Finding Clarity in a World of Confusion

“Your road led through the sea, your pathway through the mighty waters—a pathway no one knew was there!” (Psalm 77:19 NLT).

I think many of dislike to be in “limbo.” We want to know where we stand. We seek clarity. Perhaps at no time is this greater than in times of adversity. It is in these times, that we face the proverbial fork in the road. Pursue clarity from the secular world or obtain clarity from God’s word. If you pursue clarity from the secular world, you will never find it. However, God provides us clarity in the Bible. Matthew 7:7 provides the guide to finding what we seek. “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”

Twice it is recorded in the Gospels that Jesus asked, “What do you want?” (John 1:38); “What do you want me to do for you?” (Matthew 20:32; Mark 10:51; Luke 18:41). He is prompting us to ask and then it will be given. We must be intentional.

We cannot judge our situation apart from God’s wisdom. In other words, we must leave it up to God to interpret our circumstances. Only He is capable of understanding all the facts, and only He sees the significance of every detail. That’s why it is so important that we test it all by His Word. If you feel overwhelmed or confused about a decision, you may be living in the flesh and not the Spirit. Our selfish desires can hinder our ability to hear God’s voice. The Bible teaches, “God is not a God of disorder but of peace” (1 Corinthians 14:33). He is not the author of confusion. So, if you’re feeling confused it’s not God’s voice speaking in your life.

Sometimes in life we come up against enormous financial, spiritual, or physical barriers. We seemed trapped and the situation seems hopeless. The temptation is to lean on our own understanding and trust ourselves to make our paths straight. 1 Corinthians 10:13 reads, “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”

When you don’t know what to do, God will guide you. He didn’t design you to go through life on your own ingenuity and power. God wants to lead you on the right path, and He will when you trust in Him. Seek and you will find “the way out” of confusion and into clarity and a peace that transcends all understanding.

Prayer: Dear God, Thank you for the peace that comes when we trust in you. Help us to always seek clarity in your Word and to wait patiently for the way out to appear. It is in Jesus name that we pray and we live. Amen.

Meet the Author

Todd Shupe is a Men’s Ministry Specialist through the General Commission of United Methodist Men and is in training to be a Certified Lay Minister through the Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church. He currently serves as the President of the Baton Rouge District of United Methodist Men and is a Board Member for Gulf South Men and serves on the Action Team for The Kingdom Group. He is a volunteer for the Walk to Emmaus, Grace Camp, and Iron Sharpens Iron. Todd resides in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

We welcome your comments below.

Thank you for visiting. We trust that you have enjoyed reading our articles.

Liked this post?

Defeating the Giants in our Lives

“David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel” (1 Samuel 17:45-46 NIV).

David was a young boy when he defeated the giant Goliath of the Philistine army. This is one of the most well-known stories in the Bible. I was intrigued with the mental pictures in my brain when I first heard this story as a young boy.

Now, as an adult I return to this story to see what the Living Word can teach me today. I think most men have giants that are keeping them from being the man God

wants them to be. If you want to reach your full spiritual potential and enjoy the fruits of a life well lived, then it is time to step out in faith to defeat the giants in your life.

Remember how God has helped you in the past
When you remember the ways that God has helped you in the past, it gives you confidence for the future. David says in 1 Samuel 17:37, “The Lord who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine!”
Use the tools that God has given you
David used the tools that God provided that utilized his strengths. “Then Saul gave David his own armor . . . ‘I can’t go in these,’ he protested to Saul. ‘I’m not used to them.’ So David took them off again. He picked up five smooth stones from a stream and put them into his shepherd’s bag”(1 Samuel 17:38-40). We tend to wait for something we don’t have such as money, education, or connections. God has already given you the tools to face your giants with confidence. We need to step out in confidence knowing that God if God is with us, then who can be against us? (Romans 8:31).

Ignore the naysayers
Later in life, when others were speaking against him, David had to encourage himself in the Lord: “David was seriously worried, for in their bitter grief for their children, his men began talking of killing him. But David took strength from the Lord”(1 Samuel 30:6). When you encourage yourself in the Lord, it’s not just a positive mental attitude. There is power in God’s grace, provision, and security. David writes in Psalm 23:4, “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.”
Expect God to help you for His glory
David stormed the battlefield, shouting, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty . . . This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands . . . and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel”(1 Samuel 17:45-46). God will use anybody who will trust him and expect to be used by him — not because of who we are, but for His glory.

Prayer: We come to you today with giants in our lives. Each one is different but each one is similar in that it is keeping us from being the person that you desire us to be. Help us dear God to step out from worry and step into faith. Grant us the confidence that you are with us. Amen.

Meet the Author

We welcome your comments below.

Thank you for visiting. We trust that you have enjoyed reading our articles.

Liked this post?

A Christian Approach to Depression

“It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; He will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed” (Deuteronomy 31:8 ESV).

God has blessed us with the Living Word known as the Holy Bible. We can turn to the Bible for advice and instruction for our worries and problems. Some may feel that the Bible is too old to be relevant today. However, many, if not all, of our issues of today are essentially the same as when Jesus walked the earth. We learn from Ecclesiastes 1:9, “What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.”

One of the most prevalent problems facing our society today is depression. Antidepressant prescribing has risen nearly 400% since 1988, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The story of Elijah in 1 Kings 18-19 is a fascinating example of how God dealt with His servant when he was depressed.

Elijah means “The LORD is my God,” and as a prophet he adamantly shared God’s message and warnings. The Jews were turning to false gods, and he shared his warning. “Elijah came near to all the people, and said, “How long will you waver between the two sides? If Yahweh is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him” (1 Kings 18:21).

In 1 Kings 19 we read of Elijah fleeing from the evil Jezebel. She was the wife of Ahab, King of Israel. Elijah was overcome with depression and requested that he might die, and said, “It is enough. Now, O Yahweh, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers” (1 Kings 19:4).

Elijah was so frightened by Jezebel’s threat to kill him that he flees to Mt. Horeb (Sinai). He takes rest under a broom tree and the word of the Lord came to him and asked, “What are you doing here, Elijah” (1 Kings 19:9)? God is omniscient and clearly knew what Elijah was doing, but He was modelling for us how to help a depressed person.

God met him where he was. He did not wait for Elijah to come to Him.

He asked questions and listened. The questions were crafted to lead to self-examination. God did not offer quick answers. God’s actions were in accordance with James 1:19. “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.”

We should be mindful of people that are disappointed because if disappointment is left unresolved it will lead to discouragement which is a step away from depression. The pharmaceutical industry has done tremendous things for people. However, I encourage us all to be proactive and seek out our brothers and sisters that are disappointed and turn them toward the lift of Christ and away from the darkness that leads to depression.

Prayer: If someone reading this is in need of help, please provide it. If someone reading this is not in need of help, open their eyes to the disappointment, discouragement, and depression that is present all around us and help them to meet those in need wherever they are in need. Help us to show your love by being present and quick to listen. Amen.

Meet the Author

We welcome your comments below.

Thank you for visiting. We trust that you have enjoyed reading our articles.

Liked this post?

Is Your Burden Too Heavy?

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30 NIV).

Many of us carry heavy burdens due to a wide variety of physical, mental, and spiritual reasons. The burden can cause us to ache at the deepest level, our soul. At this point two conclusions can be drawn: (1) the burden is not from God and (2) the only way to lighten the load is to draw close to Jesus.

So how do we know the burden is not from God? God is our Father and wants peace for His children. He certainly does not want to put a burden on us that is more than we can handle. Jesus knows that we will have problems. Jesus acknowledges that we will have problems and burdens, but He is offering us protection and provision as the Good Shepherd. The Word teaches in John 16:33, “In this world you will have trouble.” He wants us to cast our anxiety on Him because He cares for us (1 Peter 5:7).

A heavy burden is a result of our tendency to bear the burdens of life on our own. If we try to carry all the weights and cares and burdens, we will end up being crushed. We are all part of the Body of Christ and as such we are all to follow the Word in Galatians 6:2. “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”

Jesus’ solution for profound soul-weariness isn’t complicated. He simply says, “Come to me, all who are weary.” He extends the invitation, but our response is essential. The Christian life is one of total dependence on God. When Jesus says, “Come to me, all who are weary,” (Matthew 11:28) it’s because He doesn’t want us buying into the lie of independence. He doesn’t want us thinking that we can get by on our own, relying on our own grit. Each of us plays an important role in the Body of Christ. Feeling overwhelmed and weary is a sign that we are living outside of God’s will. The solution to weariness isn’t to be better organized, more efficient, or more productive. The solution is to reject the lie of self-sufficiency and embrace Him – the one who gives living water.

This doesn’t mean that Jesus will necessarily change the circumstances and make everything okay. In fact, He probably won’t. It does mean that He will provide me with all-sufficient grace to bear good fruit, even in the midst of exhausting, wearying circumstances. We must learn to stop trying to put our fingers on everything, and instead reach out with confidence to touch His cloak. When we reach out with even the faith of a mustard seed, He may heal us or He may not, but He will certainly bless us. “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love Him” (James 1:12).

Prayer: Dear good and gracious God: You continue to bless us with grace upon grace. Continue to draw us near to you so that we walk with confidence that you are with us always. We love you, need you, and trust in you. Amen.

Meet the Author

We welcome your comments below.

Thank you for visiting. We trust that you have enjoyed reading our articles.

Liked this post?

True Confession of the Heart: My Hatred Is Strong

“Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them” (1 John 2:9-11 NIV).

Holy Scripture encourages us to confess our sins to one another (James 5:16). I have a confession to make. I have deep seated hatred in my heart. I refuse to consider my hatred a sin. In fact, I hope you have the same hatred I do. Scripture teaches us in 1 John 3:15, “Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.” Throughout Scripture we find warnings against hatred toward one another. I know this is true, but my hatred persists and grows. I pray for it to grow each day. I have no hatred toward any person. My hatred is toward sin. Our sin acts as a barrier in our journey to become more like Christ.

Jesus commanded us in Mark 12:30, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” To draw closer to God, we also need to hate what is evil with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our mind and with all our strength.

Romans 12:9 teaches us, “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.”

Sin is evil and is to be hated. Hatred of moral evil and of sin ought to be accompanied by cleaving to that which is good. We deceive ourselves when we cling to the good but our silence is deafening in the face of evil. As the great Edmund Burke once said, “for evil to succeed, it is only necessary for good men to do nothing.” Paul’s loathing of evil was absolute, and equally intense and complete was his cleaving to that which is good. In both concepts, and their inter-relationships, he makes God known to us and presents the standard for Christian living.

It is important to note that Paul did not say “Choose against evil and choose good.” His words are very strong. Choosing is not enough. It doesn’t signal deep moral transformation. Remember the meaning of hypocrisy—changing the outside with willpower choices. Now Paul says, don’t just avoid evil, but hate evil. Don’t just choose good, embrace the good. Love the good. The journey of Christian living is a battle mainly to get our emotions changed, not just our behavior. The Holy Spirit seeks to change us on the inside. Then, our actions and words will be a natural manifestation of the Spirit and all that see us will see Him.

Prayer: Dear God, Grant us the courage to not only love what is good but to reject and renounce in Your name all that is evil. Search us and use what is good and prune all that is evil. Amen.

Meet the Author

We welcome your comments below.

Thank you for visiting. We trust that you have enjoyed reading our articles.

Liked this post?

You Can Not Please Everyone

“Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts”

(1 Thessalonians 2:4 NLT).

I think many of us are searching for our purpose in life. We want to follow God but are not sure what He wants us to do. What is my ministry? How can I build up the Body of Christ? These are profound questions. For many of us, we find our purpose with work and family. We work to provide food and shelter for those that we love the most – our family. Clearly, God wants us to be responsible parents and to cherish our children and to raise them to seek His face. “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6).

Our lives are busy and complicated. There are so many demands on our time. We don’t want to hurt somebody’s feelings so we often agree to most everything that is asked of us at home, work, church, and other associations and clubs that we belong. I am a people pleaser. I want to avoid conflict and make those around me happy. I think God loves it when we help those in need because it shows that our faith is not dead (see James 2:14-26).

A few questions to consider when asked to provide your service.

How Does The Request Make Me Feel?

Do I feel pressure to agree? If so, the request is not Godly. God does not use pressure. He wants us to come to Him because we seek a relationship with Him. He wants us to seek Him with all our heart and promises that if we do so we will find Him (see Jeremiah 29:13).

What Are My Reasons to Agree?

If we agree to a request to serve because we feel that it will elevate our status or create a debt that we can later “cash in”, then we should not agree to do it. We should serve others out of love with an outward focus, not inward. Our actions should feed the Spirit and not the flesh. You can fool others with your actions but not God. “The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7).

What Fruit Will This Produce?

I feel that the enemy loves to keep good people doing things that have a little to no impact on The Kingdom. Consider the fruit that may come from your efforts (see Matthew 7:17). Recognize that any fruit that does come is because of His hand. “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows” (James 1:17).

Take the Request Captive

We can’t be all things to all people. However, we can be all that God wants us to be and do all that He wants us to do to build His kingdom on earth. Our actions always begin with a thought. So, when we are asked to take on a new responsibility, take the request captive and closely examine it. “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Cor. 10:5). I think it is appropriate to substitute “request” in place of “thought” in this scripture.

Prayer: Heavenly Father we come before you as busy people with so very many responsibilities. We want to provide for our families, please our bosses and customers, and live in harmony with all. Please help us to always put you first in all that is asked of us. We seek your peace that transcends all understanding and we ask for your wisdom to make decisions that bring honor and glory to you. Amen.

Meet the Author

We welcome your comments below.

Thank you for visiting. We trust that you have enjoyed reading our articles.

Liked this post?

Civil Discourse

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34-35).

Have you noticed a breakdown in our ability as a society to engage in civil discourse? I have. It seems we prefer to argue with each other rather than engage in a constructive exchange of ideas. The goal for many is to “win” the argument with a snarky comment. This is particularly true on social media.

Jesus certainly did not agree with the views of the Pharisees, but instead of engaging in devise arguments he often told asked questions or made statements to encourage them to search their heart. For example, in John 8 we learn that a woman had been caught in the act of

adultery. The Pharisees brought the women in front of crowd and then confronted Jesus. “Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery. The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?” They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger. They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!”

In Mark 3 Jesus heals on the Sabbath at the displeasure of the Pharisees because the Mosaic law prohibited work on the Sabbath. “Another time Jesus went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath. Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Stand up in front of everyone.” Then Jesus asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they remained silent. He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored.”

One strategy that we can use when confronted by an offensive person is to say “What I heard you say was (fill in the blank). Is that what you intended to say?” This will allow a break in the conversation for both parties to “cool off” and reflect on what they are saying and hearing. Many years ago, I took a speech communications class. One thing I remember most vividly is the art of communication. This means that it is the responsibility of the sender of the message to ensure that the message delivered is the same message that is received. We should be mindful that much of our message is non-verbal and the verbal component is influenced by our tone.

We can disagree with each other without being disagreeable. Isn’t it better to win a friend than win an argument?

Meet the Author

We welcome your comments below.

Thank you for visiting. We trust that you have enjoyed reading our articles.

Liked this post?

Five Steps for Handling Frustration

“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you” (Isaiah 26:3 NIV).

We all have experienced frustration. Sometimes we are frustrated with ourselves and sometimes with others, including God. Our frustrations present an opportunity to either deepen our relationships with others or divide us. Regardless of the nature of our frustration, our response will determine if good fruit comes from the situation.

Here are five simple steps for dealing with frustrations.

Did I cause it? The Bible says, “A man reaps what he sows” (Galatians 6:7). We are often frustrated by things in life because we bring them on ourselves. If the “sowing” is accidental, the “reaping” may seem too harsh. However, if we accidently strike our thumb with a hammer is the pain any different than if we did it intentionally?

What can I learn? There is a lesson to be learned in all circumstances. Romans 8:28 teaches, “In all things God works for the good of those who love him.” There are far too many bad things and evil people in the world, but we can take comfort that all things work together. God can even take the negative and turn it into a positive. The key is we need to trust Him and wait patiently for Him.

Thank God. In 1 Thessalonians 5:18 we learn, “Give thanks in all circumstances.” You don’t have to be thankful for a bad situation, but you can be thankful in a bad situation. Frustration may be a blessing in disguise. The Apostle Paul had a thorn in his flesh and pleaded three times to God to remove it. “But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Focus on the good. Our mental health greatly influences our spiritual and physical health. This is likely the reason that we are encouraged in Philippians 4:8 to properly focus our thoughts. “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” It is not easy to laugh in difficult times, but whenever possible we should do so because “A cheerful heart is good medicine” (Proverbs 17:22).

Ask God to bless you with His love. One of the most common Scripture readings at a Christian marriage is 1 Corinthians 13 because it defines love. 1 Corinthians 13:5 teaches, “[Love] is not easily angered.” Love is self-giving, not self-serving. Love honors the other person. We tend to get so busy with our daily lives that we neglect to nurture our existing relationships or grow new relationships. A Christian life is one lived in relationship with God and His people.

Prayer: Dear God help us to view others with the same love that you view us. Amen.

Meet the Author

We welcome your comments below.

Thank you for visiting. We trust that you have enjoyed reading our articles.

Liked this post?

True Freedom

“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love” (1 John 4:18 NIV). One of the greatest blessings we have as Americans is our freedom. The first ten amendments of the Bill of Rights guarantee us certain rights that are fundamental to our freedom. Despite all of our freedoms, many people still live in bondage and have denied themselves true freedom. Many us live in fear of something – death, debt, an abusive spouse, etc. Some live with guilt over something from their past. Others have self-condemnation due to an inability to impress their parents, achieve a promotion, etc. These people are alive but spiritually dead. Our human condition is such that sin is inevitable. A vast majority of the New Testament was written by the Apostle Paul, and he was a Godly man that struggled with the sin in his life. Paul knew very well of the consequences of sin. In Romans 6:23, Paul wrote, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” As Christians we no longer have to live in bondage to our sins. “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death” (Romans 8:1-2). We may still be condemned by others, but in the eyes of God we are forgiven because of the blood of Jesus. You may be thinking – yes, I understand that I can sincerely repent and receive forgiveness, but I am still struggling with fear and anxiety due to some unresolved personal issue. First, fear and anxiety are natural. Too much is unhealthy, and counselors have the God-given gift of helping us to learn coping skills. Second, did you know that Jesus had anxiety? Jesus agonized in the Garden of Gethsemane before his death. His heart was heavy laden and He asked, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will but yours be done” (Luke 22:42). Jesus was expressing his dread of the coming trials, but He also reaffirmed His commitment to what God wanted. He was modelling for us the importance of, “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things (Colossians 3:2). Jesus knew we would have problems, but we can take comfort in Him. John 16:33, teaches, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Jesus offers us His peace, and His peace is “a peace that transcends all understanding” (Philippians 4:7). That is true freedom. Prayer: Dear God: Thank you for the peace you offer us in Jesus. Help us to accept His peace. We take comfort that when we walk through the darkest valley, we will fear no evil. We will fear no evil because we know you are with us. Amen. Meet the Author Todd Shupe is a Men’s Ministry Specialist through the General Commission of United Methodist Men and is in training to be a Certified Lay Minister through the Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church. He currently serves as the President of the Baton Rouge District of United Methodist Men and is a Board Member for Gulf South Men and serves on the Action Team for The Kingdom Group. He is a volunteer for the Walk to Emmaus, Grace Camp, and Iron Sharpens Iron. Todd resides in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. We welcome your comments below. Thank you for visiting. We trust that you have enjoyed reading our articles.

Liked this post?

Live Life Now!

“Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little” (Philippians 4:11-12 NLT).

I have read this Holy Scripture many times and still struggle to understand it. I am confused how Paul can essentially have the same joy with plenty or with little. I have traveled to several developing countries and have witnessed wide spread poverty beyond anything in the U.S. As I reflect back on these trips and my interactions with the local people, I recall their pure joy. I wonder if their joy is due to the absence of stress. Most of us would be stressed out if we woke up and found ourselves in severe poverty. However, there seems to be an inner peace that these kind souls have that is lacking in the developed nations.

I wonder if this inner peace is due to a lack of stress. We are stressed out today because of a lack of contentment, but Paul learned how to be content with nothing except God’s grace. We learn in 2 Cor. 12:9, “But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” This is a high standard for us in the modern world. We have an inherent drive for more – money, fun, power, control, etc.

The apostle Paul shows us another way to live. “Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.”

Do not be deceived and think that Paul lacked ambition. This is the same man that took the Gospel throughout the Roman Empire and wrote many chapters of the New Testament. God taught him contentment. His ambition did not wane due to his contentment and neither should yours. They are not mutually exclusive to any of us.

Contentment isn’t laziness, complacency, or apathy. It is living life now and not waiting for something better (job promotion, new bass boat, etc.) to come along. We all want to make professional and personal progress, and that is fine. We should not let our yearning for something in the future preclude our ability to enjoy our blessings of today. Contentment is the ability to find happiness in your current situation.

I think Paul was using his knowledge of contentment to advise the Thessalonians in 5:18 by writing, “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” It is extremely important that he is urging us to give thanks in all circumstances and not for all circumstances. We are not to give thanks for tragedy, but we can still be thankful in the tragedy because His grace is sufficient for us.

Prayer: Dear God, We give you thanks and praise in all circumstances because we know that you will bring about good from the bad. Help us dear Lord to be live life today because tomorrow is not promised. Each day is a blessing from you and we will surely rejoice and be glad in it because we know that you walk with us in good times and bad. We love you, need you, and praise you. Amen.

Meet the Author

We welcome your comments below.

Thank you for visiting. We trust that you have enjoyed reading our articles.

Finding Clarity in a World of Confusion

Liked this post?

Read more below or search for more topics…

Defeating the Giants in our Lives

Liked this post?

Read more below or search for more topics...

A Christian Approach to Depression

Liked this post?

Read more below or search for more topics…

Is Your Burden Too Heavy?

Liked this post?

Read more below or search for more topics…

True Confession of the Heart: My Hatred Is Strong

Liked this post?

Read more below or search for more topics…

You Can Not Please Everyone

Liked this post?

Read more below or search for more topics...

Civil Discourse

Liked this post?

Read more below or search for more topics...

Five Steps for Handling Frustration

Liked this post?

Read more below or search for more topics…

True Freedom

Liked this post?

Read more below or search for more topics…

Live Life Now!

Liked this post?

Read more below or search for more topics...