“I thought to myself, ‘Come now, I will try self-indulgent pleasure to see if it is worthwhile.’ But I found that it also is futile” (Ecclesiastes 2:1, New English Translation). Many people live with the belief that “things” make us happy. The more things we possess, the happier we become.…
Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways. (Psalm 119:37, ESV) Peter turned to watch the wind churn big waves. Lot’s wife looked back to see her city in flames. David peered across rooftops and found momentary pleasure. Eve looked on the fruit and…
“Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” (Philippians 4:11 in the King James Version of the Holy Bible) This morning as I read this scripture I asked myself, “What does contentment really look like?” I know…
“The center of the word “life” is if? If I get that promotion… If my husband doesn’t get sick… If my children behave… If I had a bigger house… If it doesn’t rain tomorrow…
Life is full of uncertainties. Instead of enjoying life, we often tread water, wallowing in worries about the future. We delay enjoying our spouses, children, homes, and friends until the perfect time that may never come.
Why take a vacation, if it’s not the perfect vacation? My furniture is worn, I can’t possibly entertain! I’m overweight, no one wants to be my friend.
Life doesn’t come with guarantees. Until we can be happy in the middle of the “if’s,” we will never really experience life.
Prayer: Dear Lord, You’ve told us to be content with what we have (Hebrews 13:5). Thank you for each blessing. We want to really “live” our lives. With Your help, we can.
Devotion by Bonnie Peacock
How often have we heard our children say, “I want one!” Regardless of what it was, they wanted it simply because someone else had one. The children of Israel thought they wanted one; a king that is.
“Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay, but we will have a king over us” (1 Samuel 8:19 in the King James Version of the Holy Bible).
God knew they didn’t need an earthly king but allowed them to have one because they asked for it. Did it help their situation? Not at all. Samuel, the man of God, knew what was best for God’s people because he listened to God. Do you want something when God has already said, “No”? Listen to the man of God. God speaks through him to you.
Prayer: Lord, help me to be content with what You have given me. You know what’s best even when I want something that is not in Your will. Amen.
Devotion by: Kaye Singleton
“When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, he will be satisfied. And because of what he has experienced, my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins” (Isaiah 53:11 in the Holy Bible, New Living Translation)
The Bible tells us that Jesus Christ found satisfaction after he suffered and died on the cross for the sins of the whole world. Satisfaction as the world describes it may never come to some of us in this life. But those who seek to please God before their life is ended will discover that whatever pain and hurt they experienced on earth will be replaced with a crown and the satisfaction of the Savior’s proclaimation, ‘Well done!’
Prayer: Savior, the world declares that satisfaction will come with promotion, riches, beauty and power, but Your Word tells me that we will only find true satisfaction in living our lives according to Your purpose. It is what I do as a daughter of the King that will end in the satisfaction of an eternity spent with You. Amen!
Devotion by Julie Long
More! The best! To possess it first! It seems as soon as we obtain one thing there is another that we must have too. Dresses and shoes sit in our closets, often with price tags still attached, while we shop for more. “The person with the most toys wins!” Whether those words would ever come out of our mouths or not, that is exactly how we live. We worry and fret that our best will never be good enough and that our friends and neighbors will upstage us. What a waste of time. There is one way to ensure that we always have all that we need. “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:34).
Prayer: Dear God, help us to remember that as long as You’re all we want, we will have all that we need.