Ellen Chauvin | Soaked & Sprouting

Soaked in God's Word, Sprouting Seeds of Faith

The Perspective of Praise

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Summer re-runs on TV got you down? Me, too. So I apologize profusely for this: August on the blog will be re-runs. I won’t lie: I plan to take it easy this month, especially the first week or so of retirement. That being said, I thought I’d “re-run” this blog series on Contentment. I hope you enjoy it!

“We would worry less if we praised more. Thanksgiving is the enemy of discontent and dissatisfaction.”  Harry Ironside

Last week I shared some things that caused discontent and dissatisfaction in my life. So what’s the best way to fight the Monster of Misery? We can discover so much from the apostle Paul’s letter to the church at Philippi:

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. Philippians 4:4, 6-8 (NASB)

Have you ever tried to be discontent while singing praises to Christ? How about wallowing in misery while thinking about things that are lovely, pure and worthy of praise? I have. After all, I had to test my hypothesis for this blog series! I couldn’t do it. I don’t believe it can be done. I challenge you to try it!

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A couple of weeks ago, John and I were hiking a trail in a state park. We ignored the sign that said “Strenuous Trail” – after all, we walk occasionally on rough terrain at home (our flat streets have potholes). We were hiking to see the pristine 95 foot waterfall that was pictured on their website, which labeled it a photographer’s paradise. We slipped and tripped over mossy, damp boulders one mile down to the falls. It was…nice. But I seriously considered suing the state for false advertising.

We turned around and began the one mile hike back UP the mountain. My quadriceps burned out of control with each lunge I took over huge rocks and up the path. I was less than content.

And then…the most beautiful sound! Around the next bend in the trail, a group of students were headed toward the falls. And they were singing, joyfully! Their harmonizing was as clear as the spring water. The notes they sang trickled and danced across the rocks of the creek. In an instant, I was smiling and happy. The path seemed less strenuous, and much shorter after the mini concert.

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My attitude adjustment caused me to be thankful. Even though my legs were sore, I was thankful for them. I was able to hike the trail, and see natural beauty all around me. The falls were not what I expected, but they were a peaceful and calming place to rest before the trek back.

 

It all sounds pretty simple, right? Sing worship songs, rejoice, think about lovely things, pray with thanksgiving. But what happens when the music ends?

To be honest, many times (most times) in the heat of the moment, in the fire of discontent, I forget to rejoice. I forget to pray with thanksgiving, I forget to dwell on things worthy of praise. A hard but honest admission. Why do I forget?

Next week, we’ll learn from the apostle Paul how we can remember!

Grace be with you,

 

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Lord, I want Your peace to guard my heart and mind. I want to remember to think on things that are lovely and pure and worthy of praise. I don’t want to feel the stirrings of discontent in my life. Help me, Lord! In the powerful name of Jesus I pray, Amen

Practice Makes Perfect

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Have you allowed circumstances to rob you of happiness and satisfaction?  I’m certainly guilty! Discontent “robs you of your years. Then before you know it, you’ve missed out on the joys in the journey, the growth that comes from battling through the difficulties, the sweet and savory experience of creating the memories.” (Priscilla Shirer, Resolution for Women)

We learned last week that praise and thanksgiving can ward off discontent. But the apostle Paul teaches us so much more than that:

Philippians 4:11 “Not that I speak from want; for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstance I am.”

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Contentment can be learned
Paul learned to be content. What? I can learn this? Tell me how, please!

The original Greek for the word learned is manthano (Strong’s 3129). Stay with me here…I promise not to go too geeky-Greeky on you. Manthano means to learn from experience, with the idea of doing habitually; to become accustomed to something.

When I was in high school, I played flute. I was an okay player, basically kind of ordinary and mediocre. Until the summer I decided to practice every day. Over and over I played the scales, and eventually my fingers knew by habit which keys to press.

I learned the scales, and I practiced until they became habit. I learned by being disciplined and just doing.

“To learn, you must love discipline;
  it is stupid to hate correction.” Proverbs 12:1

Contentment must be practiced
The same is true of contentment: once learned, it must be practiced. Each time the monster of misery rears his ugly head, we need to make the choice to be content in our situation. Remember the commercial from a few years back? This is the same principle: Just do it.

If anyone had a reason to be discontent, it was the apostle Paul. He was beaten, pelted with stones, shipwrecked and imprisoned. He learned to be content, no matter the circumstance. He practiced over and over until it became a habit.

Paul knew that Christ would provide for his every need.

“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed.” 2 Corinthians 9:5

Christ will supply abundantly more that we ask or need. Over and over again, when the seed of discontent starts to grow, look around to see all that God has supplied, and be content. Over and over…until it is a habit.

 

Until next week,

 

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Father, I want to learn contentment. Strengthen me by the power of Your Holy Spirit, to practice being content in You and You alone. In Jesus powerful name, Amen

 

Linking up today with Holly Gerth, Holly Barrett, Tell Me aTrue Story, Equipping Godly Women and Kate Megill .