Notes on Contentment

Make a list of positives and negatives of your life, Which list do you dwell on?

We have a choice about how we view life, we can choose to look down and see the mud, or raise our eyes to the heavens and see the stars.

God wants us to learn to be content in our circumstances, not when they improve.

There are 2 parts to contentment, ours and Gods.
1. Our part- pray rather than be anxious. Paul commands us to have nothing to do with anxiety and everything to do with prayer.
We must pray with thanksgiving.
Psalm 116:17
"I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD."
Giving thanks in difficult times is sacraficial.
We have a choice when confronted with negative circumstances, prayer or worry.

2. God's part- if you make the choice to pray rather than worry you will experience His peace.
Philippians 4:7
"And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

If we feel anxious have we done our part?

When struggling with feeling content, give thanks for what God has already done.

Philippians 4:8
"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."

Proverbs 23:7
"For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee."

We become what we think. Our thought life rather than our circumstances determine whether we are content.

2 Corinthians 10:5
"Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;"

Romans 12:2
"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."

Philippians 4:9
"Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you."

Put it into practice:
-choosing to give our anxieties to God
-choosing to pray specifically
-choosing to be thankful
-choosing to dwell on the positive
Practice substituting prayer for worry.

Peace follows a choice to obey.

Contentment is a shift in attitude not in circumstances.

Prayer
"God, don't let my pain be wasteful, use it to conform me to Your image. Use it to teach me how to be content"

Through God's Abundant Blessings,