I have learned .... to be content. Philippians 4:11
Paul, The Apostle to the Gentiles
Contentment - It is a word we have all heard but few of us understand or truly possess. The dictionary definition says it is "the state of being satisfied or having ease of mind." Basically, when we are content, we are not looking for something else. We are willing to stay where we are.
This is not a quality that many of us possess naturally. In fact, our culture constantly pushes us to the opposite extreme. We tell our children from the time they are young that they need a college education. We push them to get good grades and apply for scholarships. This is not bad in itself, but somehow we have developed the idea that it is less honorable to make a living working with one's hands.
No where is contentment (or the lack thereof) more evident than in our shopping and spending habits. Many people work long, hard over time hours trying to pay for things they bought on credit because they weren't content with what they had and bought something they couldn't afford. Can anyone identify with what I am saying?
Contentment takes away the need for always trying to have more than we truly need at the moment. I am not saying we shouldn't strive to be better. That is a Biblical admonition. We should try to improve our lives. But at what cost? Bigger is not always better. More expensive is certainly not always better. There is so much to be said for a spirit that is happy with what God has given.
Last night, as pastor was preaching, he mentioned that what we ask God for reveals our hearts. Well, a couple of years ago I began to ask God to make me content. I must admit that I didn't really mean the words in the beginning. I wanted God to make me content to wait until he gave me what I wanted. But the more I pray that prayer, the more different I see his will to be. I can not pray, "God make me content", and still have a will of my own. To pray, "God make me content", is to have no ambition of my own. It is to let him put his ambition in me. It is to reach for what he desires. It is to wake up every day and ask him what he wants me to do with that day.
Contentment is not just patience. Patience says I can wait a while longer until I see the right opportunity. Contentment says I will do only what God says I can do. It is a complete change of mindset. Contentment realizes that I will never be "happy" until I am sure that what I am doing right at this moment is exactly what God would have me to be doing. Happiness is fleeting; it is a temporary emotion. But contentment comes from having peace with God. Contentment is not settling for less than what I know I can do. In fact, it is just the opposite. God will often ask me to do more than I think I can do. Later on, I will look back and realize that what he asked was the best thing I could have done with my life.
Contentment - Do you have the courage to pray for it? That prayer might take you some places you wouldn't have chosen to go but the end result is truly worth any price. To pray for contentment is to pray for the will of God.
Loving Him Daily,
Sullivan Jones
Paul, The Apostle to the Gentiles
Contentment - It is a word we have all heard but few of us understand or truly possess. The dictionary definition says it is "the state of being satisfied or having ease of mind." Basically, when we are content, we are not looking for something else. We are willing to stay where we are.
This is not a quality that many of us possess naturally. In fact, our culture constantly pushes us to the opposite extreme. We tell our children from the time they are young that they need a college education. We push them to get good grades and apply for scholarships. This is not bad in itself, but somehow we have developed the idea that it is less honorable to make a living working with one's hands.
No where is contentment (or the lack thereof) more evident than in our shopping and spending habits. Many people work long, hard over time hours trying to pay for things they bought on credit because they weren't content with what they had and bought something they couldn't afford. Can anyone identify with what I am saying?
Contentment takes away the need for always trying to have more than we truly need at the moment. I am not saying we shouldn't strive to be better. That is a Biblical admonition. We should try to improve our lives. But at what cost? Bigger is not always better. More expensive is certainly not always better. There is so much to be said for a spirit that is happy with what God has given.
Last night, as pastor was preaching, he mentioned that what we ask God for reveals our hearts. Well, a couple of years ago I began to ask God to make me content. I must admit that I didn't really mean the words in the beginning. I wanted God to make me content to wait until he gave me what I wanted. But the more I pray that prayer, the more different I see his will to be. I can not pray, "God make me content", and still have a will of my own. To pray, "God make me content", is to have no ambition of my own. It is to let him put his ambition in me. It is to reach for what he desires. It is to wake up every day and ask him what he wants me to do with that day.
Contentment is not just patience. Patience says I can wait a while longer until I see the right opportunity. Contentment says I will do only what God says I can do. It is a complete change of mindset. Contentment realizes that I will never be "happy" until I am sure that what I am doing right at this moment is exactly what God would have me to be doing. Happiness is fleeting; it is a temporary emotion. But contentment comes from having peace with God. Contentment is not settling for less than what I know I can do. In fact, it is just the opposite. God will often ask me to do more than I think I can do. Later on, I will look back and realize that what he asked was the best thing I could have done with my life.
Contentment - Do you have the courage to pray for it? That prayer might take you some places you wouldn't have chosen to go but the end result is truly worth any price. To pray for contentment is to pray for the will of God.
Loving Him Daily,
Sullivan Jones
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