Contentment

Bible Verses by Topic ~ Contentment

What is Contentment?

By Elizabeth Marks

Contentment is such a pleasant sounding word. It conjures pictures of green meadows, trickling stream, peacefulness, and calm serenity.Contentment is a place where all your needs are cared for. It sounds like fantasy doesn't it? Is this for real?

I'm here to tell you "yes, contentment is real and it's possible". The apostle Paul talked about this contentment in Philippians 4:10-12 when he said “have learned in whatever state I am, to be content”. I know this place exists, for I myself have been there from time to time.

What do you mean you've been there from time to time? Aren’t you content? Yes and no, I can let the contentment go by allowing many things to tempt me to step out of contentment, just like you. What things interfere with contentment? How about stress, anxiety, worry, striving, jealousy, greed, envy, bitterness, angry, fear, insecurity, or uneasiness? (See 2 Corinthians 12:19-21, Galatians 5:19-21)

Contentment for me is confidence in the Lord. Psalm 118:8 says “It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.” Resting in Him, relying on His promises and trusting God no matter what I must face each day is how I demonstrate confidence in Him. (Proverbs 3:26, Proverbs 14:26, Isaiah 30:15)

Contentment is a reward for losing my life to God. Look at 1 Timothy 6:6 NKJV “Now godliness with contentment is great gain.” I don't mean we ran out and commit suicide. Rather I'm referring to a wholehearted commitment to living God's way. We learn to give Him everything because He gave His everything that we might live.

How do we get to this place called the contentment? The directions are easy but the journey may be challenging. Contentment comes from God. Therefore the path to contentment always begins with drawing closer to God. There are many ways to get closer to God: read the Bible, pray, fellowship with other believers, worship, go to church, serve others and on and on. What you choose is up to you. Our part is to seek God. God's part is to guide us. And He is
faithful to do just that.

Next we begin trusting God. Start by giving to God something bothering you and then watch how He takes care of it. Keep a journal of how God answered your prayers because referring back to all God has done will help us trust him more.

Lastly we act based on our trust in God. What does this look like? This will be different from person to person. God has shaped each one of us differently. Therefore the action we take will depend on which gifts, talents, abilities, life experiences, and personality God's given us. When we start using all we have been given we not only glorify and honor God but also demonstrate our trust in him.

How is your contentment?

Lord Jesus, in you we find contentment. Thank you for it your healing touch, forgiveness of sins and the power to live for God honoring life. Draw us closer so we may experience your contentment stay and every day. In your name we pray amen.

© ThinkOnIt Bible Ministries Inc.

5 Steps to Contentment
By Elizabeth Marks

Being Content--Even when Life is Not Fair
By Nancy Twigg

For many years, I was able to think of contentment only in terms of material possessions. During that time, if you asked me why people are not content, my automatic answer was, "Because they want more and more stuff without appreciating what they already have." Unfortunately, my canned response didn't bring me much comfort as I worked through my own issues with contentment.

I never struggled with wanting a larger home or fancier car or designer labels in my closet. My challenge was fretting over whether our lives would work out the way I thought they should. My husband, Michael and I both were raised with the belief that if you work hard and stay out of trouble, you will get ahead in life. As good as this notion sounds, unfortunately it has not always been our experience in real life.

When we left our jobs a decade ago to begin working for ourselves, our businesses grew slowly despite all our hard work. Michael studied for years to get a PhD but has not able to consistently find work in his area of specialization. We suffered several other setbacks beyond our control. On many occasions, I complained to God, "Why is life so hard sometimes?"

In the same way, your contentment issues may have nothing to do with material possessions but rather with circumstances challenging situations in life that haven't improved despite your best efforts. Although we hope and pray for healing from illnesses or resolution for difficult conflicts, the reality is, these prayers are not always answered as we hope. Contentment means running the race when things are going well and continuing to run even when they are not.

Regardless of the source of your discontentment, understand these three things:

1. Contentment is within your grasp. Be encouraged. You can learn, as Paul did, to be at peace with your circumstances. Forget how green the grass appears somewhere else. By continually focusing on what is over there, you are unable to see the blessings of what's right here in your own backyard. In my quest for contentment, this meant I needed to remind myself continually of the things that had gone right for us, rather than focusing on the things that had gone wrong.

2. Contentment thieves should be arrested. Pesky thought patterns rob you of your contentment and peace of mind. These thoughts start so innocently but can lead to major chaos. Something as harmless as admiring a friend's marriage, job, or financial situation can easily shift to comparing and finding inadequacy in your own marriage, work, or finances. The habit of dwelling on what-ifs can be equally dangerous. Lingering on what might have been only casts a dark shadow over what is. The best way to deal with contentment thieves is to be aggressive in squelching this form of mental static. Refuse to allow your mind to wander down those paths. I've gone so far as to say an authoritative "No!" out loud to remind myself that these thoughts are not welcome.

3. Thankfulness can be cultivated. Contentment and thankfulness go hand in hand. The more thankful a person is, the more content she's likely to be. The less thankful a person is, the less content she's likely to be. Even if your circumstances aren't what you would consider ideal, choose to be thankful. And during the most trying times, you can certainly find something to be thankful for, even if it's just the knowledge that God is with you. You'll be amazed at how little you have to complain about when you spend a majority of your time giving thanks. Contentment grows as you nurture it with gratitude.

So how is your level of contentment these days? Has discontentment cluttered your heart and confused your mind? If so, it doesn't have to be that way. Become a student of contentment. Learn to be content on the inside, no matter what's happening on the outside. Kiss the clutter of discontentment good-bye so you can welcome the clarity of being at peace with your circumstances.

[Excerpt taken from: From Clutter to Clarity: Simplifying Life from the Inside Out 2007 by Nancy Twigg, published by Standard Publishing (www.standardpub.com). Used by permission.]

Nancy Twigg is an author and speaker who loves inspiring women to live more simply. To learn more about Nancy's speaking and writing ministry, visit her online at www.keepitsimplesister.com

Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com <a href="http://www.faithwriters.com">CHRISTIAN WRITERS</a>

http://articles.faithwriters.com/reprint-article-details.php?id=5857

Contentment is a Learned Mindset

By Elizabeth Marks

What we allow our mind to think about eventually plays out in our life.

Let me give you two examples: When I focus on all that is not right or doesn't fit with my plans, I turn into a disgruntled person. Blaming others, pointing out flaws, and complaining about everything become normal actions. But when I focus on all God has done for me, how He saved me from hell, restored my marriage, and renewed my heart, I turn into a humble, grateful, and pleasant person. Joy fills the heart and mind.

Thoughts lead to action. Therefore contentment begins in the mind. Renewing our mind is a daily challenge. One must be diligent in providing a constant stream of good, right, and pure thoughts. Jeremiah tells us "the heart is desperately wicked. Who can know what?" Jesus tells us "out of the heart springs forth the issues of life".

Where do the good, right, and pure thoughts come from? Not from us. God's word is the only source of good, right, and pure war thoughts. God's thoughts are higher than ours. His ways are better than ours. Romans 12:2 says to be transformed by the renewing at our mind so we will know the good, acceptable and perfect will of God.

Paul urges us in Philippians 4:8 to meditate on what is true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, and praise worthy. If our thoughts are fixed on God's word then complaining, comparing, envy, strife, and self-centered thinking will disappear.

In other places and Scripture we are told to do all things without complaining and disputing. And again were told in everything work as though we are working for the Lord rather than mere men. With our minds firmly rooted in God's word these things become easier to do.

If we take God's word seriously and do what we hear it telling us, we will be able to say as Paul did: “I have learned in whatever state I am to be content.” Paul understood where his strength came from when he penned Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Here are a few tips for getting more of God's word into our mind:

   1. Read the Bible daily, even if it's just a verse or two.
   2. I think about the verse you just read. Try to remember it throughout the day.
   3. Write the verse down, carry it with you, and stick it where you will see it several times a day.
   4. Share the first with someone else.

The more we interact with God's word for more insight He reveals to us. What are you doing today to get God's word rooted deeply in your mind?

Dear God, thank you for giving us your truth your word and a life with you. Give us that desire to draw close to you because your work tells us when we do you will draw near to us. In Jesus name we pray these things Amen.

© ThinkOnIt Bible Ministries Inc.

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