Friday, September 30



Psalm 24:1
The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it…


Reflection
This verse tells us that everything in the earth, including us, belongs to the Lord.  That tells us that our contentment and our satisfaction shouldn’t be based on material things because none of that belongs to us to begin with.  It all belongs to the Lord.  The Lord shares it with us but it, ultimately, belongs to him.  So, if what the Lord owns and shares with us is not what brings us contentment, then what does?  Maybe we should begin to focus on the owner.  Maybe God is the one that should be the most important thing in our lives.  Maybe God should be the center of our existence.  Maybe God is the beginning of discovering contentment.

What role does God play in your life?  Can God be the source of your contentment and satisfaction?


Thursday, September 29



Philippians 4:12
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.



Reflection
This verse says that it is possible to discover contentment in any situation.  If a person is well fed they can be content.  If a person is hungry they can be content.  Contentment and satisfaction is not based on those things.  Contentment is far more than having a few material things.   Contentment is the mentality and attitude that a person gets up with every morning.  Contentment is the realization that everything will be all right even if nothing goes right for us.

Does your attitude and mentality help you to develop and maintain a state of contentment?


Wednesday, September 28



Philippians 4:12
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.


Reflection
This verse can help us discover the elusive mystery of contentment.  Over the next few days we are going to investigate different sections of this verse in the hope that we will take a step closer to living a contented life.  Paul says that he knows what it means to be needy and he knows what it is like to have an abundance of blessings.  However, he implies that one can be content no matter what the situation.  Contentment is not based on the condition of your situation.  Contentment is based on what you believe and what you build your life on.

What do you fundamentally believe about life? 
What are your core values that form the foundation
of your life?


Tuesday, September 27



Philippians 4:11
I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.


Reflection
Being content no matter what you have or what you are facing in life is not an easy thing to achieve.  The only way we can be satisfied regardless of what our life situation is, is to focus on what is truly important in life.  If we focus on what we have we won’t be content because we will always want more.  If we focus on the circumstances of our lives we will not be content because we will always yearn for some things to be different.  We have to find the one most important thing in all of life and focus on that.  If we do that then contentment is a possibility.

What is the most important thing in life for you?


Monday, September 26



Proverbs 21:20
In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has.



Reflection
Sometimes we cannot achieve contentment because we are not wise consumers of what we do have.  If we squander the material blessings that God has given us then we will always be thinking that we need more and contentment will never come.  Wise use of our resources will teach us to respect and value the blessings that God has given us and we will begin to learn how to be satisfied with what we have.  Satisfaction with what we already have is a great step toward contentment.

How can you develop a sense of satisfaction about life and what you have?  If nothing changed in your life could you still discover satisfaction and contentment?


September 25 - October 1

What is Contentment?

Proverbs 21:20
In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has.

Philippians 4:12
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.

Psalm 24:1
The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.

Contentment.  Not many truly learn what that is.  We have a mistaken idea about contentment.  So many of us think that contentment is when we get the one desire of our hearts for which we have been yearning.  Unfortunately, if that is the definition of contentment then we are doomed to never experience being content because there will always be something that will be the desire of our hearts for which we are yearning.

Contentment cannot be based on what we have. Contentment is something that we can achieve in spite of what we have.  If we have a lot we can be content.  If we have little we can be content.  If we have nothing we can be content.  Contentment is based on an attitude of the heart and mind and has nothing to do with whether we are prosperous or in want.  So, the question is “How can we be content?”  That is what we will investigate in our devotionals this week.


Saturday, September 24



Philippians 4:10-13
Philippians 4:10-13
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.


Reflection
As we focus on the entire passage from Philippians
let’s take a look at a way of life that will be helpful in bringing each of us to a state of contentment.  What are some practices that will help us to be content? 
Let me list a few:

· Trust God completely (depending on the strength  of Jesus)
· Saving money consistently.
· Recognizing that God owns all that we have.
Embrace our God-given mission and work to
fulfill it.
· Commit to lifelong generosity.

If we live in this way we will begin to understand what Paul means when he says that in all situations he has found contentment.