Satisfaction Guaranteed

I have learned to be satisfied with the things I have and with everything that happens. I know how to live when I am poor, and I know how to live when I have plenty. I have learned the secret of being happy at any time in everything that happens... I can do all things through Christ, because he gives me strength.

Philippians 4:11-13

The apostle Paul was born into wealth and privilege. As an adult, he was a Jewish religious leader who wielded power that demanded respect. When Paul chose to follow Jesus, he experienced a new set of circumstances, hunger, poverty, persecution, and imprisonment. When Paul wrote to the church at Philippi about learning how to find contentment, his firsthand experience made him reliable.

One reason Paul shared this life lesson was to dispute Stoic philosophy, which was very popular at the time. When Paul spoke about learning the secret, he was using the same term the Stoics used when initiating members into their cult. Their secret to successful living was based on total self-sufficient and a dispassionate acceptance of what life brought their way. Their "whatever" philosophy offered self-centered resignation. Paul's alternative was God-centered contentment.

Experiencing genuine joy and contentment when life is difficult is possible only when you lean on God's strength instead of your own. As you get closer to God, you see things more from his point of view. Your gratitude grows as you become more aware of the blessings he brings your way every day. And when things are going well, you don't worry about what would happen if you lost it all. You know that no matter what happens, you've found the secret to living a contented life.

Being afraid of what misfortune the future may hold can keep you stuck in the darkness of depression or anxiety.

Deepen your own sense of contentment by spending a few moments right now thanking God for the material, emotional, physical, and spiritual blessings he has brought your way over the last week.

Source: The 100 Most Important Bible Verses

Pray to God and give thanks. Let him hear that he is worthy of our praises, that we adore him. That we do not forget who created us in times of good or in times of bad. That we are believers in Christ and thus acknowledge that he will provide all we need at all times. ~ MME Team

Telltale Tears

Jesus wept.

John 11:35

Out of all the creatures in God's creation, only people cry. Tears often say what words cannot. When Jesus cried outside the tomb of his friend Lazarus, Jesus's humanity cried out as loudly as his divinity would moments later when Jesus raised his friend from the dead.

Jesus's tears were different from those of many of the mourners surrounding him. Those people were wailing in accordance with Jewish custom. This tradition allowed the community to fulfill a duty to publicly and loudly lament personal tragedy more so than it allowed those who were grieving a personal release of emotion. The Greek word used here for wept is found nowhere else in Scripture. It means "to cry silently." Jesus didn't cry for the benefit of others. He didn't cry to make a point or to teach a lesson. He cried because his heart was broken.

God's heart breaks because he has compassion for those he has created. That means he does not take your pain, sorrow, grief, disappointment, or even physically death lightly. God knows he can bring good out of tragedy and enjoy eternal life with you after your days on earth are through, just as Jesus knew he could raise Lazarus from the dead. That doesn't stop God from entering into your present sorrow with you, from reaching out in compassion to bring comfort when you need it most. When you cry, cry out to him.

Jesus was not ashamed to express his emotions and let others see him cry. Follow his example of honest emotional vulnerability, while inviting him to help dry your tears from the inside out.

Source: The 100 Most Important Bible Verses

Pray to God and thank him for his mercy and generous love and compassion. ~ MME

Without Reservation

Christ accepted you, so you should accept each other, which will bring glory to God.

Romans 15:7

The church in Rome was divided. People were accepting certain religious customs and truths about God but rejecting others. They were doing the same to the people who followed them. Their condescending attitudes were out of line with God's purpose and perspective. That truth is as valid today as it was almost two thousand years ago.

Jesus accepted everyone without reservation. He knew everyone inside and out - he knew the good, the bad, and everything in between. He accepted you long before you noticed him, even if you rejected him, and solely because he loves you unconditionally.

As you grow more intimate with the One who has fully accepted you, it becomes easier to accept those around you, even those whose actions, attitudes, and beliefs do not line up with your own. You may not condone what they do or agree with what they believe, but you can still receive them with open arms, which is what the Greek word  for accept rally means. Being honest, authentic, and accepting in your love, even of people who misunderstand or reject you, help them see what God's love is like. It gives them a real-life picture of how Jesus related to others - and ultimately relates to them. When you accept others, it pleases God, as well as reveals him.

Pray for anyone you have difficulty accepting. Ask God to reveal any fear, anger, or jealousy on your part. Then ask God to help you understand how he feels about the one you're praying for.

Source: The 100 Most Important Bible Verses

Pray to God and ask him to cover you as you walk this pathway of accepting others. Hold strong to the truth that God's love and power is stronger than any concerns that the enemy can ever create. For God is the ONE and ONLY Creator who did so for LOVE. ~ MME Team

Extreme Makeover

We all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory.

2 Corinthians 3:18

In the Old Testament, when God gave Moses the Ten Commandments, Moses was allowed to catch a glimpse of the unique splendor of God's actual presence. This experience was so profound that Moses's face literally glowed as a result. The Israelites who followed Moses were frightened by the change in his appearance and by a God who could transform someone in that way. But Moses's transformation was temporary. At first Moses veiled his face so that the people would no longer be afraid. Later he wore the veil to conceal the fact that his personal evidence of God's glory was fading away.

God's glory refers both to God's unfathomable beauty and to his incomparable expression of power. As you look into God's mirror, which is a biblical synonym that stands for the Bible, you glimpse what Moses did. You see God. Unlike Moses, the reflection of God's glory in you will never fade. In fact, it will continue to shine brighter as time goes by. You are not being transformed into God; you are being transformed into a sharper reflection of his image.

This means you don't need to hide behind a veil when you're with others. Be honest and authentic, freely sharing how God is working in your life. In this way, you become a spiritual mirror for those around you as you grow to look more and more like your heavenly Father.

As God became more visible in you, you'll find that people are naturally attracted to you - not simply because of the wonderful way God created you, but because of how glorious God is.

Source: The 100 Most Important Bible Verses

Pray for freedom from the "distractions of the enemy" that come from this earthly life so we may be prepared to embrace the beauty of God's awesome power. Transformation is God's mercy and grace upon our earthly bodies so we may experience His awe inspiring love and beauty on earth as it will be in heaven. Let us not be so "busy" with our earthly duties that we do not take time to honor our Lord and Savior with prayer and mediate in his words that transform us into His children - the Bible. ~ MME Team

Grace

2 Corinthians 12:9

God said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."