Monday, March 19, 2007

Divine Contentment

What is the definition of sheer bliss to you? To some it's a place, for others sheer bliss is a peaceful feeling of being just right with God. We are encouraged to be content whenever, wherever (Phil. 4:11-13; 3:7-10). What about these promises of seeking divine contentment? * I resolve to be content...because even when I don't feel His presence, He is with me. That is CONFIDENT contentment, because "He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus" Philippians 1:6. * I resolve to be content...because even when I [still] don't know where to go, He is guiding me. That is OBEDIENT contentment, following Christ's example--with His power to make it possible--by emptying myself of self. Here's what this obedient contentment looks like: 1-I am empty of my rights to self. 2-I am ready to serve--God and others. 3-I am humble (all of my human resources are harnessed and available to the Divine Driver's rein/reign). Check out Philippians 2:5-8 to get inside the mind of Jesus as He embraced the form of a servant, humbled Himself to be obedient to death, making Himself nothing in the process, all the while looking out for our best interests. * I resolve to be content...because even when a storm rages inside of me and all around me, He anchors my soul. That is COMPLIANT contentment. Philippians 2:14-17 describes the manifestation of this malleable peace: 1-No complaining, griping, or arguing. 2-Radiant. 3-"Spent" for the cause (holding back nothing). * I resolve to be content...because even when my enemies conquer me, my friends leave me or let me down, even when the light of my release from this torment is a mere pinpoint, He can see the rescue and lives on the other side of my defeat. That is RELIANT contentment. Philippians 3:17-21 captures the essence of this trusting peace: 1-My destiny and my citizenship are in heaven. 2-My God is Jehovah. 3-My glory is in Christ alone. 4-My mind is set on things above. Not bound by space or time, God is, at once, not only in the midst of the vortex of our angst--settling peace on us, but also He is already living in the peaceful victory that lies on the other side of the any disturbance to this earthly realm. He IS peace. His divine contentment resides in our confident, obedient, compliant, reliant rest in Him.

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