You always seem satisfied with your life until you meet somebody new or experience something exciting. Discontentment always seems to settle in making us irritable and frustrated with where we’re at in life. If we see that somebody has something that we want, we feel the need to go after it. Why is that?

Whether it be a new product or an experience, we always find ourselves excited by a temporary situation. If a friend gets a new phone, you feel like you need a phone. That family member went on that dream vacation, so you feel the need to do the same thing. A co-worker gets a new job, so you feel like you need a new job. We invent this “need” and make ourself feel like it’s a “necessity”.

1 Timothy 6:6 says “godliness with contentment is great gain.” True necessity should only lead us to one place and that’s contentment with God.

How do we do that when the world is shouting that we “need” this stuff?

#1 Be thankful for what you have

When you’re thankful and have a heart of gratitude you tend to realize and appreciate the things that you DO have. Spend time each day thanking God and having an attitude of gratitude.

#2 Pray

Pray that God would give you a heart and mind that’s content. Ask and you shall receive – if we come to God and pour out our hearts and let Him know that we desire to be content with the things He blesses ya with, he will!

#3 Volunteer and give your time

When we volunteer and give our time to others, the things we think of as “necessities” won’t seem as important. Focus on someone other than yourself and there will be a shift in your mindset.

#4 Read scripture

Seek out what God tells us to do in His word. What are His instructions? If we keep our eyes on Him and follow His word, He will guide us.

Be thankful for what you DO have and you’ll end up having more.

Written by Meggan Jacobus. Meggan is the staffing manager at Froot Group, a worship staffing and consulting company.