Contentment is Learned

Many months ago, I had an Eureka moment. Indeed I discovered that true happiness can be found only in God. This happiness manifests itself as an inner feeling of peace and contentment that depends not on outward circumstances, no matter how dastardly or awesome those circumstances may be. The outcome of happiness even when one is unemployed, broke, childless, ill, injured, etc. is impossible to understand. But, christians can believe this promise because this promise comes from God.

Romans 8:28
God has promised that all things work together for good to those who love and serve Him faithfully.

This Thanksgiving weekend, I had another Eureka moment. While happiness (the feeling of joy) no matter what betides is a gift from our loving God, contentment is actually LEARNED behavior.

Philippians 4:10-20
10 I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Sure, contentment is also a gift from God but it has to be practiced until it is perfected(with God’s help).

We have been commanded to be content so we have to get this one right.

Exodus 20:1-17.
You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.

HOW?

Developing a Godly Perspective is Key.

Circumstances change. This is a fact. One season you are on top of the world and another season later you are under water. Dancers have learned that during a pirouette they must fix their gaze on an inanimate object to avoid dizziness or imbalance. It is the same for us. During a crisis, we must fix our gaze on the only inanimate object in our lives. This is not the time to recall your savings account balance, or your fabulous boyfriend, or your beautiful children or your great job. (these are blessings but they can change in an instant) Instead, this is the time to remember God’s promises to us. God does not change. His promises do not change. These are facts that we can count on.

This earthly Life is beautify and challenging, and difficult and lovely. This life is a series of lessons that are designed by a perfect God to render us perfect.

It is hard to understand why this is so. But we don’t know everything. Indeed, we are just children in Christ who must trust our Father for guidance.

Deuteronomy 29:29
The LORD our God has secrets known to no one. We are not accountable for them, but we and our children are accountable forever for all that he has revealed to us, so that we may obey all the terms of these instructions.

We must face our challenges and defeat each one with the help of the Holy Spirit who was given to us as a gift to assist us on this side.

Our most difficult challenges cause us much turmoil. Ours is a spiritual battle.

Ephesians 6:12
For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

But each time we overcome a bad habit, perfect a difficult relationship, confess a sin, forgive an enemy, humble ourselves and pray we become more and more like Christ. We move up a little higher.

Therefore it is up to us to constantly encourage ourselves and others through and over life’s circumstances. The result is NOT contentment WITH the world and its folly but instead contentment IN the world.

It is a process, darling. But the sooner we begin the journey, the happier we will be!

Psalm 139
139:1 O Lord, you have searched me and known me!
2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
you discern my thoughts from afar.
3 You search out my path and my lying down
and are acquainted with all my ways.
4 Even before a word is on my tongue,
behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.
5 You hem me in, behind and before,
and lay your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
it is high; I cannot attain it.
7 Where shall I go from your Spirit?
Or where shall I flee from your presence?
8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there!
If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
9 If I take the wings of the morning
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
10 even there your hand shall lead me,
and your right hand shall hold me.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me,
and the light about me be night,”
12 even the darkness is not dark to you;
the night is bright as the day,
for darkness is as light with you.
13 For you formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my mother's womb.
14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. [1]
Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there was none of them.
17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
18 If I would count them, they are more than the sand.
I awake, and I am still with you.
19 Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God!
O men of blood, depart from me!
20 They speak against you with malicious intent;
your enemies take your name in vain! [2]
21 Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord?
And do I not loathe those who rise up against you?
22 I hate them with complete hatred;
I count them my enemies.
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts! [3]
24 And see if there be any grievous way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting! [4]

Don't Worry, darling. Be HAPPY!

Be anxious for nothing. But in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Phillippeans 4:6-7

It is 3:40 in the morning and you are awake. You are anxious and worried. Your heart is uneasy and your mind is moving at warp speed; analyzing various solutions, trying to solve the problem.

Psychologists may tell you that you should not worry. They reason that worrying does no good. What if the bad outcome you imagine does not happen? All is well.

But in your mind, all is not well. The bad thing may happen. Then WHAT?

Paul in Phillipeans speaks to this scenario and he tells us exactly what to do.

Paul admonishes us NOT TO WORRY. Then he tells us how to accomplish this miraculous feat.

There are 4 steps

1) Pray

2) Supplicate

3) Give Thanks

4) Make Your Requests Known

1. PRAY

Prayer is not merely listing your petitions. Prayer is praise and worship. We are told to come before the great and powerful GOD and forget our problems for a moment while we praise HIM. Isn't GOD Awesome? Sit and recall just how AWESOME God is. God, the maker of heaven and earth. God the omnipotent, omniscient one. God who fashioned us and loves us. God the I AM.

2) Supplicate

Now, that we have recognized HIM that keeps us from falling, we can bring our petitions. We can tell tell God what ails us.

3) Give Thanks

You must approach with a heart of thanksgiving. In other words, you can not approach GOD with any doubt as to HIS goodness. What can you thank GOD for? Perhaps you are facing such a calamity that you cannot identify anything to be thankful for in the present. Well, thank God for past blessings. Thank God for Jesus Christ whose death enables us to approach God directly with no intermediary. Thank God for eternal life, for health and strength, for safety, for health, for a good hair day!

4) Make Your Requests Known

Tell God all about it. Tell him what ails and confuses you. Tell Him how you feel. Pour out your heart to God knowing all the while that He hears you and cares deeply about your situation.

NOW WHAT?!

This is the most interesting part of all. After we have followed these steps, notice that Paul does not tell us that our circumstances will change. We are not promised that God will give us everything we ask. Instead, we are promised that God will change us supernaturally so that we are no longer anxious. He will enable us to sleep. He will give us PEACE.

This is very hard to understand. But God promises Peace That Passes All Understanding!

God is concerned with us; our mind and our hearts first. If we follow the steps above, God promises that He will change our hearts and minds in such a way that we will no longer be ruled and effected by our circumstances.

It is not prayer that changes things, it is GOD that changes us.

Being able to remain at peace when the world rages around us: This is Happiness, darling!

When Dealing With Snakes- It's Best to Stop, Pose and Smile!

When you come face to face with a venomous snake, how do you react? Do you shriek and run? Or do you remain calm knowing all the while that you ARE protected?

Today, I heard a terrific sermon about Paul's encounter with a venomous snake.

³Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. ⁴When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, "This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live." ⁵But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. ⁶The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead, but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god. ACTS 28:3-6

Modern medicine tells us that if we are ever bitten by a snake, it is imperative that we remain calm. If we become agitated, the poison will spread all the more quickly. And so it is in life. When faced with a tragedy, it is necessary to localize the effects lest it destroy you.

Here a venomous snake "fastened" itself onto Paul. And what was his reactioin? He did not panic. He shook off the snake, kept calm and continued on his way.

Notice that the people around him did not help him. The islanders opted instead to murmur among themselves. They questioned why God would allow this calamity to befall Paul instead of trying to assist their brother.

It is not unusual to face a difficult season with no friends, colleagues or fellow Christians to help. But isn't it good to know that God is always on hand?

The point is that we must put our trust in God not man, woman, position, money or possessions. We must keep our confidence in the divine and the eternal.

How?

Do what Paul did.

When evil attempts to fasten itself on you, remind yourself about the goodness of the Lord. Paul surely had a reason to trust God. Remember his transformation on the Road to Demascus? Remember how he was delivered from prison? Remember the ship wreck and how he survived by swimming to shore?

Do you feel yourself about to succumb to panic? Stop! Now remind yourself about God's perfect track record. Didn't God save you? Didn't He keep you in 2009? Didn't He meet your needs?

You may wonder why a tragedy has befallen you anyway.

Perhaps your trial, like Paul's, comes to teach others around you how to behave. In the passage above, Paul's trial caused the island folk to change their mind about God. Why? They saw that after Paul was bitten and survived, he did not panic. He did not die.

You may be the only Jesus some folks ever see.

So when you see a snake, remember you may be on candid christian camera. Don't panic. Stop. Strike a pose and smile, darling. You can't Lose!

Don't Follow Your Heart Follow HIS

We know that we serve a powerful God who has a perfect plan for us. A plan to prosper us not to harm us.

There are times however, when we stray from the perfect path. God's will can seem tiresome, too difficult or not flashy enough. The world is shiny and beckons, doesn't it? Or else our own hearts tempt us to wander. During these times, it is best to ask for WISDOM.

If any among you need wisdom-let her ask for wisdom to understand trials and wisdom to overcome them.

But when you ask for wisdom, believe that you will receive it and STAND firm. Do not vacillate! Stand and wait for wisdom. Don't go backwards or forwards.

When trials come, do not seek avenues of escape. Instead of running, sit and mature in the situation.

Count it joy when you fall into divers temptations. This worketh patience.

But you do not get brownie points for simply going through trials and failing! You learn patience and endurance IF you succeed and overcome. Then it's on to the next level.

Is there anything more difficult than waiting patiently for God to reveal His wisdom?

Many times we believe that any motion is better than waiting. How many mistakes could be avoided if we would just WAIT for WISDOM?

So you must TRUST that God's plan is perfect. Remember, as a child of God, you chose to follow God's way, not your way, not the world's way. This means that you can not always follow your HEART. Following your heart can get you into trouble. Our ways are not God's ways. God's will is the only perfect way. God's will is clear, unchanging, perfect. Jesus said, "If you love me, follow my commandments." "If you love me, love one another."

Trust and believe that all your toil and all your activity can never bring about God's perfect plan any sooner. After you have learned of God's will as articulated in his word, then WAIT to hear God speak to you to direct you further.

But be prepared...as you grow in GOD and as you learn about HIM, you will notice that the temptations and trials begin to mount. You may begin to feel that you are tempted to stray more often.

"Why are we tempted and tried? That he might humble thee, and that he might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end."

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but with the temptation also make a way to escape that ye may be able to bear it."
1Corinthians 10:13

Blessed is the woman that endureth temptation, for when she is tried she shall receive the crown of life which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
James 1:12

Stay on the Perfect Path, darling! But know that this heroic feat can not be accomplished alone. Seek to learn more about God and he will reveal the secrets of life to you. The process is supernatural. Keep seeking and it will happen. He promised.

What do you do when God's Version of Happiness is Not Your Own?

After all is said and done, we are only human. Despite being inbued with the Holy Spirit, we still at times find it difficult to combat feelings of despair. For many, the loneliest times are those spent seeking the strength to do what God has willed us to do when we don't want to do it.

Picture this scenario: For years, you have prayed for direction. Maybe you are in a job that you hate and you continue to pray for an escape hatch. Perhaps you have sought assistance from friends and family, read your Bible looking for an explanation, prayed seeking a specific answer.

Finally, God speaks. The problem is that the answer is not the answer that you sought.

Now what?!

How do you find happiness in doing HIS WILL when you don't want to do HIS WILL? Where is the joy? How can you gather the strength to DO that which you hate?

Let's look at the story of Jonah- a classic story of what happens when we opt not to do God's will.

JONAH 1:1-17 (International Version)

¹ The word of the LORD came to Jonah son of Amittai: ² "Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me."

³ But Jonah ran away from the LORD and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the LORD.

⁴ Then the LORD sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up. ⁵ All the sailors were afraid and each cried out to his own god. And they threw the cargo into the sea to lighten the ship.
But Jonah had gone below deck, where he lay down and fell into a deep sleep. ⁶ The captain went to him and said, "How can you sleep? Get up and call on your god! Maybe he will take notice of us, and we will not perish."

⁷ Then the sailors said to each other, "Come, let us cast lots to find out who is responsible for this calamity." They cast lots and the lot fell on Jonah.

⁸ So they asked him, "Tell us, who is responsible for making all this trouble for us? What do you do? Where do you come from? What is your country? From what people are you?"

⁹ He answered, "I am a Hebrew and I worship the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the land."

¹⁰ This terrified them and they asked, "What have you done?" (They knew he was running away from the LORD, because he had already told them so.)

¹¹ The sea was getting rougher and rougher. So they asked him, "What should we do to you to make the sea calm down for us?"

¹² "Pick me up and throw me into the sea," he replied, "and it will become calm. I know that it is my fault that this great storm has come upon you."

¹³ Instead, the men did their best to row back to land. But they could not, for the sea grew even wilder than before. ¹⁴ Then they cried to the LORD, "O LORD, please do not let us die for taking this man's life. Do not hold us accountable for killing an innocent man, for you, O LORD, have done as you pleased." ¹⁵ Then they took Jonah and threw him overboard, and the raging sea grew calm. ¹⁶ At this the men greatly feared the LORD, and they offered a sacrifice to the LORD and made vows to him.

¹⁷ But the LORD provided a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was inside the fish three days and three nights.

If God has been kind enough to reveal His WILL to you, don't be like Jonah. Don't run from His Will. Don't attempt to reason with God. Don't try to talk HIM out of his plan for you. Instead rise up boldly and ask God to help you to do that thing which he commands you to do.

God is Good. He will not ask you do do something that you can not do. Once you surrender your will to His Will, he will give you the power to do His Will.

Philippians 2:13 (King James Version)

For It is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

In other words:

Philippians 2:12-13 (New International Version)

¹²Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, ¹³for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

Sometimes FEAR is the best motivator. Do what God asks you to do. The alternative is death. His Will is perfect. It will lead to your happiness. He promised, darling.

Jonah remembered this and prayed even while in the belly of the fish:

"When my life was ebbing away,
I remembered you, LORD,
and my prayer rose to you,
to your holy temple.

⁸ "Those who cling to worthless idols
forfeit the grace that could be theirs.

⁹ But I, with a song of thanksgiving,
will sacrifice to you.
What I have vowed I will make good.
Salvation comes from the LORD."

¹⁰ And the LORD commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.

You Need More Than "Sex and the City," darling.

Having watched the entire Sex and the City (SATC) series on DVDs purchased from Costco, I became an expert on the romps of “the girls”. Though many of the episodes were painful (remember the episode between Steve, Miranda and Dr. Robert Leeds?), I plowed through each one searching for one Pat Field styled ensemble after the other. The apparel, accessories, and lifestyles of these fashionable New Yorkers was creamy, enviable but, alas not reality…mine or yours.

The HBO episodes have became so popular that cable executives changed their minds and recently released Sex and the City The Movie. With SATC movie openings all over the world, the re-release of the SATC box set, the launch of the SATC book and on-line chats dedicated entirely to the SATC oscilating plots, I find it necessary to remind myself that the SATC phenomenom, though carefully wrapped in luxurious couture, espouses a very potent secularism.

The 4 main characters never focused on the need for religion or spirituality to combat life’s peculiar tragedies. Instead, the heroines leaned on their own intellect, shopping therapy and strong friendships with each other for survival. But what would have happened if Carrie lost all of her friends? What if Charlotte was not able to give her $10,000 to prevent her from being evicted? What if Samantha’s cancer had not gone into remission? What if Miranda, the atheist, gave birth to a child who suffered from a physical or mental handicap?

In “O Come All Ye Faithful” from Season 1, Episode 12, Carrie decides to attend church to verify that her boyfriend, BIG (John James Preston) actually accompanied his mom to church every Sunday. Carrie did not believe in religion. Instead, she like many, believe in the religion of “being nice” to others.

Jesus makes it very clear that “I am the way.” On our own, it is impossible to be good enough to warrant God’s favor and grace. We must confess that we owe God everything, We must confess that Jesus died for us and his death is what enables us to hope for life everlasting with HIM. Our safety, our help in the time of trouble is from God. God sends friends to help us. God sends his Holy Spirit to comfort us when we are alone. God send miracles to prevent us from falling into despair. It is all due to God and his mercy. Hallelujah! Darling, we are saved.

Resting is an Act of Faith

Sleep in Peace when day is done, that’s how I feel. It’s a new dawn, it’s a new world it’s a new life. And I’m feeling good.
-Nina Simone (Feeling Good)

What else must you do? REST, darling! REST!

Resting can be the hardest commandment to follow. Inaction is difficult because it requires FAITH. See Exodus 20:8-11 God commands us to remember the Sabbath and keep it holy. Basically, we are asked to rest on the 6th day, just as GOD did during the creation of the world.

And so we must rest in Jesus and God’s promises even though we are inundated with WORK, projects, events, obligations. Although we have deadlines, troubles and calamities, we must resist being anxious and worrying about them. We must resist working frantically and furiously to solve our problems. (Staying up all night for a week pacing the floor and calling everyone we know for advice is not faith!) We must remember that God is the only power that can fix our problem. We must remember what Jesus said, If you ask for it in my name and according to my will, it will be done!

Our work, and effort has no effect without GOD. Instead success requires a balance of work and rest (faith).

EXAMPLE: We are like a Christian woman sitting in a row boat in the middle of an ocean. God has commanded her to row against the current. So she is paddling like crazy to make progress. The fact that she is acting in God’s will as commanded, is significant. God rewards her act of obedience and faith by promising to take care of her. God will provide what she needs for her journey. He will send food, and shade. He will send fresh water and even a companion. He will also provide a time for her to rest. If she disobeys GOD and paddles every day all day…she will become too tired and worn out to be effective. GOD says, Rest! We should only paddle when necessary.

When is it necessary to PADDLE like crazy? When God says so. The Bible is clear…Rest on the 6th day. The tired, nervous body should NEVER drive the Spirit. Rather, the Spirit should be the master of the body.

When we rest we evidence our belief that God is control. What does it profit us to run and run and run? Wouldn’t it be better to stop and “Ask for Directions” and “Fill up the Tank” before a long journey? God will always provide a way if we would just listen. He has told us: DON’T SEEK TO WORK FOR ME! In other words, do not make opportunities for GOD. Instead LIVE for GOD and let HIM make the opportunities for us!

We have been commanded to carve out one day of the week to refuel our spirits and steal away with Jesus. Only in restful silence can we receive a spirit understanding. Times of withdrawal for rest always precede fresh miracle working.

Remember:

Jesus rested at the well in Samaria. John 4:4-6
4 Now he had to go through Samaria. 5 So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob's well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about the sixth hour.

Jesus rested on the boat during the violent storm. Matthew 8:24
24Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping.

Isaiah 40:31 They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings as eagles. They shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.