois with my sister Margaret. My initial thought was ‘this absolutely does not make sense’ because during that time, I didn’t like my job or some of the people there. As I continued to grow in the Lord, it made more sense that God can use you wherever you are.
Just recently I had a light bulb moment. Dr. Paul Cannings of Power Walk Ministries in Houston reminded me that the job is only the resource and not the source. God is the source of all blessings. Don’t complain about the salary, the employer, or coworkers. You are there to be a light and testimony of how God always provides even when it appears to the contrary. Praise God and trust Him to be your Jehovah Jireh—God provides all things. In this, God will get the glory.
Your life’s purpose is much bigger than your job, career, family, religion, aspirations, rank and even your fears. The list is endless. The true purpose of life is to cheerfully give back to God all that He has so freely given to you. When this happens you can expect immediate changes to occur in your life and those around you.
Today, begin to cultivate an attitude of gratitude. This is your reasonable service. Moreover, in gratitude you will find a richer life filled with God’s presence and goodness.
Are you grateful for this moment…?
©Effie Rolfe is an Author of “Supersize Your Thinking,” Media Personality and Motivational Speaker. You can contact her on twitter.com/effiedrolfe. Listen to her show daily on urban- praiseradio.org. (2015 Stellar Award Winner for Best Internet Radio Station).
