The Learning Phase of Contentment

I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content in any circumstance.
Philippians 4:11 (NET)

A lot of people think that the Apostle Paul was this super human, that he was able to do things no other human could because he was different. I can't argue that he was different, but not in the way most people think. The Apostle Paul was different in the respect that he learned to trust God so much that it didn't matter what his circumstances were, he was content. The key word here is "learned." He didn't get contentment overnight. It probably took several years before he was able to have so much trust in God to be content no matter what was going on. I mean, look at what he endured in his years of ministry, imprisoned several times, ridiculed, slandered, who knows what else, but in all of that he learned to be content. He was going to have to go through those things anyway, so instead of being upset and angry and grumbling the entire time, he chose to trust God that He would take care of him and therefore he was content. This is something I am still learning. Yes, I'm in that learning phase, I haven't found contentment in every situation...but I getting closer. I can't tell you how many times I caught myself getting frustrated with traffic that I was grumbling, getting anxious, and angry..."what don't the lights turn faster, why can't the car ahead of me speed up, blah blah blah!" I am learning that when those things happen, I need to say "hey, I'm in traffic, I'm going to be in traffic, so it doesn't matter if I get upset or not I'm still going to be in traffic. Me being upset isn't going to get me through traffic any faster. So Kent, get over yourself and choose to be content, and I ask you Jesus to settle me down!" Yep, contentment doesn't flood me right away, but each time I say it, I feel a little less anxiety and frustration...and a little more at peace. You're going to have to go through your day in whatever circumstance you are in anyway, so why not choose to go through it content? It makes going through your day much easier!

Take Away...

When you find yourself getting worked up because of your circumstances, ask God to settle you down and do a little self-talking and choose contentment.

Pick and Choose The Seasons

You will keep in perfect peace
all who trust in you,
all whose thoughts are fixed on you!

Isaiah 26:3

Yesterday started just like any other day, the hustle and bustle of Christmas, dealing with the crowds on the roads and at the shopping center, getting ready for the family gathering for the big Christmas dinner...you know, normal last few days before Christmas when we celebrate our Saviors birth. Then I get word that a friend of mine passed away. He was young, getting his life together, things seem to be looking up for him. I started thinking "Really? Right before Christmas? God, you're in control, couldn't you have picked a different day, a different time of the year? How can any of us celebrate Christmas now that someone we know is no longer with us just 3 days before Christmas!" God gave me two scriptures. The first was Ecclesiastes 3:1: there is a season for everything, and the second was Isaiah 26:3, todays verse I am using. We would like to think we get to choose when and how things happen, but we don't. That would make things very convenient for us, right?  But the reality is that we don't get to pick and choose when and how things happen...they just happen and we are left to deal with them.  The more important thing is HOW we deal with these events. Do we ignore God, get mad at God, refuse to acknowledge Him anymore, or do we do what Isaiah said, keep our minds and thoughts on Him? Isaiah said if we do, then He will keep us in peace. Yes, the death of my friend hurts, and at times I cried and probably will again. Yes this is Christmas but it won't seem like Christmas to his family...and that's okay because they need to mourn. Its okay to mourn our lost loved ones and we are suppose to, and at the same time we can still be comforted by God's peace as long as we keep our thoughts and minds on Him.

Take Away...

If you have lost anyone during this Christmas season, its okay to mourn, and at the same time, keep your mind on Him and He will comfort you with His peace.

Ticked at the World

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you; I do not give it to you as the world does. Do not let your hearts be distressed or lacking in courage.

John 14:27

Did you ever wake up and instantly you were ticked at the world? And anything anyone said to you, well, you just really wanted to rip their heads off? Funny how that happens, and for me it usually happens when I don't get enough sleep, and then I wake up feeling all anxious, knowing that if I said anything to anyone, it wouldn't be good. I've come to recognize that for whatever reason, and usually it is the enemy stirring me up, raising up my insecurities or some selfish behavior, but whatever...I need to keep my mouth shut, get by myself for a few minutes, lift up my hands to the Lord and say "Jesus, settle my soul." There are times I will say this over and over for 5 minutes. And with each time I say that, I feel something like soothing ointment pour over my mind and I start to feel less anxious, less mad and more at peace. Now the anxiety may rise up again later in the day, and sometimes 5 minutes later, but all I have to do is say "Jesus, settle my soul." Jesus wants us to walk each day in His peace. If we have anything but peace, then that should be a red flag to us that something is not right and we need to go to the Lord and ask Him to settle us down. You may not have an opportunity to get away for 5 minutes, especially at work, and if that is the case, and that has happened to me, I close my eyes for a minute and ask Jesus to settle my soul. 

Take Away...

If you feel anything but peace, if you feel anxious, stirred up about something, you feel like you want to rip people's heads off...find a moment (and real soon), close your eyes and say "Jesus, settle my soul."

Worship Song of the Week...

 It Is Well by Bethel

Why pray when you can worry

Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And if worry can’t accomplish a little thing like that, what’s the use of worrying over bigger things? (Luke 12:25-26 NLT)

If there is one thing I know for sure, there is enough going on in our lives and in this world where there is no shortage of things to worry about. We worry about terrorism, we worry about someone breaking into our homes, we worry about not making enough money, we worry if we have a job tomorrow, we worry about this and we worry about that. We worry about the big things and we worry about the small things, but how far have we gotten with worrying about things? Did worrying ever help us? If you answered yes, then you are deceiving yourself because Jesus said reheotorically "Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?" The answer is an obvious no. Worry can do nothing but cause you physical problems. When we worry, a chemical is released in the brain than causes all sorts of problems. God did not design us to worry. He designed us to live and walk in peace and joy. He made life so that when we have something going on in our lives, we are to give it to Him to take care of so that we won't worry about it. 1 Peter 5:7 says cast all your cares and axiety on Him, and that is what we need to do so that we can live in the peace and joy that He designed us to live in. A pastor in St. Louis that I knew said something that I'll never forget. He said, jokingly of course, "why pray when you can worry about it?" 

Take Away: the next time you have a chance to worry about something, do something different and cast it to God and let Him deal with it. Then, and this is the important part, don't think about it! If you need to do something, He will let you know!

Finding Everlasting Rest

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28 NET)

Self help books seem to still be the thing in our culture today. "You can find inner strength and peace by following these 10 steps" is the general on going trend in our society, and each time one of these books or speakers tries to push a new strategy for finding inner peace, it pushes people further away from the One who can truly bring lasting rest. Jesus said "come to Me and I will GIVE you rest." Jesus wants us to come to Him when we are down, He wants us to come to Him when we are burdened with things we can't seem to handle. He wants us to come to Him because He knows He has the rest we need. So many times do we go to our friends and family for comfort and for peace and for answers. Not to say that they can't provide comfort and peace and answers, but those that they do provide are not long lasting because in a few days we are back to being burdened. However, if we start making a habit of going to Jesus, we will find the rest, the everlasting, true rest that only He can provide. Jesus is our sole provider of everything that we need. He is the constant that never changes. He is the One who provides answers, He is the One who provides comfort, compassion and rest when we need it.

Take Away: The next time you are feeling low, burdened, don't know what to do and you feel anxiety welling up in you, when you can't sleep at night or your thoughts during the day are on your problem...go to Jesus, lay those burdens at His feet and receive the rest He so freely wants to give you.

What are you seeking?

But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides. (Matthew 6:33 AMP)

What are you seeking? Are you seeking a better job? Are you seeking a solution to our problem? Are you seeking better relationships? Are you seeking justice to a wrong done to you? If you are seeking any of these things, then you are seeking the wrong thing. What you should be seeking is His kingdom and His righteousness and you should be seeking this FIRST! So what is His kingdom? First Corinthians 4:20 says "For the Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God’s power. (NET)." This means we need to do things God's ways, with love, with joy, with peace, with patience, with kindness. When you do this, you will be seeking His kingdom, and when you do this, then everything else will be added. God already knows what you need (Matt 6:32), and He said He will supply all your needs (Phil 4:19). So why be seeking these "things" when He is already going to provide them if you seek Him? So instead of seeking a better job, seek the One who can get you the better job. Instead of seeking the solution to your problem, seek the One who can give you the solution to the problem. Instead of seeking better relationships, seek the One who will find relationships that you need. Instead of seeking justice to a wrong done, seek the One who will deal with each person in the way they need to be dealt with. You will know that you are seeking Him and not the solution to your problems because when you do, you will be able to walk with joy, peace, patience, kindness and love and not worry about the solution.