The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.

Psalm 23:1

Providing Lord,

You have promised to be with Your children and provide for all our needs. Yet it often seems that the more we have, the less content we are. We struggle with materialism, yes, but we also struggle to fully appreciate the life You have given us. We are not satisfied with job situations, relationships, living conditions, and more. We struggle with covetousness, wanting what other people have, whether material possessions or life situations. Your Word tells us that covetousness is idolatry (Colossians 3:5), yet who among us can honestly say we are free from coveting? Please forgive us for our selfishness and dissatisfaction. Open our eyes to see the many and abundant blessings You have already given us, most especially the gift of faith in You. Help us to recognize that life on this earth is not meant to satisfy our deepest longings. It is foolish to look to the world or to people in this world to give us meaning and satisfaction, for only You can give that, Lord. Help us work to improve unsatisfactory situations as we are able, while still recognizing that some things are beyond our control and force us instead to rely on You. Help us to truly be able to say with David that because You are our Shepherd, we want for nothing. Allow us to learn the lesson the apostle Paul learned, to be content in any and every situation (Philippians 4:11). Let us not look to the world to satisfy our desires, but only to You, for “You open Your hand; You satisfy the desire of every living thing” (Psalm 145:16).

Help me to be content in the following areas…

In Your name I pray. Amen.

For a full explanation of this challenge, see the post 12-Minute Prayer Challenge. If you are just joining us, feel free to continue on with us from the current day, or if you prefer, you can go back and start at Day 1.