Content in Him

"… as far as I am concerned, I have learned to be content regardless of circumstances. I know what it is to be in want, and I know what it is to have more than enough — in everything and in every way, I have learned the secret of being full and being hungry, of having abundance and being in need. I can do all things through him who gives me power." (Complete Jewish Bible)

Paul lets us know that there is a secret to living this life in a place of contentment, and it can only found through Jesus the Christ. In verse 13, he says, "I can do ALL things through him who gives me POWER." Now, most of us who have been in the church love to quote this part of the scripture, but we cannot miss the meat of the teaching. And the meat is found in the last part of verse 11 and going into verse 12.

In verse 11, Paul says, "I have LEARNED to be content. He did not get there overnight! He LEARNED it. And here are the lessons:

BEING FULL – we can become lazy or lethargic in our walk with Christ.

BEING HUNGRY – we can begin to doubt.

HAVING ABUNDANCE – we can begin to forget that is God that provided.

BEING IN NEED – we can begin to rely solely on ourselves and our imaginations.

But it is only by going THROUGH each of these "circumstances" that we learn to be content! We learn to be content in the fact that the One that can and does give us power. Power to be calm, power over our fears, and the power to have confidence in Him; that He WILL sustain and keep us in every way and that He will direct and guide us even when we cannot see any direction for ourselves.

It is here that we find the origin and development of contentment. Contentment that has been consummated through experience with Jesus the Christ. Then and only then do we find and live in that beautiful place called contentment. It is because we have now LEARNED to live and move THROUGH HIM that gives us power! So beloved BE CONTENT in Him no matter what the circumstances may be right now for they are temporary, but contentment in God is Eternal!

Always know that you are #Shape2Live!