7/11/20 Weekly Devotional

"Being Content"
Devotion for the Week of 7/13/2020 
by Danny Crego

Philippians 4:11-13 New Revised Standard Version
Not that I am referring to being in need; for I have learned to be content with whatever I have. I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

In times of great uneasiness and not knowing what will come next, it is easy to lose one’s contentment. However, we are to learn to be content where we are no matter the situation. This is something that is learned. Recently, I went from having a full-time job to part-time, so I did what I knew I had to do. I applied for help; I applied for unemployment. It is not nearly the financial stability that comes with a full-time job but it is a help. Nonetheless, I was denied for making too much money even at part-time. So I gave up, called it quits, cursed God, and gave up on trusting Him or following Him. No, I prayed and placed my circumstance in His hands. I know that God supplies for my needs; it may not be the way I desire or with the comforts I want, but He will provide what I need. And if He doesn’t, He is still God.

​In the words of Meshach, Shadrach, and Abednego, “If you throw us in the fire, the God we serve can rescue us from your roaring furnace and anything else you might cook up, O king. But even if he doesn’t, it wouldn’t make a bit of difference.” How do we know that we are allowing God to rule in these situations: our attitude, if it becomes poor or we begin to lack the ability to love our neighbors and allow jealousy and bitterness to take root, we know that we have lost our first love and are not trusting God.

We need to learn to trust in God even when things do not go our way; If I am hungry, He is God. If I am poor, He is God; if I am full, He is God. And if I am rich, He is God. 

Andrea Crouch explains this way of living in His song, “Through it All”

I've had many tears and sorrows, I've had questions for tomorrow,
there's been times I didn't know right from wrong.
But in every situation, God gave me blessed consolation,
that my trials come to only make me strong.

Through it all, through it all,
I've learned to trust in Jesus,
I've learned to trust in God.
Through it all, through it all,
I've learned to depend upon His Word.

I've been to lots of places, I've seen a lot of faces,
there's been times I felt so all alone.
But in my lonely hours, yes, those precious lonely hours,
Jesus lets me know that I was His own

Through it all, through it all,
I've learned to trust in Jesus,
I've learned to trust in God.
Through it all, through it all,
I've learned to depend upon His Word.

I thank God for the mountains,
and I thank Him for the valleys,
I thank Him for the storms He brought me through.
For if I'd never had a problem,
I wouldn't know God could solve them,
I'd never know what faith in God could do.

Let us Pray:
LORD, help us to not allow our circumstances to change our attitudes, beliefs, or values, but help us to allow You to change us in the midst of our circumstances. Thank you for all You do and for Your continued presence. In the Name of Your Son, Our Savior and Friend, Christ, Jesus we pray and thank You. Amen