Contentment
September 2013
"Godliness with contentment is great gain." 1 Timothy 6:6
I am a woman that loves to plan. Many people who know me often make fun of my many planners and my ability to schedule away the day! lol! But in this season of my life God has been dealing with me about giving up my agenda/plans and following His. Proverbs 19:21 NLT says, "You can make many plans, but the Lord's purpose will prevail." This summer God said, "I'm interrupting your plans, for my purpose." Little did I know that this interruption would be at times very difficult and uncomfortable, but ultimately joyful because it was and is the will of God for my life.
Word for this season: Contentment
In this season, I'm learning to be content. I'm learning to embrace my place. I'm learning to bloom where I am planted. I'm learning to let God have complete and full control and to follow Him no matter what! It is definitely a process………and if you are like me and are experiencing the same thing…..you know exactly what I mean. In Philippians Ch. 4, we read about being content with what we have. But my favorite scripture on contentment is 1 Timothy 6:6, "But godliness with contentment is great gain."
Formula of the day: Godliness + Contentment = GREAT GAIN
Many of us know what it means to be godly. To be godly is to walk, talk, live, and be like Christ. To be godly is to have the mind of Christ, which comes from not being conformed to this world: but instead being transformed by the renewing of your mind! It is truly a call to be in this world, but not of it. It is also a call to be Christ's hands and feet in this world. It is a call to represent the Kingdom in everything you do. Now although many of us are striving to be more like Christ in all that we do, and are living godly lives; many of us have not mastered being content. We complain more than we praise. Pastor Mark Hankins said, "Never let your face be a picture of your circumstance! SMILE!" Some of us can't even smile or be joyful because we are so tangled up in what we are going through. We are more focus on the problem than we are on the problem solver. I am reminded of Mary in Luke 1:26-38. She was called to do something extraordinary; something that was seen as impossible. Something that although would cost her her "name," it would ultimately be for His fame and glory! She definitely was a woman called to do what all of us blood bought believers are called to do and that is to deny ourselves, pick up our cross, and follow Christ! God came and chose a woman who was a virgin and was engaged to be married to be the mother of our Savior because she was, "highly favored, and the Lord was with her, and she was blessed among women" (vs. 28). This calling caused her plans to be interrupted for God's purpose. What I love about Mary was her response. Let's stop here: If you want to know what you really believe take notice of how you talk when you are under pressure (Luke 6:45).
She responded:, "Be it unto me according to thy word!"
(Luke 1:38)
She did not whine or complain. She did not get angry and throw a pity party. She said be it unto me according to thy word.
Let's stop here: According to thy word. What does God's word say? It says we are healed (Isaiah 53:5). It says we always triumph (2 Corinthians 2:14). It says that we are free (Galatians 5:1 & 2 Corinthians 3:17). It says that we are never alone, forgotten, or forsaken (Hebrews 13:5 & Deuteronomy 31:6,8 & Joshua 1:5 & Psalm 94:14 & Matthew 28:20). It says that we are royalty (1 Peter 2:9). It says that we are forgiven and that there is no condemnation (Ephesians 1:7-10 & Romans 8:1). It says that we are accepted in the beloved (Ephesians 1:6). It says that we are fearfully and wonderfully made and that we are God's masterpiece (Psalm 139:14 & Ephesians 2:10). It says that God knows the plans that he has for us and that they are good and that we have an expected end (Jeremiah 29:11). It says we are blessed coming in and going out (Deuteronomy 28:6). It says the He will give us beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness (Isaiah 61:3). It says that many are the afflictions of the righteous, but my God, your God, our God delivers us out of them ALL! Not some. Not a few. BUT OUT OF THEM ALL (Psalm 34:19)!
You see, we all need to be like Mary. Whenever our plans seem to be interrupted we need to bodily say, be it unto me according to thy word! God loves you friend. HE is faithful! The word says, ".....no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly" (Psalm 84:11). I am learning to trust....not just say it...but really trust God's heart and hand! My motto: If He did not meet it, I did not need it!
Now although I have never been a huge complainer, at times I have found myself complaining and whining. YUCK! LOL! But the truth is:
We must stop whining and complaining.
I am a woman that loves to plan. Many people who know me often make fun of my many planners and my ability to schedule away the day! lol! But in this season of my life God has been dealing with me about giving up my agenda/plans and following His. Proverbs 19:21 NLT says, "You can make many plans, but the Lord's purpose will prevail." This summer God said, "I'm interrupting your plans, for my purpose." Little did I know that this interruption would be at times very difficult and uncomfortable, but ultimately joyful because it was and is the will of God for my life.
Word for this season: Contentment
In this season, I'm learning to be content. I'm learning to embrace my place. I'm learning to bloom where I am planted. I'm learning to let God have complete and full control and to follow Him no matter what! It is definitely a process………and if you are like me and are experiencing the same thing…..you know exactly what I mean. In Philippians Ch. 4, we read about being content with what we have. But my favorite scripture on contentment is 1 Timothy 6:6, "But godliness with contentment is great gain."
Formula of the day: Godliness + Contentment = GREAT GAIN
Many of us know what it means to be godly. To be godly is to walk, talk, live, and be like Christ. To be godly is to have the mind of Christ, which comes from not being conformed to this world: but instead being transformed by the renewing of your mind! It is truly a call to be in this world, but not of it. It is also a call to be Christ's hands and feet in this world. It is a call to represent the Kingdom in everything you do. Now although many of us are striving to be more like Christ in all that we do, and are living godly lives; many of us have not mastered being content. We complain more than we praise. Pastor Mark Hankins said, "Never let your face be a picture of your circumstance! SMILE!" Some of us can't even smile or be joyful because we are so tangled up in what we are going through. We are more focus on the problem than we are on the problem solver. I am reminded of Mary in Luke 1:26-38. She was called to do something extraordinary; something that was seen as impossible. Something that although would cost her her "name," it would ultimately be for His fame and glory! She definitely was a woman called to do what all of us blood bought believers are called to do and that is to deny ourselves, pick up our cross, and follow Christ! God came and chose a woman who was a virgin and was engaged to be married to be the mother of our Savior because she was, "highly favored, and the Lord was with her, and she was blessed among women" (vs. 28). This calling caused her plans to be interrupted for God's purpose. What I love about Mary was her response. Let's stop here: If you want to know what you really believe take notice of how you talk when you are under pressure (Luke 6:45).
She responded:, "Be it unto me according to thy word!"
(Luke 1:38)
She did not whine or complain. She did not get angry and throw a pity party. She said be it unto me according to thy word.
Let's stop here: According to thy word. What does God's word say? It says we are healed (Isaiah 53:5). It says we always triumph (2 Corinthians 2:14). It says that we are free (Galatians 5:1 & 2 Corinthians 3:17). It says that we are never alone, forgotten, or forsaken (Hebrews 13:5 & Deuteronomy 31:6,8 & Joshua 1:5 & Psalm 94:14 & Matthew 28:20). It says that we are royalty (1 Peter 2:9). It says that we are forgiven and that there is no condemnation (Ephesians 1:7-10 & Romans 8:1). It says that we are accepted in the beloved (Ephesians 1:6). It says that we are fearfully and wonderfully made and that we are God's masterpiece (Psalm 139:14 & Ephesians 2:10). It says that God knows the plans that he has for us and that they are good and that we have an expected end (Jeremiah 29:11). It says we are blessed coming in and going out (Deuteronomy 28:6). It says the He will give us beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness (Isaiah 61:3). It says that many are the afflictions of the righteous, but my God, your God, our God delivers us out of them ALL! Not some. Not a few. BUT OUT OF THEM ALL (Psalm 34:19)!
You see, we all need to be like Mary. Whenever our plans seem to be interrupted we need to bodily say, be it unto me according to thy word! God loves you friend. HE is faithful! The word says, ".....no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly" (Psalm 84:11). I am learning to trust....not just say it...but really trust God's heart and hand! My motto: If He did not meet it, I did not need it!
Now although I have never been a huge complainer, at times I have found myself complaining and whining. YUCK! LOL! But the truth is:
We must stop whining and complaining.
Whining and complaining, in many ways, is the opposite of worshiping and praising the Lord. Worship is when we glorify God for who He is and acknowledge what He has done for us, but whining and complaining is ignoring who God is and forgetting what He has done for us! The truth is you can't praise God and be discouraged at the same time. And you sho' nuff can't praise Him and complain and whine at the same time either!
Friend, know that every time you open your mouth to talk, you speak life or death to your circumstances, relationships, and future. It's time we start speaking life! (Prov. 18:21) And know that what you think about, what you say, and what you do today are all seeds that will produce a harvest. It's time we start planting wisely! |
No matter how you feel or what's going on....get up and praise the Lord! Never let your face be a picture of your circumstance! Establish a lifestyle of praise! The devil wants us to focus on our problems; however, when we give God the praise, we defeat the enemy’s tactics and win the spiritual battle within our minds. There is always something we can find to worry about, but there is always something we can thank God for. Whatever we think about the most determines the direction of our lives. We can either praise God or complain and murmur. Which direction will you choose?
I choose to trust His hand and heart. I choose to be content. I choose to not complain and remain, but to instead praise and be raised in due time! I choose to be joyful where I am. I choose to bloom where I am planted. I choose to appreciate and love my portion. I choose Jesus! And I say boldly, "Be it unto me according to thy Word!"
Be encouraged and be CONTENT!!!!
I choose to trust His hand and heart. I choose to be content. I choose to not complain and remain, but to instead praise and be raised in due time! I choose to be joyful where I am. I choose to bloom where I am planted. I choose to appreciate and love my portion. I choose Jesus! And I say boldly, "Be it unto me according to thy Word!"
Be encouraged and be CONTENT!!!!