A shortcut to contentment

Are you looking for a shortcut to contentment. There are none.   Rather contentment comes by learning it–which comes through the power of Christ, not from counselors, therapists, self-help formulas, improved cash flow, marriage, better health, or more friends.  Contentment comes from abiding in Christ.  Abiding in Christ comes from knowing Christ more.  Knowing Christ more [...]

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Diagnostic questions regarding contentment

Are you content?
Where do you struggle with discontentment?
Why are you discontent?
Are you content with the handicaps, the disabilities or other physical characteristics the Lord has given you?
Are you content with your financial position in life right now? If God takes certain things away from you or if He doesn’t give you what you want soon, [...]

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What is contentment?

But what does it mean to be content?  Let me begin by telling you what it doesn’t mean. Contentment doesn’t mean that if you don’t have a job, you don’t seek a job. To be content does not meant that if you have a job that you don’t seek a more challenging or that you [...]

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Elusive contentment.

“Contentment is a highly prized, but elusive virtue. Though it comes only from being rightly related to God and trusting His sovereign, loving, purposeful providence, people nevertheless seek it where it cannot be found—in money, possessions, power, prestige, relationships, jobs, or freedom from difficulties. But by that definition, contentment is unattainable, for it is impossible [...]

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Strength and satisfaction

“A Christian finds satisfaction in every circumstance by getting strength from another, by going out of himself to Jesus Christ, by his faith acting upon Christ, and bringing the strength of Jesus Christ into his own soul, he is thereby enabled to bear whatever God lays on him, by the strength that he finds from [...]

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Is discontentment a small sin?

Consider the following verses that deal with contentment or (anxiety which is a symptom of discontentment).
“Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages.”” (Luke 3:14, ESV).
“Therefore do not be anxious, [...]

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Be slow like God!

JT explains:
God is:
Exodus 34:6
“The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, ‘The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.’”
Numbers 14:18
“The Lord is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity and transgression, but he will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the [...]

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Anger: the image of Satan

A very helpful article on anger by Jonathan Dodson here. He deals with “garden variety” anger as well as arguing that anger is satanic.  Here’s a quote:
At the root of anger is an enthronement of our will, an idolatry of our way, and a refusal to exercise a contented trust in God’s providence.

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Cultivating meekness; handling anger biblically

How do you cultivate meekness?  How should one handle anger biblically?  Here is a biblical pattern to follow:
Recognize it and confess sin
Proverbs 28:13 says, “He who confesses his sin will prosper!”  Some Christians go through their entire lives handling anger sinfully.  They say things to people that really hurt them.  They try to keep their [...]

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The necessity of meekness

Is meekness really necessary?  Jesus said, “Blessed are the meek for they will inherit the earth!” (Matthew 5:5). That enough shows us that meekness is necessary.  But there are other supporting Scriptures that show us that meekness is critical in our lives.  Meekness is the critical to defeating anger in our lives, but it is [...]

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