How to be Content

by Joyce Meyer

The Bible clearly teaches us to "be content" no matter what our circumstances are. In Philippians 4:11, Paul said, "I have learned in whatsoever state I am in therewith to be content." The Amplified Bible describes being content as "satisfied to the point where you are not disturbed or disquieted". It doesn't say satisfied to the point where you don't want change, but satisfied for now until God brings the change. Philippians 4:6-7 sheds more light in this area by saying, "Have no anxiety about anything, but in all things by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, continue to let God know what you want", and verse 7 "the peace that passes understanding shall keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus". Allow me to paraphrase these scriptures in my language for you. Don't be upset about anything, no matter what is happening. Pray about it, and tell God your need. While you are waiting for God to move, be a very thankful and grateful person for all that God has done for you already. (Note: Let me say here that if God never did one thing for us except write our names in the Lamb's Book of Life, that alone is more than enough.)

Being thankful from the heart is necessary for the receiving of God's continued favors in our lives. Then verse 7 says after this: 

1. Have no anxiety or care, 

2. Tell God your need, and 

3. Be thankful. 

Then you will have tremendous peace and contentment no matter what state you are in while you are waiting for God to work out His will in your life. 

Let us not forget Romans 8:28 that says, "All things work together and are fitting into a plan for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose."  Even the hard times can work into God's perfect plan for your life. Cast your care, and be a thankful person. Take inventory each day of what you have instead of counting up all the things that you have not. Meditate on what God has done in your life instead of what you are still waiting on Him to do. Your flesh wants you to concentrate on what you don't have. Your spirit wants you to ask God for what you don't have, yet concentrate on what you do have. 

John 14:27 (Amplified) says, "Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled." Jesus left us a legacy of peace, and He wants us to use it. I have discovered through years of experience, many of these years spent in frustration and discontentment, that the secret of being content is to ask God for what I want, and know that "if it is right" He will bring it to pass "at the right time," and if it isn't right, God will do something much better than what I asked for anyway. We must learn to trust God completely if we ever intend to enjoy peaceful living. It is good to trust God for something, but God is calling His people not only to trust Him "for something," but to trust Him "in everything." 

In Genesis 50:20, Joseph, speaking to his brothers who had severely mistreated him, said "As for you, you thought evil against me; but God meant it for good." The very things we think are awful right now, very often can turn out to be a great blessing. The greatest trial can develop in you the greatest faith. God spoke this to my heart a while ago: "Joyce, you see to the end of your nose (which isn't very far), and you assume that anything that doesn't feel good isn't good. But I see from beginning to end because I am The Beginning and The End, and I know many things you don't know." We know in part. God is "The All'.

Exercise doesn't feel good, but it is good. When a rebellious child receives a spanking, it doesn't feel good, but it is good. Hebrews 12 teaches us that no chastening for the present seems joyous but grievous, nevertheless, later on it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Perhaps we need to learn to be more concerned with later on than with right now. Hebrews 12 also says that for the joy set before Him, Jesus endured the cross, despising the shame, but He is now seated at the right hand of God. Let's be willing to endure for a season, if it will seat us at His right hand of authority and power. 

In conclusion, let me say that the sum of the whole matter is this: Trust God! Hide yourself in the secret place (in Him). God loves you. He is a good God who only does good things. Be content knowing that His way is perfect, and He brings with Him a great recompense of reward for those who trust in Him. 

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This article is taken from Joyce's audio teaching, Contentment and Satisfaction.

Jesus' last words...

I went to church today and learned about one of the most significant last words of Jesus which I have not learned from all my theology classes growing up (or maybe I was daydreaming and not quite paying attention..)

One of the famous last words He uttered was 'My God, my God why have you forsaken me?' 

I thought that Jesus - in his human form though divine, understandably felt weak and miserable and questioning God, His Father. 

But a spiritual epiphany came with a sermon that He was actually quoting Psalm 22 v. 1-5. 

'My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?
Far from my deliverance are the words of my groaning.
² O my God, I cry by day, but You do not answer;
And by night, but I have no rest.
³ Yet You are holy,
O You who are enthroned upon the praises of Israel.
⁴ In You our fathers trusted;
They trusted and You delivered them.
⁵ To You they cried out and were delivered;
In You they trusted and were not disappointed.'

While the Pharisees, soldiers, and the Jewish people looked on wondering why He was calling Elijah, or thinking how He can save others except Himself.

Even when dying on the cross, suffering, tired and hurt, he can still summon the very message of Psalms, conveying it to the hearts of future generations. That even in your most trying times, even when you felt abandoned, God is with you. He will always be with you, especially when you need Him the most, even when you don't understand. 

That Jesus was also prophesying that certain Psalm verse was now made in flesh. happening ..

That He is the real deal...

They trusted and You delivered them.
⁵ To You they cried out and were delivered;
In You they trusted and were not disappointed.'

That death to self and life in Christ was revealed to Paul the apostle - an unbeliever, on his way to Damascus..

That whosoever believes in Jesus will gain eternal life, bridging that gap from our Creator.

And that is the most wonderful story ever told...

Surviving our Present Culture

IN A NUTSHELL: NOT EVERYONE IS READY TO ACCEPT GOD. WHERE DO YOU STAND?

1 Corinthians 3:1-3

"Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ.  I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready..."

When we are called into a new life with Christ, we will encounter obstacles. One of the biggest barriers is the culture in which we live. We may not ever recognize the danger we are in until we fall. Let’s look honestly at our world.

First, it’s a secular culture, which means it has little interest in religious matters or the Bible. It teaches us to trust in ourselves and in the things we can see rather than in our unseen triune God.

Our world is also materialistic. Its primary focus is on accumulating possessions and gaining wealth, not on caring about others and giving sacrificially. Tragically, many of the things our culture values stand in opposition to the way Jesus calls us to live. When Scripture contradicts what our society believes, it’s not uncommon for people to belittle our lifestyle as narrow-minded and extreme.

In many ways, our society is spiritually rebellious, in that it defies both the laws of God and the laws of man; obedience is considered optional. A large percentage of the population rejects God’s viewpoint on intimacy and marriage in order to please self—as a result, immorality is prevalent. But they have been deceived into thinking that they can violate God’s laws without any consequences.

Unless we’re careful, we can fall prey to the world’s traps. The key to avoiding its snares is God’s Word. When we study Scripture, the Holy Spirit will identify lies we are believing and show how we can apply God’s truth to set us free. Are you immersed in the culture or in God’s truth?

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My thoughts:

The problem with unbelievers is that they misconstrue having religion with faith in God. No religion is perfect and most are definitely man-made. But people who reject organized religion (like myself sometimes) don't necessarily have to reject God. To blame God for all the chaos is just  laughable (see poster below).

But some fail to see that without the freedom to choose your faith this is how the world will be:

We were all given free will to obey or not to obey, to love Him or to reject Him. But God urges us to do what's right 'See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to Him, and to keep His commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess.' - Deuteronomy 30:15-18.

Some people just don't get that we are all accountable for our actions. They blame God for all the injustice that's happening without taking responsibility. To live respectably and with dignity. To love others as yourself, but to love God ABOVE all others. Call it blind faith but man can do so empowered ONLY by the Holy Spirit. 

For those of you who are worried of what the future might bring in this secular world, let me leave you with Jesus' words:

"These words I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation but take courage;  I    HAVE   OVERCOME   THE  WORLD"... (John 16:33)