My mission in life is to be content and to help others to be content.
The Apostle Paul said that he had learned to be content in all circumstances (Philippians 4:11). We read a little about those circumstances in 2 Corinthians 11:24-26, where he tells that he was beaten, stoned, shipwrecked, and robbed just to name a few of his trials. He found himself in dire straits many times, but even beaten and bound in stocks, he and his travelling companion, Barnabas, sang and praised God (Acts 16:25).
I don’t find myself in predicaments nearly as life-threatening as these and yet I struggle to stay positive and on-course. I am encouraged that Paul said he had learned to keep himself in a contented state of mind. This is a skill that can be mastered with study and practice.
What is contentment, anyway? This is my definition:
Contentment is satisfaction with my place in life. That satisfaction is fueled by the knowledge that where I am right now is the perfect place for me for this moment. I have all the love, resources, energy, knowledge, and wisdom I need to be, do, and have everything that is required.
To be content I must stay in the present, not giving in to regrets over the past or fears about the future. I must have confidence that I can tackle whatever is in front of me, and, most importantly, I must have an unwavering trust in God.
As we sit on the cusp of the changing year, looking forward to 2022, I’ve been considering what character traits I must develop to be that content person and I have come up with a list of 30 that help make this possible. Examining these characteristics and incorporating them into my life will be a big project covering much of the year.
If you too would like to live life on a more even keel, confident in your ability to accomplish everything required of you in Christ’s power, trusting Him to support and sustain you, follow along, join in and let’s encourage and support each other.
It’s a heck of a New Year’s Resolution, but let’s do it!
Blessings!
Cool Like Christ 