Paul says he learned the secret of contentment (Philippians 4:11). Since he did, we can also.

I am definitely not there, and I am continuing to study contentment, but here is what is helping me now.

These suggestions apply to those who are the beloved children of God, who have put their trust in Christ Jesus and have received Him as Lord and Savior.

The Foundation

Remind yourself who God is. God is all-powerful, all-knowing, and loves you with an everlasting love.

Remember who you are to God. God is in total control of what enters your life and He promises to bring good out of it for you.

Remember that the Holy Spirit dwells in you and that you have within you the resources of God.

These truths have to be a settled part of our being.

The Nitty-Gritty

When “it” strikes, we need to be settled on who He is and who we are to Him. But, I think, having one quick reminder can change how we view our situation and how we react to it.

For me:

“God is at work in me.” Right now. In this.

God is at work in you to will and work for His good pleasure (Philippians 2:13)

God is at work in you during this very stressful situation. Right now God is at work in you.

Thank Him! We are commanded in everything to give thanks. Whatever situation you are in, God is with you, God is for you, and God promises to bring good out of it. You probably cannot see it, or feel it, but believe Him. Thank Him.

~~~

Thank You, God, that You love me so much that You are working in me. Thank You that You are using this situation to make me more mature in Christ, that this circumstances will make me more patient, develop my character, and increase my hope.

I’m writing this a few days after the wildfire disaster in Lahaina, Maui, that killed many people and destroyed numerous homes and businesses. Videos showed numerous destroyed cars, many of which appeared to be trying to get out of danger. There was little or no warning for people to protect themselves.

In Colorado, there have been several significant fires the past few years. Once a neighbor evacuating an area saw a couple sitting by their garage watching the oncoming fire. He stopped to warn them, but they didn’t quickly evacuate. Their bodies were found beside open doors of their car.

Too late!

Of course, there are many times of unexpected death, not just fires. Any of those can be too late!

Spiritually, we have been warned of the coming wrath of God. Some people, when told about Jesus Christ, say “later.” “Fun now, Christ later.”

But it can be too late.

Therefore, just as the Holy Spirit says, “Today if you hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts … (Hebrews 3:7–8)

Spiritually, there is a last chance. If you hear His voice, pay attention! Repent! Confess! Believe in Jesus Christ. Put your trust in Him!

NOW is the time of salvation.

Don’t be too late!

testing schedule post

Mike Rowe’s Dirty Jobs shows a series of necessary jobs where the workers get dirty. Honestly, I have yet to see a job I would like to have! (!)

One job was at a chicken/egg farm. Mike asked a series of workers whether the chicken or the egg came first. Until the last worker, they all said the chicken same first.

The last worker Mike asked said (basically), that the answer depended on whether or not you believed in God. If you believed God who created the living creatures, the swarms in the waters, birds, and creatures of the land, then the chicken came first. If you didn’t believe God, but believed in anti-God evolution, then the egg came first.

To the point!

The Long War Against God, by Henry Morris, discusses the very long history of evolution (it started way before Darwin), the impacts of belief in evolution, and the unsuccessful search for the proof of evolution. I highly recommend the book.

~~~

Thank You, God, that You are who You say You are. Help us study Your word and rejoice in You.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)

God’s word tell us what to do when we are anxious: pray with thanksgiving.

I have been thinking about the thanksgiving part of this.

Certainly, we are to thank God that He invites us to make requests of Him, knowing that He hears us, that He is our loving sovereign, and that nothing is impossible for Him.

But here is a deeper part of thanksgiving. We are to thank Him, in advance, for His answer. Whatever His answer is. Even if He chooses to give us something other than what we want.

We are called to thank Him, at the time we make our requests, for the results of our prayer. We are to trust Him, confident that He loves us, and knowing He knows best. We are to determine to praise Him for His loving answer, whatever that may be.

And then we have peace. And, maybe, only then will we have peace.

Hallelujah!

Thank You, Father!

Bagatelle: An unimportant or insignificant thing.
Trivial: Of little significance or importance.
Blip: A temporary or insignificant phenomenon.

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. (Romans 8:18) 

When our focus is on the trivial, the bagatelle, the blip, ourselves, our suffering is even harder.

Joy!

Instead, we are commanded to consider our trials, our suffering, all joy.

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials. (James 1:2) 

We can have a joyful attitude as we go through trials.

Why Joy?

Near Term

James and Paul give near term reasons why trials can be considered joy.

knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:3–4) 

And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope. (Romans 5:3–4) 

Eternal 

In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 1:6–7) 

Near and eternal

[Persecution] will lead to an opportunity for your testimony. (Luke 21:13) 

Be glad in that day [when persecuted] and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven. (Luke 6:23) 

Hebrews 11 gives many examples , both near term and eternal for considering trials as joy.

How Joy?

Look beyond

In order joyfully consider trials, we have to look beyond the trial for the results, both near term and eternal. We have to determine in advance that we will look at the Lord and not ourselves, not our suffering (see The Big Picture). 

Trust God

And… we have to determine, in advance, that we will trust God and do what He says in our difficult situation. (See Mad Enough to Die and Point of View) Remember that, for Christians, God is our loving sovereign. God is in control and promises to bring good out of all things (Romans 8:28).

Obey God

Obedience always, ALWAYS, brings blessing. 

~~~

Father, help me, help us, continually look to You in love and trust. Help us honor You through whatever comes our way.

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. At the end of the age, God will create a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth passed away. (Genesis 1:1; Revelation 21:1)

The whole universe is God’s.

Whatever is under the whole heaven is Mine. (Job 41:11)

The world is Mine, and all it contains. (Psalm 50:12)

God knows, creates, and controls, everything from the beginning to the end.

Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things which have not been done, saying, “My purpose will be established, and I will accomplish all My good pleasure.” (Isaiah 46:10)

When we grasp, even a little, who God is, when we see the big picture, we can put things in perspective.

In the big picture, God brings glory to those who believe. In our daily lives, God promises He is making us into the image of His Son.

Determine to look at the big picture. The troubles of this world cannot compare.

~~~

Read Job 38-41! God gives Job the big picture!

God asked Jonah if Jonah had reason to be angry. Jonah: “i have good reason to be angry, even to death” (Jonah 4:9).

Whoa!

Last week, Pressing on Together was about me-centered versus God-centered points of view (See Point of View).

Jonah is a great example of me-centeredness.

You know what happened. God told Jonah to preach to the Ninevites, but Jonah fled. God intervened (!), Jonah repented from the belly of the fish, and then Jonah did what God commanded. But Jonah was furious that God saved Jonah’s enemies, the hated gentile Ninevites.

God asked Jonah if Jonah had reason to be angry and Jonah was still furious. “Mad enough to die.”

Well…we know that Jonah was a sign of Jesus’ death and resurrection. (Matthew 12:39-41).

But we don’t know if Jonah ever repented of his anger that God saved the Ninevites.

The question for us: when we are very angry (about whatever), are we able to get out of our me-centeredness, hear God’s point of view, and repent?

It is so easy to let our emotions run ahead of our minds, and stay there. And it can be difficult to stop, take stock, hear our Lord, confess, and walk according to the Spirit and now the flesh.

I am so grateful that God is working in us not only to want to do His will but also to actually do His will (Philippians 2:13).

Father, please help me, help us, listen to You when I, when we, are “mad enough to die.”

~~~

P.S. Here is more encouragement. After Jonah’s initial rebellion, God still used him! (See Encouragement)

We see the world through our own points of view. “You are the window through which you see the world.”

For the self-righteous, narcissist, and self-centered, it is me-centered. “My truth.” “How does this affect me?” “Me, Myself, and I.” They are the main characters in their own play.

For the Christian

For the Christian, as we grow in the Lord, we know His truth more and more, and increasingly see the world through God’s word, through sanctified spiritual eyes. We increasingly want to see ourselves, our situations, and the world, through God’s eyes, with eternity in mind.

In our relationships with others, we are more apt to consider their points of view. We are more apt to feel compassion, empathy, and learn from others.

We have the responsibility to recognize when we are thinking/feeling/acting from our own me-centered point of view and deliberately seek our Lord’s guidance. For example: “I am really really REALLY angry.” We must learn how to stop (sometimes that isn’t easy!) and ask the Lord for help. And then do what He says! And then, confess.

This is a process.

Our role in developing a God-centered point of view is to:

1. Study God’s word. Reflect on His word. Apply His word to our lives. Believe Him!
2. Pray.
3. Ask ourselves: What does God’s word say about this? What should I think about this situation? Is there something I should do?
4. And do what He says. We learn as we obey.

Press on!

We can be in a fix, with the only remedy being time.

What do we do in the meantime?

It is easy to spend out time regretting the choices or events that got us here. “If only I’d left a new minutes earlier.” “If only I hadn’t…” If only that bug hadn’t been going around in my school, my workplace.” “If only we weren’t stuck here until the weather improved.” “If only we hadn’t lost power.” Those are examples of being stuck for a period of time.

It is possible to lose opportunities by looking to the past, ignoring the present, and wasting the future.

Instead, let’s look how to use the unexpected “downtime” doing something that will matter later.

How can we best use this unexpected time? What does this make possible?