The Key To Being Content

From: Bryant Wright Ministries

Philippians 4:11 "Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am."

One of the most rare commodities in society is contentment. Advertisers would have us believe that their product is the key to finding fulfillment and happiness. Television programming reinforces this message and fills our homes with images of things. It's like this "stuff" is essential to our happiness.

Seeking satisfaction in things will never bring contentment; it just leads to further dissatisfaction. How do we find contentment? Like so many other things, contentment is a choice - a by-product.

A man who had more than his share of difficulty in life said, "I have learned to be content regardless of my circumstances." It was the apostle Paul who said that. How did he do it? The key was found in his relationship with Jesus Christ. That's the key for anyone. We all have the same opportunity to find contentment. It's a by-product of our relationship with Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

Real Love

From: Jack Graham's Daily Word

1 Corinthians 13:7 "Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."

I’ll never forget one time when our church in Dallas was looking for more ways to reach out to the local community—to the poor, the needy, and the hurting. So we came up with the idea of an event called, “To Dallas with Love,” where we would give away clothing, money, and food to those in need.

Now it was one thing to hear about loving others. But it was a whole other thing to see that love put into action. People were so grateful to be blessed at their point of need. Tears flowed from the eyes of our volunteers as they were able to give in the name of Jesus Christ and love tangibly with the love of the Gospel.

Real love doesn’t just sit on a church pew. Real love has hands. Real love has feet. It hugs the widow and comforts the orphan. It gives to the poor and defends the downtrodden. Real love moves you to action. That’s the love Jesus showed you, and it’s the love you can show others!

Partners With God

From: Billy Graham Ministries

Matthew 10:32 "Everyone who acknowledges Me before others I will acknowledge before My Heavenly Father."

Some think that only ministers are to preach, but that is wrong. Every Christian is to be a witness; every follower of Christ is to preach the Gospel.

 

We can preach by sharing our experience with others. We can preach by exalting Christ in our daily lives. Sermons which are seen are often more effective than those which are heard. The truth is: the best sermons are both heard and seen. They are a sort of audiovisual testimony. We can also preach by our faithful financial stewardship. Missionary gifts, church offerings, and charitable contributions all speak eloquently of your unselfishness and Christian generosity.

 

In all these things, we are partners with God. We are helping by His grace to redeem the world. God needs our time, our talents, our witnessing, and our money, today more than at any

other time in history. Become a full, working partner with God.

 

"Preach the Gospel at all times...and sometimes use words." - St Francis of Assisi

The Source Of True Success

From: Today God Is First - Os Hillman

 

John 16:20 "Amen, amen, I say to you, you will weep and mourn, while the world rejoices; you will grieve, but your grief will become joy."

 

Our God is a God of success. You are created to be a success. Success is rooted in our relationship with God, not in our abilities. When our abilities are separated from our relationship with God, success is short-lived.

Sometimes God allows you to fail in order for you to succeed. Each of us must first experience our own death and resurrection from our old nature. This is for you to learn Who the source of true success is. You will be amazed how easy success will come when your life is in proper alignment with the purposes of God.

Today, reaffirm your commitment to follow His ways in all that you do. This will ensure God's purposes will be fulfilled in you.

Trust In Him

From: Through The Bible Devotionals

 

Job 42:5-6 "My ears had heard of You but now my eyes have seen You. Therefore I retract what I said and repent in dust and ashes."

 

Job had been questioning God, but now it is God's turn to question Job. The substance of God's questions ask Job that if he lives in a world full of things beyond his understanding, why should he be able to figure out what God is presently doing in his life? Such a wonderful Creator should be trusted by His creation to do what is in their best interest.

 

Job entered into a new relationship with God. Up until that time he had heard of God through others lives and stories. Now he saw God with his own eyes. He has the same reaction that everyone does. (see Isaiah 6:5) He saw the holiness of God and by contrast, his wretched condition.

 

You may never know the reasons for certain trials and struggles, but you can be sure your Creator's character is impeccable. God will see you through, if you will continue to trust in Him.

Your Best Investment

From: Boyd Bailey Ministries

 

Psalm 34:4 "I sought the Lord, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears."

 

Prayer positions us to receive the peace of God. It is when we seek Him that we see Him. It is when we see Him that we are secure. The more you think upon the Lord, and less of yourself, the better off you become.

No one has ever been sorry for seeking the Lord. It takes time and effort but it is your best investment. Process your problems with prayer and you will be the most productive. We cannot come to the best solutions in our own strength. It is seeking the Lord that unlocks a treasure trove of truth that leads us to possibilities we would never imagine on our own.

 

God expects to hear from you before you can expect to hear from Him. Seek Him and you will be secure in Him. Seek Him before, during and after trouble comes. There is no safer or more secure place to be than in the process of seeking Him. There is no need to fear because God is near those who seek Him.

Go For It

From: Today God Is First - Os Hillman

 

Genesis 1:1 "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."

 

God is the source of all creativity and innovation. He created the world in seven days. He has made you to create. If God has placed an idea in your heart to do, ask the Lord for His help in bringing it to reality. He desires to see His people create new things that can serve mankind and bring glory to God.

Faith plays an important role when considering stepping out to launch a new endeavor. "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for." (Hebrews 11:1-2)

Perhaps you've failed in the past and you're afraid to step out again. Most successful entrepreneurs failed several times before they were successful. Don't let fear of failure keep you from success.

Finish Strong

From: Greg Laurie Ministries

 

Hebrews 12:2 "And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. . . ."

As Christians, we are running a race. And we should run in such a way as to win. Looking to Jesus keeps us going in the Christian life. There are things that will discourage us, things that will get us down. It was Corrie ten Boom who said, "Look without and be distressed. Look within and be depressed. Look at Jesus and be at rest." If we can keep our eyes on the Lord, we can run this race well.

However, in the race of life our competition is not with each other. We are not to try and outdo other Christians. Our competition is the world, the flesh, and the devil. We want to run to win. We want to play by the rules. And we want to keep our eyes on Jesus, who gives us the right motive for running.

The apostle Paul talked about finishing what God had given him to do (see Acts 20:24). And that is the key: finishing the race.

The Number One Thing

From: Today God Is First - Os Hillman

 

1 Corinthians 10:31 "The fact is...whatever you do...you should do all for the glory of God."

 

Have you ever had a big project to do and felt great when you'd finished the job and it was a big success? The Lord has revealed to us that the number one thing we are to do is love the Lord our God with all our heart and to love our neighbor as ourselves. These mandates deal with our relationship with Him. The fruit of this relationship must then result in our glorifying Him by completing the work He has given each of us to do.

What is the work God has called you to do? Jesus never did anything the Father had not instructed Him to do. He lived in such communion with the Father that He knew when to turn left and when to turn to the right. Is it possible to have such a relationship with our heavenly Father? I think that if it weren't, He would not have given us such an example.

"Call to Me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know." (Jeremiah 33:3) Whatever work He has called you to, He will use you as His instrument to accomplish something that He has uniquely prepared you to do. When our life is complete, what a glorious day it will be if we can each say, "I have completed the work You gave me to do." This will have brought great glory to Him.

From: Through The Bible Devotionals

 

2 Corinthians 12:7-9 "...A thorn in the flesh was given to me. Three times I begged the Lord about this, that it might leave me, but He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness...' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me."

 

Sometimes God does not deliver us from our suffering but gives us the grace to endure it. That can be a more powerful testimony of God at work in us than if we were to be healed.

 

You probably know someone that lives with hardship and yet does so graciously, even helping others in the process. That says more about the power of God in their life than if they were to be healed.

Some insist that all people are to be healed. This case of Paul shows us that is not always true.

 

Paul had to have such power from God for his ministry that only an affliction could keep him from pride. Paul's response to his situation was to boast about the weakness so that the power could rest on him. He would prefer to have the power of God in his life and be weak than to be in full health and not be used as mightily by God.

God's Guidance

From: Michael Youssef Ministries

 

Psalm 25:9 "He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them His way."

 

Our society seems to take one misstep after another. People around us are wandering aimlessly through life, not knowing what they truly believe or whom they should follow. Politicians and community leaders have strayed off course as they have ignored the divine wisdom and guidance of God in order to follow their own human principles.

God wants to show us how to live abundant and joyful lives. He desires to lead the way for us through life, steering us away from temptation and sheltering us in the storms. He wants to give us guidance in our decisions. We are not to live as the world does, chasing after every new philosophical trend. Instead we are to live confidently knowing that the only One we need to follow is God.

Sometimes however, God's plans for us do not make sense. Sometimes they are uncomfortable or even painful. But if we truly walk in obedience to God, we will find contentment in whatever circumstances He may bring. We can rejoice even in the times of teaching, training, and testing. We can trust that even if we make a misstep, our sovereign God can lead us back into His will.

Just A Little Companionship

From: Greg Laurie Ministries

 

Matthew 26:41 "...The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."

Jesus had a simple request for Peter, James, and John in the Garden of Gethsemane, and that was to be with Him and pray. But they were sleeping instead of praying.

I think the disciples' lack of prayer was the result of self-confidence. When do we usually pray? We pray when we are in trouble. If things are going reasonably well, if the bills are paid, if our health is good, if there are no problems on the horizon—at least that we are aware of—we may not pray all that much. But when a crisis hits, when problems come, we start praying.

Jesus knew that a crisis was coming. Luke, the physician, tells us in his Gospel that Jesus sweat, as it were, great drops of blood. It may be that Dr. Luke was describing what is known today as hematidrosis, a rare medical condition that occurs when a person is under extreme stress, and his or her perspiration actually will be mingled with blood.

All Jesus was asking from Peter, James, and John was a little companionship. In other words, "Just be here for Me and pray with Me, guys."

Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained

From: Neil Anderson Ministries

 

Hebrews 11:6 "Without faith, it is impossible to please God."

 

Is faith a risk? Of course. But failing to step out in faith is to risk missing real life. Risks must be taken because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.

 

The person who risks nothing does nothing, has nothing, accomplishes nothing. They may avoid suffering and sorrow, but they simply cannot learn, feel, change, grow, love . . . live.

 

What a privilege for us to be able to walk by faith in God Himself, armed with all the promises of His Word. I suppose we all desire the security of the solid tree trunk, but the fruit is out on the limb. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

 

"To laugh is to risk appearing the fool.
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.
To reach out for another is to risk involvement.
To place our ideas, our dreams, before a crowd is to risk their loss.
To love is to risk not being loved in return.
To live is to risk dying.
To hope is to risk despair.
To try is to risk failure." - author unknown