We just want you CONTENT

“We just want
you content.”

Oh. Content. What does this
mean? I am reminded of the scriptures

Philippians 4:11 Not
that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I
am to be content.

In this
scripture the word is defined:

1) sufficient for one’s self, strong enough or possessing enough
to need no aid or support

2) independent of external circumstances 

3) contented with one’s lot, with one’s means, though the
slenderest

 Hebrews 13:5 Keep your
life free from love of money, and be content
with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake
you.”

1) to be possessed of
unfailing strength a) to be strong, to suffice, to be enough

2) to defend, ward off  b) to be satisfied, to be contented

I recently had a conversation with my sister Meghann. I was talking to her about some things I am
praying into in regards to the “next step” after school here in WA. When I say praying into, this means I don’t
know… it just means there are some things on my heart and floating in my
mind. Praying, talking to God, and
listening following my heart and doing my best at listening to Him and obeying
what He leads me to do, go, etc. So there
is nothing decided. 

She mentioned she (“we” – people who care about me/ family) “just want you content.”

I totally understand. She went
on to say with understanding as well… their definition of content is… a home, a
steady job, routine and consistency, to be grounded in one place. And I hear
that… I do. That was my definition but
those are things if you hear this… are THINGS. Now don’t get me wrong I want these THINGS… I really, really do. BUT I’ll tell you this…. I want my heart
CONTENT more. So that if I have these
THINGS or not… I can say I AM CONTENT – in
all things. 

Now here’s the THING that takes time and effort… I am very CONTENT in
KNOWING GOD, HEARING HIM and LOVING HIM. These are THINGS that get booted out when focus on finding the first
version of CONTENT is top priority. I
now know.

Content. My email address is drivenharts. I have a drivenness, and passion, and zeal to
things in life. My faith, and my life
for God’s kingdom is now where these God given characteristics are directed.                                                    

They were directed to money, worldly passions, to success, to
perfection, body image, attention, envy, gluttony, an out-for-myself
mentality. What can I get for me? How
does this benefit me? What’s it going to cost me? 

Don’t get me wrong this wasn’t how I lived my whole life, this wasn’t
all the time, but it was enough in my heart to taint my thoughts, motives and
objectives. It disgusts me now to think
of how I used to be. This wasn’t
CONTENT. This is some of the only times
when comparison to my old self comes out now in my favor now. In His favor…   

Here’s what steals my contentment. COMPARISON to OTHERS.

So easy to do… I am now the
last one of my “friends” to get married, to have kids, to be settled down and
the like. I have wrestled with this
quite a bit. What I’m doing in life, doesn’t make sense to people if I’m held
to the standards of the American culture of college, job, 401K house -mortage,
car, kids, routine, play dates, etc. OH
HOW THESE are GOOD THINGS… believe me my heart cries for these things, and to
share life with people I love. It’s just
not looking the way I thought. But I
have to say. I AM CONTENT in my Lord. In
knowing Him and with that… I know He is good, and He has good THINGS for me.                   

Phil. 1:6 being
confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to
completion until the day of Christ Jesus. 

con·tent adjective

1. satisfied with what one is or has; not
wanting more or anything else.

2. British . agreeing;
assenting.

3. Archaic . willing.

verb (used with
object)

4. to make content:
These things content me.

noun

5. the state or
feeling of being contented; contentment: His content was threatened.

Synonyms
appease, gratify.
See satisfy.

contentverb

1: to appease
the desires of

2: to limit
(oneself) in requirements, desires, or actions

*content to dwell

* Be content with

                              I walk by Faith.

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain
of what we do not see.

Do you see that?… He who COMES TO GOD. we have to KNOW Him… BELIEVE HIM… believe
what?… that HE IS … and that HE IS a rewarder of those who seek Him.

Well… have you ever asked yourself… WHO IS GOD? WHO IS HE to you? Or deeper yet… WHO is He in
you?  

Have you sought Him? Not just
for things you need, want answers for etc.

Sought to KNOW HIM? Sought to
know the answer to believing that HE IS________________. And… when you find
those answers the MANY that there are… in many seasons, and situations in our
lives… when you find some of those… you will believe that He is a REWARDER of
those who seek Him.

I found this article I think says it well. Perhaps better than I can articulate.

   “We Walk By Faith, Not By Sight”                                                  Shane Scott 
From Expository Files 3.12; December 1996

Have you ever imagined that you were blind? I
have tried many times to identify with those who are blind by taking just a few
steps with my eyes closed. After a couple of steps I am totally disoriented. It
is so unnatural for us to walk without looking where we are going, yet that is
precisely what Paul says we Christians must do. “For we walk by faith, not by
sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7). This principle has several
applications.

Authority
Those who “walk by sight” depend
for authority upon what they experience – not by visions they see, voices they
hear, or emotional surges they feel. But a reliance upon the senses (ALONE) for
authority is dangerous. An experience is inherently ambiguous and needs
interpretation (see John 12:28-30). Further, the Bible teaches that not all
sense-experiences are of divine origin; rather, God allows Satanic deceptions
to delude those who “did not believe the truth” (2 Thessalonians
2:9-12).

Those who “walk by faith” confide
in revelation for authority. In fact, our faith and the revelation of God’s
word are so connected in the Bible that sometimes the gospel message is
referred to as “the faith” (Jude 3). After all, the only way to
“walk by faith” is to walk as Scripture directs (Romans 10:17).
Perhaps the most pointed statement of the supremacy of revelation to experience
is in 2 Peter 1, where Peter says that he believed not only because of the
great sight he beheld on the Mount of Transfiguration, but also because of the
“even surer prophetic word” (2 Peter 1:19, NASB marginal note).

Materialism
Those who “walk by sight” manage
materialism with anxiety. Most people in our world are far more concerned with
accumulating wealth than they are serving God. And on one level this is understandable,
because you can see money and the attendant pleasures it yields, but you cannot
see God. But the problem is that the eyes of man are never satisfied (Proverbs
27:20). The pursuit of wealth eventually becomes an obsession, a god (Matthew
6:24; Colossians 3:5), and man never reaches the point where he has enough.
Yet, our material world fluctuates so much there is no guarantee that the
fortune you have today will exist tomorrow. This is why Paul told Timothy
to instruct the rich not to “fix their hope on the uncertainty of
riches,” a hope which “plunges men into ruin and destruction” (1
Timothy 6:17,9). It is this uncertainty that produces anxiety.

Those who “walk by faith,”
however, handle this world’s goods with contentment.
They realize that God has promised to supply our material needs if we have the
faith to place His reign first in our lives (Matthew 6:33).

The apostle Paul is a good illustration of this principle. As he says, “I
have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am,” because
“I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” (Philippians
4:11b,13).

Suffering
Those who “walk by sight” deal
with suffering with stark despair. If our perspective is strictly one that
demands for justice and equity in this life, we will be like Asaph, whose
“steps had almost slipped” as he “saw the prosperity of the
wicked” (Psalm 73:2-3). All of us have wondered why the wicked seem to
prosper while those of us trying to do what is right suffer so much. Our faith
will falter like Asaph’s if we try to answer this dilemma from a strictly
worldly point of view. If we will “walk by faith,” though, we will
face suffering with hope. Paul was no foolish visionary. With grim realism, he
came to grips with all he had suffered (2 Corinthians 11:24-28). But the reason
he did not despair is found in 2 Corinthians 4:16-18: “Therefore we do not
lose heart . . . for momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal
weight of glory . . . while we look not at the things which are seen, but at
the things which are not seen.” Paul was hopeful in the face of suffering
because his sights were set on heaven, not on this world.

The Bible challenges us to “ walk by
faith, not by sight.” This
task is as unnatural as walking with our eyes closed. But the more steps we
take, the more comfortable this walk will be come, and the more confident we
will be of the destination of our walk. And ultimately that’s what faith is all
about – it is “the assurance of things hoped for” (Hebrews 11:1).

So. With all this said. I’m not trying to
be irresponsible, to be wishy-washy, to not appear settled or “content”. Like it says in 1 Sam. 16:7 But the LORD said
to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected
him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the
outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”

My heart longs to KNOW Him… and in that, it
is compelled to give Him back what He gave me. My LIFE. When I gave God my life…
I meant it. His desires are now becoming
mine… and they are good. 

                                                                                                  

       I am more CONTENT than I have
ever been in my life.              

There are MANY things I am still working on
currently… and I don’t have it all together, all tidy and neat and tucked in… I
don’t have all the answers to all of my questions and yours…. but – I am what I
am by His grace and in faith He is bringing me from glory to glory and I am
learning to trust Him and the process. (Ex.3:14; Jn.8:24, 28, 58; 1Cor.15:10; 2Cor.3:18)
I encourage you to believe the same…

Thank you for taking the time to read… I’m
back in the swing of things and the Lord’s laid on my heart more blogs to come…
Giddy Up! Hope you’re ready!