The last three months I have been working through a 90 day study on the Apostle Paul by Beth Moore. It has been incredible! This morning’s devotion was especially impactful so I thought I would share it with you all. Disclaimer: These are (almost) exact notes from my journal. This is not the complete study. Also, bear with the sentence fragments.
The passage for today was on Philippians 4:1-13…a classic. And not a passage or lesson I have not read or heard a couple times. But like a sheep, I need multiple corrections before I get the idea. After reading through the passage Beth Moore posses two questions. The first is this: “What is currently doing the best job of challenging your sense of contentment? Perhaps it’s a person. Perhaps it’s a work situation. Perhaps it’s a health scare. What is it doing to you?”
At this point I should not be surprised when the Lord has these little nuggets of conviction perfectly timed. Laughing inwardly at the accuracy of this question I journaled my response. What ISN’T challenging my sense of contentment? My living situation is. My wardrobe is. The level at which I feel heard, utilized and understood by our host is. I think the only thing that is not challenging my contentment is the women on this team. They are, in fact, helping me to continually cultivate contentment instead.”
The second question was this: “How would the choice – the secret – of contentment affect the way you’re handling this? Even if nothing changed, even if it got worse [Africa, team changes], what would be the change inside of you?” If I were able to embody the secret of contentment….shoot! I could be content to not be heard because the Father is always attentively listening. I could be content with physical discomfort because my life, ultimately, is not about me. It is about Jesus Christ. If I could give up enough of myself and allow Jesus to make me content…my life would never be the same.
I have heard several messages on contentment from this passage but this morning it hit a special chord. Jesus seems to be using Sunday morning to speak to me. Again. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. Beth went on to point out the 5 thieves of contentment. Maybe she should consider a career in baseball, because each of them are a homerun.
- Pettiness
- “the counterfeit of sensitivity is pettiness.”
- Being on a team with 6 other women and living together 24/7 I can personally attest to this. Nothing will destroy contentment in team dynamics faster than being petty.
- “Pettiness sours a servant’s heart and steals contentment.”
- Anxiety
- How do we turn off the valve that is pumping anxiety into our souls? PRAYER.
- Intimate + active prayer life
- Persist until peace comes
- Anxiety and worrying ABSOLUTELY steal your contentment. I have experienced that abundantly on the race. Especially this month, as I look forward to a new continent, worry about going back home, etc., it definitely makes staying content with where I am extremely difficult. Even though I have no reason to struggle being content since I literally wake up to a beautiful view of the Black Sea Every morning.
- Destructive Thinking
- Proverbs 23:7
- Destructive thinking is a habit that can be broken, but it takes diligence
- Consider Phil. 4:8
- Regrettably, this is probably the one that I struggle with the most. I’m still working on the renewing of my mind.
- Resistance to Learn
- Read: PRIDE
- Independence
- Refusing to rely on God robs us of some of God’s most priceless riches
- Reliance on God = secret, I can be told over and over again that God will supply my every need, someone else can tell me I can do all things through Christ; but until I discover it for myself, it is still a secret. He will show me. I have to let him. He is faithful.
These are five things I need to memorize. We all need to memorize. We need to make sure we are keeping our gaud up against the enemy who is prowling around trying to steal, kill and destroy. He especially wants to steal your contentment. Because then he can offer you all the lies the world has to offer that promise satisfaction.
The last question she asked was this: “One of these five thieves is probably working overtime right now. Which is being the hardest for you to guard against? What has it been taking from you? How have you been somewhat successful at standing down this particular joy snatcher?” Definitely independence and destructive thinking. Hands down. They are both so hard for me to guard against because I feel entitled to both…especially my independence. They have been taking my ability to truly invest all of me, by best at ministry and personally.
The last thing Beth left me with a pray that I have also set a goal to memorize. It is a combination of Ephesians 3:14-16, 1 Corinthians 15:58, and Colossians 3:15.
“I bow my knees before you, my faithful Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named. I pray that you grant me, according to the riches of your glory, to be strengthened with power through your holy spirit in my inner man, enabling me, reminding me to be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord’s work, knowing that my labor in the Lord is not in vain. May the peace of Christ, to which we have been called in one body, control my heart. And my I be thankful, for the glory of your name.”
