Journal Entry ~ 11/13/19

11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.
12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.
13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me. - Philippians 4:11-13

It is by no mistake that these words were penned in the same breath as the well known verses about anxiety. 

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand;
6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 4:4-7

He tells us not to be anxious about everything, but to be thankful. In the verses in between, Paul tells us to dwell on the good things, and then those verses about contentment.

If you want to know how to find that peace that surpasses all understanding, if you want to know the presence of God in your life, and to benefit from all the strength and protection that He offers, then you need to do these things. You need to be thankful, you need to dwell on what is honorable and lovely, and you need to choose contentment. 

We may not like what God is allowing in our lives, but we control our choice about what to dwell on. We can choose to be content, to accept that God has allowed some difficult circumstances into our lives to refine us. 

When your heart trusts in these promises, there comes into your life a stability and depth and freedom, and you simply can’t be blown over anymore. The confidence that a sovereign God governs for your good all the pain and all the pleasure that you will ever experience is an incomparable refuge and security and hope and power in your life. 

And when He grabs a hold of your life with this truth, His light shines through you to the people in your life in a way that's undeniable. If you want to have that kind of impact, if you want to be the kind of person who brings glory to God with your life, then it starts here. You need to believe this truth in your core. Everything He allows in your life is for your good, to conform you to the image of Christ - every difficult person, every devastating loss, every heartache, every diagnosis, every phone call, every single thing.  Understanding and accepting those truths brings the contentment that brings the peace. 


Press on ~ you are loved 💗

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