The Lord Gives Contentment..Craig Denison Ministries

 The Lord Gives Contentment

Craig Denison Ministries

Weekly Overview:

Our heavenly Father is the giver of every good gift. His mercies are vast, powerful, and real. His love has the ability to completely overwhelm and satisfy every one of our needs. Everything he gives us satisfies, transforms, and leads us to abundant life. As we spend this week stirring up our affections toward God, allow your heart to become soft and open. Allow his loving character to draw you close and provide life to every dry and weary place in your soul.

Scripture: “The fear of the Lord leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied.”  Proverbs 19:23

Devotional:

In Philippians 4, Paul describes what he calls “the secret” to contentment. Scripture says, “Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:11-13).

Similarly, Hebrews 13:5 says, “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’” Imagine a life of total contentment regardless of your possessions or status. Imagine the peace, joy, and strength you would find in this kind of freedom Paul experienced from the ways of the world. The question before you today is this: what is keeping you from living your life consistently and completely content?

Scripture is clear that true contentment transcends circumstances. True contentment is found apart from abundant provision. God longs to draw you into a lifestyle of situational transcendence. He longs to provide contentment for you on every level, but it will take surrendering your system of values and pursuits to experience the satisfaction of God’s perfect perspective. Contentment comes solely through a lifestyle of surrender.

The truth is, we consistently believe a lie that the world can offer us true contentment. We believe that the next purchase, friend, job, or hobby will satisfy foundational needs that can only find their fulfillment in God. We reach out to the world for help as if the world wasn’t in immense need already.

Matthew 6:21 says, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” If your value lies in possessions and status, they will own you rather you owning them. If you search after the opinion of man above God’s, your contentment will come and go with the fleeting whims of those around you. But if you place your treasure with your heavenly Father, your heart will find its home in the loving arms of God.

If you will find the courage to surrender possessions, family, friends, jobs, and status today, you will find wonderful strength and contentment that transcends this world and finds its source in God alone. Spend time in prayer cutting your emotional ties to the world and placing your hope and trust in your heavenly Father alone.

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on God’s desire to bring you contentment that transcends your circumstances.

“The fear of the Lord leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied.” Proverbs 19:23

2. Where have you been finding your contentment? What have you been seeking after to satisfy your emotional needs? Where have you placed your treasure?

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:21

“Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:11-13

3. Repent of any area in which you have been pursuing the ways of the world, and ask the Holy Spirit to help you value what he values. Ask him how he feels about your possessions and to give you the courage to give away or sell anything that is keeping you from reaching contentment. All that God would lead you to do is perfect and absolutely for your best interest.

“Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’” Hebrews 13:5

When it comes down to it, what’s more valuable than contentment, peace, joy, fulfillment, and love? What possession, friend, job, or status is of greater value than what God has to offer us? The world seeks contentment from avenues which only ever lead to greater need. God has placed before you the avenue of surrender and promised an unconditional and limitless supply of contentment if you will simply take his hand and trust and follow him. May you gain the perfect perspective of your heavenly Father today and pursue the contentment that comes from him alone.

Extended Reading: Matthew 6

Loving the Little Children Like Jesus Did..KAREN WINGATE

 Loving the Little Children Like Jesus Did

KAREN WINGATE

“Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.’” Matthew 19:14 (NIV)

Heading down the meat aisle of my local grocery store one Sunday afternoon, I paused as my eyes caught the antics of a small boy crouched on the lower deck of a shopping cart. I smiled and said, “Hi! You’re having a great time.”

The father turned from the meat counter and made a disparaging comment about his active son.

“Oh, he’s just a small boy having fun.” I shrugged. “What is he — 2?”

“He’s 4,” the father said dryly.

My face flushed with shame, not so much for the father as for myself. His words were an echo of my own voice in years past when, in moments of exhaustion and stress, I sometimes acted like my children were hindrances to my happiness, an inconvenience rather than a joy. It also reminded me of the times wiser friends came beside me, saying approving words that put smiles on my children’s faces and renewed my resolve to be a better parent.

That was the past; this was the present. I smiled again at the boy, wished them both a good day and moved on. Yet my heart was troubled. Was there something more I, a stranger, could have done or said to affirm that little boy in the name of Jesus?

Just that morning, I had taught a group of children the account of Jesus taking time for kids. I told them children were important to God, even when they didn’t seem important to anyone else.

Jesus told His disciples, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these” (Matthew 19:14). Now, it seemed God was calling me to learn from the lesson I taught and look more closely at how Jesus treated children so I could do the same.

Seeing and hearing adults follow Jesus’ example is crucial to children’s acceptance of God’s love. Words can leave scars that scorn a child’s self-worth and restrict their acceptance of the healing touch of Jesus’ salvation. Affirming words can build bridges to a deeper understanding of God’s love and regard for each child.

We can start with our own children if we are parents, but it doesn’t have to stop there. Taking time to interact with the children around us, whether in a family gathering, in a classroom, on the soccer field or behind a cart in a store checkout line, adds one more confirmation in their memories that they are important and cherished. And if we hear a child devalued, we can accept it as God’s invitation to step forward and treat them as Jesus would, praying God will help us respond with wisdom.

When we stop to pay attention to a kid, kneel at their level, and give up our adult conversations so we can listen to them and watch their latest escapade, we relinquish our superior position and make ourselves equal with them.

As Jesus said, “Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:4, NIV). Children were lower on the social ladder of Jewish society than they are in our current culture, yet Jesus called His disciples to take on the lowly position of a child.

We may never know the hurtful words a child has already heard, but our attention and simple positive acknowledgement may provide a beam of hope that will ultimately lead them to the light of Christ’s love.

Dear Father, prick my spirit when I subtly demean the children I encounter in my life. Point out to me the kids I can influence with Your kindness and mercy. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Waiting on God..Dr. Charles Stanley

 Waiting on God

Dr. Charles Stanley

Psalms 37:1-9

Waiting on God is an important spiritual discipline in our walk of faith. King David’s life teaches us about the value of following the Lord’s plan and the danger in moving ahead of Him.

When David was a young shepherd boy, the prophet Samuel anointed him as Israel’s next king. Yet he did not become the ruler for many years. Waiting for the Lord to place him on the throne was made more difficult because the current king, Saul, turned against David and repeatedly tried to take his life. Despite the opportunity to take matters into his own hands and kill his enemy, David held back. He wouldn’t allow anyone else to attack Saul either (1 Sam. 24:1-7). He waited on God and was greatly blessed for his obedience.

King David also knew what it was like to move ahead without the Lord. One year he chose not to join his troops in battle, even though that was one of his duties (2 Sam. 11:1). During the time he stayed home, he noticed Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah, and he coveted her. Acting upon his desires, he conceived a child with her and then tried to cover up his sin. What a mess he made of his life. Instead of following the Lord’s plan and being blessed, he experienced divine chastisement and much heartache.

As believers, we want to obey the Lord, but there may be situations when intense desire propels us forward without waiting for His direction. Like David, we will experience the blessing of obedience or the heartache of disobedience. Be sure to seek out God’s plan before you act.

The Swiftness of God’s Provision..Meg Bucher

 BIBLE VERSE OF THE DAY: “You will have plenty to eat, until you are full, and you will praise the name of the Lord your God, who has worked wonders for you; never again will my people be shamed.”Joel 2:26

The Swiftness of God’s Provision
By Meg Bucher

“Can I have more fish?” my daughters both looked at me with plates extended….

Second, third and fourth helpings of dinner that night had me thinking somebody had swapped my children.

“Are you even taking the time to chew this?” I asked, as barrels of laughter answered me back.

Today’s verse is a reminder of how God has provided for us in our lives. In the good times, and in the problems solved and health restored, we are quick to inhale and ask for more. But in the not so good times …in the hard places of life that are not so easy to chew and almost impossible to swallow, we rarely even finish the first helping.

In order to digest the nutrition God gives us properly, we must consider the following.

• “You will have plenty to eat…”If we’re still standing on this earth, God is assuredly providing a way for us to be here another day. And if He’s provided another day, He’ll get us through it.
• …”and you will praise the name of the Lord your God.”Good entrees in life call for a side or two of praise.
• …”who has worked wonders for you…”By recognizing the miracles God has woven into our everyday lives, we acknowledge the fact that He’ll do it again! The Israelites had to be reminded constantly of the way God brought them out of Egypt and provided for them. If they were privy to forget the massive miracles that God had bestowed upon them …then we are surly prone to forget what He’s done in our lives. We must choose to remember.
• “…never again will my people be shamed.”When Christ died on the cross, the guilt and shame and wrath we deserve for our sin was wiped out. In one last breath, He sealed those that believe in Him for good. Though our lives remain imperfect, grace forgives us over and over as we grow in holiness all the way to heaven.

When we get a good Word from God, let’s vow to write it on our hearts …to turn back and look at the way those Words have already marked our lives, and take them forward with us as the sharp sword they are …to cut through the calamity and follow Christ.

Father, Praise You for remembrance. Thank You that we can search our memories and see the tracks and traces of Your love marked on our lives. Forgive us for falling short and turning back …for delaying and doubting, and strengthen our hearts to believe in You more and more each and every day. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

A Prayer to Remember Who We Are in Christ..Meg Bucher

 A Prayer to Remember Who We Are in Christ

By Meg Bucher

“Surely, LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.” - Psalm 5:12 NIV

Injustice is a stripping, helpless feeling. Sometimes, people simply don’t like us, for no real reason. Attacks or slights against us can be incredibly hurtful and unfair. But instead of getting caught up in the drama of these situations, it’s important to remember who our enemy is, and his goal.

Psalm 5, written by David, is an emotional plea for God to intervene in hard circumstances. David is desperate for God’s help, and prayerfully recalls the character of God as he empties his heart out to God.

“This lament,” the NIV Study Bible notes explain, “is the psalmist's cry for help when his enemies spread malicious lies to destroy him.” David so often did this, emptied his heart out to the Lord. In dramatic detail, he was unafraid to pour his soul out at the feet of God. His confidence God would hear, see, answer, and restore him was solid.

Often, when David cried out to God, He received a reminder of who God is. Our circumstances shift, but God never changes. We are right and wise to pour out all of our drama to Him. In that intimate connection with Him, we find a safe place to run to and be reminded of who God is, and who we are in Christ Jesus.

The intense reality of our enemy is he seeks to kill and destroy. Jesus, however, came to give us life to the full (John 10:10). We can step out of those circles of injustice and persecution by running to God in prayer as David did. It won’t always undo our situations, but it will most certainly give us the perspective we need to get through them. David wrote,

“But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them sing ever for joy. Spread your protection over them, and that those who love your name may rejoice in you.” Psalm 5:11

David not only prayed for himself, but for all believers.

Remember who God is. Remember Jesus and the power of His victory on the cross. Remember the unimaginable strength of the Holy Spirit residing in us, through Christ. Follow His lead, by prayerfully seeking Him in His Word, especially when we’re under attack. The enemy will use weak moments to sneak into our vulnerabilities and cause conflict based on lies and resulting in isolation. Be aware by remembering God, daily.

We can’t always see what’s coming at us, but God goes before us, preparing the way. When we seek Him to prepare our hearts daily, He is faithful. When we run to Him in moments of attack and injustice, He is faithful. When we are the ones who get caught in a weak moment and unjustly attack the character of another- and run to Him to confess and repent- he is faithful to forgive and restore us.

Remember our compassionate God. Choose to forgive forward. And run to Him who is always faithful, forgiving, and fair.

Let's pray:

Father, 

The world is ridiculously hard sometimes! There are days we feel attacked for no reason! Please give us Your perspective in those situations. Help us to see others through Your eyes, not through the sneaky lies of the enemy meant to stir us against each other and break us apart.

Remind us, no human being is perfect, but You are. You are unchanging, ever-present and everywhere, and all-knowing. You are love, mercy, justice, forgiveness, compassion and goodness. Father, You are glorious! This is who You are! You made us in Your image, and have given us a purpose and a calling that draws us to You, daily. When our character is attacked and we are tempted to be offended and unforgiving, open our eyes and soften our hearts to hear and embrace who You say we are.

Filter our actions, words, and thoughts through the truth of Your Word, through Your love, Father. May we be quick to forgive, sensitive to love others, and prayerfully lift up those who unjustly and unfairly attack us.

In Jesus’ Name,

Amen.

Scarcity Vs. Abundance..Betsy St. Amant

 Scarcity Vs. Abundance

By Betsy St. Amant

"And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." -2 Corinthians 9:8 (NIV) 

I think scarcity is one of the biggest tactics of the enemy today. 

I know as a mom I’m constantly navigating my day feeling as if I don’t have what it takes. That I don’t have enough resources. That I’m not enough. It always seems like I need more to get by or that people need more from me than I have to offer. Too often, my days are full of anxiety and struggling to take a deep breath and hold everything together. Because if I falter at all, the carefully balanced walls of my endless to-do list might come crashing down and bury me in a heap.

But Jesus made it clear that the thief is the one who steals, kills, and destroys. That would be Satan! Christ, Himself offers life—and not just life—abundant life. (John 10:10 ESV) We have this truth to operate from, but how often do we really embrace it? 

Sometimes I wonder if I would recognize abundance if it snuck up behind me and tapped me on the shoulder. Scarcity is much easier to acknowledge. The scarcity of finances, the scarcity of time, the scarcity of energy—that, I relate to. (and all the women out there said amen)

Whether you’re a mother of a newborn who is needing your body for nourishment and your waking moments for themselves, or a mother of a teenager who needs your taxi-driving skills and your wallet, or a busy career woman whose boss needs her to answer just one more email…I have good news and bad news for you. 

You’re not enough, and you don’t have enough. (yikes!)

But Christ is, and He supplies our every need. (whew!)

I love how 2 Corinthians 9:8 clarifies so specifically that it’s God who blesses us abundantly. It’s God who arranges for us to have what we need. It’s God who equips us to abound in every good work. It’s not up to us. We’re not supposed to have endless resources. But Jesus does.

John 4: 13-14 (ESV) Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

If you’re anything like me, you could probably use a dip in that stream right now, couldn’t you? 

I tend to try to do everything myself. I’m the type of parent who is often guilty of doing the chore rather than delegating it because it’s just easier that way. But then I’m also guilty of complaining about doing said chore, rather than asking for help. Oops. I all too often start falling back into old mindsets of scarcity—there’s not enough hours in the day, not enough money, not enough energy, not enough of me to go around. I spiral into a ball of anxiety and lash out at those closest to me because I feel alone and stressed and overworked. 

I’m believing the lie of scarcity. 

But the truth is, God numbered our days and planned them before the foundation of time. Psalm 139:16 (NIV) Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

This means that we have enough time, resources, and energy to do what God has called us to do. If you’re running yourself ragged, maybe you’re doing things that aren’t for this season in your life. Trust me, I know it’s hard to say no to good things, especially things that bring in extra money or that are for a noble cause. But protecting your time to be effective for God has called you to do is one way to tap into His supply chain. He isn’t equipping you for everyone else’s calling—He’s equipping you for yours. 

So you can change another diaper and make another bottle to the glory of God, with as much energy as you require. You can drive that taxi full of teens to the glory of God and have patience aplenty on route. You can work a job to the glory of God and represent Christ in your office, with the knowledge and understanding that is necessary. You can do it because He is the one who “gives us what we need and causes us to abound in every good work.”

When we refill our wells with living water, we have more than enough. We have an abundant supply that will overflow into our hearts, our homes, and our offices. It will splash onto those around us in need, it will drip on our friends and family members and even the strangers in carpool line or Target parking lots. We can gush with all the fruits of the Spirit when we’re full to the brim. That’s how we’re called to live, and God provides it through His Word and His presence. 

Intersecting Faith and Life:
What part of your life right now feels like there are only scraps? Do you think this is true or a lie from the enemy? How can you incorporate filling your tank with the Holy Spirit each day so that you’re no longer running on fumes? Is it possible you need to retrain yourself to stop thinking of regular Bible reading as a chore, and rather, view it as a refreshing, rejuvenating dip into a stream of resources? 

Further reading:
Psalm 78:23-29 (ESV)