Contentment grows in the soil of selflessness

I've realized how much lately I'm struggling with being content. Not only with where I am, but with what I have. It's so easy to focus on all the things I want and not look at what I've been blessed with already.  It's so natural in today's world to surround yourself with wanting more (blogs, stores, pinterest & I'm guilty of loving all of those!) I don't want a new purchase to make me more excited than God's Word or my walk with Him...Or thinking that if I just had this one thing I'll be satisfied & life will be so much better.  What makes me truly happy / joyful? Some wonderful thoughts from John MacArthur on contentment:

The Lord is my Shepherd ( a great boy's name by the way...)  I shall not want

Discontent or disastisfaction is self destructive.

What I have is enough. With it I am content and satisfied. I will accept what God has given me and be satisfied.

Brooding discontent in the provision God has given to us is sin.
I Tim 6:6 Godliness is means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. If you want to pursue something - make it godliness!

Heb 13:5 Let your character be free from the love of $ being content with what you have. Find contentment in promises of His provision

Phil 4>I've LEARNED to be content and it has nothing to do with circumstances! IT'S NOT ABOUT WHAT I HAVE BUT WHO HAS ME!

Discontentment >Denies the right of God to do with us as He will & it fails to believe that this is God's best for us. Whatever He does in this life is for the purpose of making us spiritually mature.

Joy & peace which rides above all the trouble around us. Some ways to be content:

 Cultivate a love for others
 Cultivate the practice of rejoicing (told 70x's to do this in NT)  
 Obey the Lord!
 Learn to accept less than you are due (willingness to be mistreated and not demanding health or   wealth...contentment belongs to people who are willing to take less than they are due, you don't expect anything) 
Confident faith in the Lord. (He is near so be anxious for nothing, He is your true security, not your money or house or anything, it could be all gone in a flash, what is there to worry about - The Lord is near!)

Hope this encourages someone today - Have a great weekend everyone! If you want to hear his sermon on this go to gty.org & it's under Free Sermons, Phil 4: Contentment (He also has a 3 part series on the secret of contentment)