Contentment

Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again - rejoice! Philippians 4:4

I want to start by letting you know of the circumstances Paul had to endure. He faced angry mobs and worked to the point of exhaustion. He was beaten three times with rods, stoned once, and on five different occasions received thirty-nine lashes. He was shipwrecked three times, endured sleepless nights, and went without food.

We feel discontentment when we cannot take control over a situation and change it right away. This causes us to feel anxious, worried, frustrated, and angry. Among all of the different feelings we all too often feel helpless.

Paul learned to be content in all circumstances and while he was in prison he wrote a letter to the Philippians. He knew what it was like to live in Christ. "We can experience contentment in spite of our circumstances that surround us."

Here's how: Always be full of joy, in the Lord, I say it again - rejoice! Don't worry about anything, instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. And now dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you have learned. Then the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:4;6-10