The Best Place To Look To Be Content Now

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Are you restless? Dissatisfied?

Where do you look when you want to be content?

Discontentment is nothing new. It’s what prompted the first sin.

Satan tempted Eve and Adam, convincing them that God was holding out on them by not letting them eat from the tree of Good and Evil.

The serpent replied to the woman. “God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.”

Genesis 3:4b–5

They didn’t realize they were giving up contentment for momentary satisfaction. And from then on, everyone has struggled to be content in a world that only offers temporary satisfaction.

I used to find the Book of Ecclesiastes discouraging. I didn’t like reading about everything being “meaningless” and “wearisome.” But I’ve realized that the Lord would not have gifted and inspired the wisest man in the world to write them if I didn’t need to read them.

Here are a few verses from Solomon’s 1st Chapter…

“Everything is meaningless,” says the Teacher, “completely meaningless!”
What do people get for all their hard work under the sun? 
Generations come and generations go, but the earth never changes.

 Everything is wearisome beyond description. No matter how much we see, we are never satisfied. No matter how much we hear, we are not content.
History merely repeats itself. It has all been done before. Nothing under the sun is truly new. 

Ecclesiastes 1:2–4, 8–9

The Life Application Bible Notes explain Solomon’s reasoning like this…

Solomon had a purpose for writing skeptically and pessimistically … he had tried everything and achieved much, only to find that nothing apart from God made him happy. He wanted his readers to avoid these same senseless pursuits.

Solomon was wise, but he wasn’t sinless. He went on to write…

I became greater than all who had lived in Jerusalem before me, and my wisdom never failed me. Anything I wanted, I would take. I denied myself no pleasure.

Ecclesiastes 2:9–10a

He enjoyed immense wealth, 700 wives and 300 concubines, along with all the comforts of luxurious living. But as he neared the end of his life, he wisely realized that those are not what a person needs to enjoy true satisfaction and peace.

If you and I want to be content, we need FAITH! We need to SEEK God’s Kingdom, KNOW His Truth, LOVE Him with all that we are, and TRUST and OBEY His Will.

Nothing in this world can satisfy us like a lasting relationship with God through our Savior, Jesus. We have His promises, and His Word…

God’s way is perfect. All the Lord’s promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to Him for protection.

Psalm 18:30

If you want to be content, surrender your heart to Jesus and trust the Father to give you everything you need now and forever.

Let’s pray…

A Prayer To Be Content in the Lord

Heavenly Father, You made us with a need to be content and to enjoy satisfaction and peace. Because of Your great love for us, You wanted to be the source of our contentment.

But we listen to the father of lies, believing that it is the temporary things of this world that will satisfy us. We foolishly chase after possessions, pleasures, power, and popularity. We long for momentary gratification rather than lasting faith, hope, and love. We sacrifice peace for appearances. Please forgive us. Please forgive me.

I don’t want to pursue those meaningless things. They will never be able to fulfill me. In this world, there will always be new dreams and desires. There will always be something the world says I should want. But I want You!

I want the ONE THING that lasts for all eternity and that the world can never take away. I want a lasting, loving relationship with You through my Lord and Savior, Jesus. I want to SEEK You and Your Kingdom over anything the world has to offer.

I want to KNOW You and Your life-changing promises through Your Word. I want to LOVE You with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. I want to TRUST that Your ways are and always will be best for me. And I want to OBEY You to show You how much I LOVE and TRUST You.

I can’t live with big FAITH on my own. Please fill me with Your Spirit so that I might have the courage and strength I need to resist worldly lies. Teach me Your TRUTH as I turn to You through Your Word and prayer. Help me count my blessings and live Your LOVE. Help me be content.

In the name of Jesus, who makes our contentment possible. Amen.

“God, You have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless till they find their rest in You.” ~ Augustine

“Blessed [joyful, nourished by God’s goodness] are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness [those who actively seek right standing with God], for they will be [completely] satisfied.

Matthew 5:6 (AMP)

 “There’s a difference between knowing God and knowing about God. When you truly know God, you have energy to serve Him, boldness to share Him, and contentment in Him.” ~ J. I. Packer

Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
do not depend on your own understanding.
Seek His will in all you do,
and He will show you which path to take.

Proverbs 3:5–6

Everywhere we look, we’re told we need more clicks on social media, more labels to fit in, more beauty products, and diet medications to be at peace with the mirror. The spirit of the world tells us we need more of the things that Solomon learned were meaningless.

Praise God! He wants us to know His TRUTH. Praise Him for Jesus, who showed us that TRUTH, and for the Spirit, who faithfully guides us in God’s TRUTH.

Praise God, who wants us to be content, and who graciously gives us everything we need to make it possible.

May you be content in the love of our Lord and Savior, Jesus, today, tomorrow, and always.

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