Dec 22 to 31

Dec 22: "So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer." - Ezra 8:23 (NIV)

Dec 23: "Who will not fear you, O Lord, and bring glory to your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed." - Revelation 15:4 (NIV)

Dec 24: "His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor his delight in the legs of a man; the LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love." - Psalm 147:10-11 (NIV)

Dec 25: "For God has put it into their hearts to accomplish his purpose by agreeing to give the beast their power to rule, until God's words are fulfilled." - Revelation 17:17 (NIV)

Dec 26: "A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies." - Proverbs 31:10 (NIV)

Dec 27: "Nehemiah said, "Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength."" - Nehemiah 8:10 (NIV)

Dec 28: "I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war." - Revelation 19:11 (NIV)

Dec 29: "For the LORD takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with salvation." - Psalm 149:4 (NIV)

Dec 30: "Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised." - Proverbs 31:30 (NIV)

Dec 31: "Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done." - Revelation 22:12 (NIV)

Lessons from Proverbs 31:10

I'm reading the Bible in one year and the Wisdom reading for Dec 26 is Proverbs 31:10-20.

"A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies." - Proverbs 31:10 (NIV)

Lesson #1: A wife of noble character cannot be found except by God's grace. (6 Sep 10)

Lesson #2: Instead of focusing on finding a Proverbs 31 woman, focus on being a Psalm 112 man. (9 Sep 10)

Lesson #3: Seek wisdom before seeking a wife (or husband). (17 Oct 10)

Dec 15 to 21

Dec 15: "Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul." - Psalm 143:8 (NIV)

Dec 16: "You have said, 'It is futile to serve God. What did we gain by carrying out his requirements and going about like mourners before the LORD Almighty?'" - Malachi 3:14 (NIV)

Dec 17: "Blessed are the people of whom this is true; blessed are the people whose God is the LORD." - Psalm 144:15 (NIV)

Dec 18: "But in the days when the seventh angel is about to sound his trumpet, the mystery of God will be accomplished, just as he announced to his servants the prophets." - Revelation 10:7 (NIV)

Dec 19: "The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever."" - Revelation 11:15 (NIV)

Dec 20: "Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations." - Psalm 145:13a (NIV)

Dec 21: "He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them." - Psalm 145:19 (NIV)

True Gain

I'm reading the Bible in one year and the Old Testament reading for Dec 16 is Malachi 2:17-4:6.

"You have said, 'It is futile to serve God. What did we gain by carrying out his requirements and going about like mourners before the LORD Almighty?'" - Malachi 3:14 (NIV)

The answer is - everything.

"O greedy men, what will satisfy you, if God Himself will not?" - St. Augustine

"Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked. For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favour and honour; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless. O LORD Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in you." - Psalm 84:10-12 (NIV)

Besides, instead of asking "What can we gain for ourselves?", we should be asking

"What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?" - Luke 9:25 (NIV)

and

"But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand." - 1 Chronicles 29:14 (NIV)

And can it be that I should gain
An interest in the Saviour's blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain
For me, who Him to death pursued!

Amazing love! How can it be
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
Amazing love! How can it be
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me!

Dec 8 to 14

Dec 8: "Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life." - Jude 21 (NIV)

Dec 9: "I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades." - Revelation 1:18 (NIV)

Dec 10: "Keep falsehoods and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread." - Proverbs 30:8 (NIV)

Dec 11: "To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations." - Revelation 2:26 (NIV)

Dec 12: "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me." - Revelation 3:20 (NIV)

Dec 13: "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honour and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being." - Revelation 4:11 (NIV)

Dec 14: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth." - Revelation 5:9-10 (NIV)

Dec 1 to 7

Dec 1: "The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever." - 1 John 2:17 (NIV)

Dec 2: "Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; but blessed is he who keeps the law." - Proverbs 29:18 (NIV)

Dec 3: "Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him." - 1 John 3:21-22 (NIV)

Dec 4: "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love." - 1 John 4:18 (NIV)

Dec 5: "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us." - 1 John 5:14 (NIV)

Dec 6: "Many seek an audience with a ruler, but it is from the LORD that man gets justice." - Proverbs 29:26 (NIV)

Dec 7: "So he said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty."" - Zechariah 4:6 (NIV)

Prayer According to God's Will

I'm reading the Bible in one year and the New Testament reading for Dec 5 is 1 John 5:1-21.

"This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us." - 1 John 5:14 (NIV)

Do our prayers simply change us and align us to God's will, without having any bearing on His will? (Then why pray? For example, why pray for the salvation of the lost if the lost are saved completely apart from our prayers?)

Do our prayers have a bearing on God's will to the extent that our prayers determine His will? (Then what if two people pray against each other? For example, what if one person prays for sunny weather and another person prays for rainy weather?)

Or do our prayers provide the means by which God, knowing what we would pray for and how He would answer accordingly (be it yes or no), accomplishes His will - His good, pleasing and perfect will?

God answers prayer! He will answer yes when answering yes is for the best; He will answer no when answering no is for the best. And whether He answers yes or no, His will is exactly what we would desire if we knew all the facts.

Links: Prayer Changes Things (26 Nov 10), A Molinist View of Prayer (31 Dec 10)

Nov 22 to 30

Nov 22: "My heart is not proud, O LORD, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me. But I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me. O Israel, put your hope in the LORD both now and forevermore." - Psalm 131 (NIV)

Nov 23: "He swore an oath to the LORD and made a vow to the Mighty One of Jacob: "I will not enter my house or go to my bed - I will allow no sleep to my eyes, no slumber to my eyelids, till I find a place for the LORD, a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob."" - Psalm 132:2-5 (NIV)

Nov 24: "Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers." - 1 Peter 3:7 (NIV)

Nov 25: "Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms." - 1 Peter 4:10 (NIV)

Nov 26: "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." - 1 Peter 5:7 (NIV)

Nov 27: "For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." - 2 Peter 1:8 (NIV)

Nov 28: "Then Nebuchadnezzar said, "Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king's command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God."" - Daniel 3:28 (NIV)

Nov 29: "But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen." - 2 Peter 3:18 (NIV)

Nov 30: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." - 1 John 1:9 (NIV)

Nov 15 to 21

Nov 15: "Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord." - Hebrews 12:14 (NIV)

Nov 16: "May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen." - Hebrews 13:20-21 (NIV)

Nov 17: "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him." - James 1:5 (NIV)

Nov 18: "Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in his ways." - Psalm 128:1 (NIV)

Nov 19: "Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom." - James 3:13 (NIV)

Nov 20: "Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that."" - James 4:15 (NIV)

Nov 21: "As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy." - James 5:11 (NIV)

Nov 8 to 14

Nov 8: "The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!" - Hebrews 9:13-14 (NIV)

Nov 9: "For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent and live!" - Ezekiel 18:32 (NIV)

Nov 10: "And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." - Hebrews 10:10 (NIV)

Nov 11: "Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful." - Hebrews 10:23 (NIV)

Nov 12: "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." - Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)

Nov 13: "Our help is in the name of the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth." - Psalm 124:8 (NIV)

Nov 14: "No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." - Hebrews 12:11 (NIV)

Training and Development

I'm reading the Bible in one year and the New Testament reading for Nov 14 is Hebrews 12:1-13.

"No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." - Hebrews 12:11 (NIV)

I'm about to embark on my 4th week of residential training at the Home Team Academy and this is a timely reminder that training involves discipline.

If security is the foundation for rehabilitation, how much more is discipline the foundation for personal development!

"Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever." - 1 Corinthians 9:25 (NIV)

"For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come." - 1 Timothy 4:8 (NIV)

"But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil." - Hebrews 5:14 (NIV)

Links: Discipline and Security (23 Oct 10), True Training (25 Oct 10), Training vs 'Tekan' (3 Dec 10)

Nov 1 to 7

Nov 1: "Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity." - Joel 2:13 (NIV)

Nov 2: "For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." - Hebrews 4:12 (NIV)

Nov 3: "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathise with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are - yet was without sin." - Hebrews 4:15 (NIV)

Nov 4: "But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil." - Hebrews 5:14 (NIV)

Nov 5: "And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised." - Hebrews 6:15 (NIV)

Nov 6: "Such a high priest meets our need - one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens." - Hebrews 7:26 (NIV)

Nov 7: "I call on the LORD in my distress, and he answers me." - Psalm 120:1 (NIV)

Oct 22 to 31

Oct 22: "My soul faints with longing for your salvation, but I have put my hope in your word." - Psalm 119:81 (NIV)

Oct 23: "Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart." - 2 Timothy 2:22 (NIV)

Oct 24: "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." - 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV)

Oct 25: "Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long." - Psalm 119:97 (NIV)

Oct 26: "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path." - Psalm 119:105 (NIV)

Oct 27: "Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Saviour." - Habakkuk 3:17-18 (NIV)

Oct 28: "Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order that they may provide for daily necessities and not live unproductive lives." - Titus 3:14 (NIV)

Oct 29: "I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ." - Philemon 6 (NIV)

Oct 30: "Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the LORD." - Lamentations 3:40 (NIV)

Oct 31: "Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted." - Hebrews 2:18 (NIV)

Oct 15 to 21

Oct 15: "Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you." - 2 Thessalonians 3:16 (NIV)

Oct 16: "Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners - of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life." - 1 Timothy 1:15-16 (NIV)

Oct 17: "For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men - the testimony given in its proper time." - 1 Timothy 2:5-6 (NIV)

Oct 18: "I will hasten and not delay to obey your commands." - Psalm 119:60 (NIV)

Oct 19: "Pray that the LORD your God will tell us where we should go and what we should do." - Jeremiah 42:3 (NIV)

Oct 20: "The sins of some men are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them. In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not cannot be hidden." - 1 Timothy 5:24-25 (NIV)

Oct 21: "But godliness with contentment is great gain." - 1 Timothy 6:6 (NIV)

Oct 8 to 14

Oct 8: "Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone." - Colossians 4:6 (NIV)

Oct 9: "Blessed are they whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the LORD." - Psalm 119:1 (NIV)

Oct 10: "How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word." - Psalm 119:9 (NIV)

Oct 11: "Finish your outdoor work and get your fields ready; after that, build your house." - Proverbs 24:27 (NIV)

Oct 12: "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)

Oct 13: "I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free." - Psalm 119:32 (NIV)

Oct 14: "May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word." - 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 (NIV)

Oct 1 to 7

Oct 1: "Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed - not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence - continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose." - Philippians 2:12-13 (NIV)

Oct 2: "I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead." - Philippians 3:10-11 (NIV)

Oct 3: "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things." - Philippians 4:8 (NIV)

Oct 4: "the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven and that you have already heard about in the word of truth, the gospel" - Colossians 1:6 (NIV)

Oct 5: "This is what the LORD says: "Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight," declares the LORD." - Jeremiah 9:23-24 (NIV)

Oct 6: "In my anguish I cried to the LORD, and he answered by setting me free." - Psalm 118:5 (NIV)

Oct 7: "Do any of the worthless idols of the nations bring rain? Do the skies themselves send down showers? No, it is you, O LORD our God. Therefore our hope is in you, for you are the one who does all this." - Jeremiah 14:22 (NIV)

Sep 22 to 30

Sep 22: "I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better." - Ephesians 1:17 (NIV)

Sep 23: ""For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD." - Isaiah 55:8 (NIV)

Sep 24: "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." - Ephesians 3:20-21 (NIV)

Sep 25: "Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ." - Ephesians 4:15 (NIV)

Sep 26: "He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD." - Psalm 112:7 (NIV)

Sep 27: "Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is." - Ephesians 5:17 (NIV)

Sep 28: "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints." - Ephesians 6:18 (NIV)

Sep 29: "The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing." - Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV)

Sep 30: "Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others." - Philippians 2:4 (NIV)

Sep 15 to 21

Sep 15: "Now, O LORD our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all kingdoms on earth may know that you alone, O LORD, are God." - Isaiah 37:20 (NIV)

Sep 16: "Surely it was for my benefit that I suffered such anguish. In your love you kept me from the pit of destruction; you have put all my sins behind your back." - Isaiah 38:17 (NIV)

Sep 17: "For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you." - Isaiah 41:13 (NIV)

Sep 18: "I have swept away your offences like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you." - Isaiah 44:22 (NIV)

Sep 19: "Even to your old age and grey hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you." - Isaiah 46:4 (NIV)

Sep 20: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." - Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV)

Sep 21: "Who among you fears the LORD and obeys the word of his servant? Let him who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the LORD and rely on his God." - Isaiah 50:10 (NIV)

Knowing Jesus, Knowing God

I'm reading the Bible in one year and the New Testament reading for Oct 2 is Philippians 3:1-4:1.

"I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead." - Philippians 3:10-11 (NIV)

Oh to know the power of Your risen life
And to know You in Your sufferings
To become like You in Your death my Lord
So with You to live and never die

Knowing You, Jesus, knowing You
There is no greater thing
You're my all, You're the best
You're my joy, my righteousness
And I love You Lord

Press on Toward the Goal

Incidentally, yesterday's message in church was on Philippians 3:7-14. Here is the sermon outline - five ways we can press on toward the goal (italics mine):

1. Prove His Promises (in Hope)

"Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, "So shall your offspring be." Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead - since he was about a hundred years old - and that Sarah's womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised." - Romans 4:18-21 (NIV)

2. Practice His Presence (through Contentment)

"Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"" - Hebrews 13:5-6 (NIV)

3. Promote His Purpose (as Ambassadors)

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God." - 2 Corinthians 5:17-20 (NIV)

4. Proclaim His Praises (out of Love)

"Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. Fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing. The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing." - Psalm 34:8-10 (NIV)

5. Possess His Power (by Faith)

"I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead." - Philippians 3:10-11 (NIV)

Philippians was the first book I studied as a small group leader at York (almost more than two years ago) and it remains a special book to me. If I had to sum up Philippians in one word, I would say "contentment".

Indeed, contentment does not come from feeling bitter about what we don't have; it comes from finding joy in what we do have!

Discovering the Secret of Contentment

Trust is the key to contentment. We must realise that God is always in control and that He is good. If this were not true, He could never give His children the promise of Romans 8:28.

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

He is absolutely faithful to provide all we need to fulfill His will, which is exactly what we would desire if we knew all the facts.

- Bill Thrasher, Believing God for His Best

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)

*****

"By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, even though God had said to him, "It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned." Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death." - Hebrews 11:17-19 (NIV)

Oh to know the power of Your risen life
And to know You in Your sufferings
To become like You in Your death my Lord
So with You to live and never die

Knowing You, Jesus, knowing You
There is no greater thing
You're my all, You're the best
You're my joy, my righteousness
And I love You Lord

Links: On Contentment (13 Dec 09), More On Contentment (14 May 10)

Sep 8 to 14

Sep 8: "We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." - 2 Corinthians 10:5 (NIV)

Sep 9: "I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him." - 2 Corinthians 11:2 (NIV)

Sep 10: "You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you." - Isaiah 26:3 (NIV)

Sep 11: "But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." - 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)

Sep 12: "For he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things." - Psalm 107:9 (NIV)

Sep 13: "But the noble man makes noble plans, and by noble deeds he stands." - Isaiah 32:8 (NIV)

Sep 14: "He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the LORD is the key to this treasure." - Isaiah 33:6 (NIV)