Are you content in the Lord?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©

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. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
(Philippians 4:12-13 (NIV))

Paul faced many adversities in his life after his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus. Yet, throughout everything that he faced, he was not angry or resentful, for he knew true peace and contentment.

Contentment does not come from the situation that you are in, nor does it come from finances or the correct political climate. True peace and contentment comes from knowing that Jesus Christ is your Lord and Savior, and that all things promised from God are “Yes” in Jesus.

The human condition is an interesting condition. Where there is pain and adversity, there is almost always despair. People have done serious things because of despair. Add the element of hope, and the consequences are greatly reduced. Add the element of certain favorable outcome, and the human spirit goes from one of total despair to total joy.

What Paul knew was the most certain thing that he had ever faced. Through his encounter with Jesus, he knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that not only is there hope, but there is a glorious certainty for those who have accepted Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior. Because of this certainty, he was able to face anything that the world could send his way. He had a goal, and he kept his eyes on that goal. Everything he encountered along the way was nothing more than a pothole on the road to that goal.

Have you set your eyes on that goal in the same way that Paul did, or do you let the circumstances of life change you objective?

Are you content in the Lord?

Copyright 1998 – 2021 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
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Are you able to be content in all things?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living

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. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
(Philippians 4:12-13 (NIV))

Sadly, this is a lesson that I am still learning just as I would venture to say that many of you are also still learning.

Have you ever considered what it means to be content? Basically, it means satisfied or pleased. If you stop to look up the word satisfied, one definition means paid in full! Where have we heard that proclamation before? Is your life paid in full?

If we have accepted Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior, our sin debt has been paid in full. Our debt has been satisfied and we should be content, for we have inherited so much more than the things in this world that can bring discontentment! Things like jobs, money, relationships, difficult times and ignorant people may get to us in the moment, but we have to keep our focus on Jesus. Our eternity with Him is not dictated by the things of this world. In fact, the things of this world should draw us closer to Him.

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.
(John 16:33 (NIV))

We, as members of the Body of Christ, should find eternal contentment in His arms no matter the situation!

Are you able to be content in all things?

Copyright 1998 – 2019 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
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Jesus is far greater than our troubles!

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.
(John 16:33 (NIV))

Is it just me, or do you feel that it is impossible to make it through a single day without having some kind of trouble?

I realize that some troubles appear negligible in our eyes because we have become so used to facing them that we completely ignore them when they do happen. Do you even consider those to be real troubles? On a scale of zero to ten, at what point do you consider a measurable trouble to begin? At what point do you consider a life-changing trouble to begin? At what point do you consider a life-ending as we know it type of trouble to begin?

I have one more question that I want to ask you in relationship to your answers to the previous questions above.

At what point do you turn to Jesus?

Do you wait until your problems have hit the life-changing point? Perhaps you are one of those individuals who are adamant that you can do things on your own and only turn to Jesus when you encounter what could be a life-ending trouble? Perhaps you are on the opposite end of the spectrum and turn to Jesus when something happens like a flat tire. No matter when you choose to turn to Jesus, it isn’t soon enough! As members of the Body of Christ, we should be walking with Jesus in all things and not just the troubles. We should be so confident in our relationship with Jesus that we are able to laugh with Him and to cry with Him. We should be able to ask, “Jesus, what do I do?” at any time, day or night, in times of plenty or in times of need, in time of good and in times of trouble. We must come to the realization that all of our troubles combined with all of the troubles of everyone who has ever lived are still much smaller than the Jesus that we can claim as our Lord and Savior, after all, one thing is true!

Jesus is far greater than our troubles!

Copyright 1998 – 2019 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
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In the scope of eternity

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ^©

I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 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. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
(Philippians 4:10-13 (NIV))

Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.
(John 6:27a)

The Lord Jesus Christ blesses us with what He wishes for us to have in this life. As Paul wrote in Philipians, we all go through times of need and plenty. These times are to strengthen us in our relationship with Jesus. Similarly, if we devote our time to working for things that are worldly, we will be disappointed. All things of this world are destined to whither and decay.

If we keep our eyes focused on Jesus, all the worldly things will seem irrelavent in the long run. Only our faith in Jesus Christ as the only Son of God and as our only Way to Salvation is what matters in the scope of eternity.

Live for Eternity!

In the scope of eternity, a month or even a year is like a second to us in this world. Who among us has not had needs that have gone unmet for a second or even a minute or an hour. If you are thirsty, do you drink immediately, or do you have to wait several seconds or minutes? In the scope of your day, this time seems insignificant. How, then, will a month or a year seem in eternity?

Copyright 1998 – 2012 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
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