Vineyard Evensong Part 9
The next element of Vineyard Evensong is known as the Sursum Corda. This sursum corda (which means “Let us lift up our hearts” in Latin) calls us to acknowledge our complete dependence on God and to remember that He is good, always good, and only good.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
It is indeed right, and our duty and our joy, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise to You, holy Father, heavenly King, almighty and eternal God.
It is a reminder that we need to be focusing on what we are thankful for, (content) rather than spending our time focused on what we don’t have (discontent). As we do this, we are able to experience more of the joy of the Lord.
Philippians 4:4-8
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.
Contentment is found by thinking about, or focusing on what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy.
The problem we have is that we are by nature, discontent. It is part of our selfish fallen nature.
Perhaps the biggest reason for not being content is from a way of thinking that causes discontentment. You might call it when and then thinking. When and then thinking goes like this, “When I get … blank… then I’ll be happy.” When I get that promotion then I’ll be happy. When I make that sale, then I’ll be happy. When I get married, then I’ll be happy. When we have kids, then we’ll be happy. When the kids move away, then we’ll be happy. You can fill in the blank. It just keeps changing. Which leads us to this question. What are you waiting on to be content? What is the when and then thinking trap in your life?
To deal with the discontentment trap you need to change your perspective. Focus on what you are thankful for instead of what you do not have.
Psalm 100:1-5
A Psalm of thanksgiving.
1 Shout for joy to the LORD, all you lands!
2 Serve the LORD with gladness.
Come before his presence with singing.
3 Know that the LORD, he is God.
It is he who has made us, and we are his.
We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving,
into his courts with praise.
Give thanks to him, and bless his name.
5 For the LORD is good.
His loving kindness endures forever,
his faithfulness to all generations.
