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