Contentment

Content to please God

Verse of the Day

‘For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.’

Philippians 2:13

https://my.bible.com/bible/116/PHP.2.13

Today’s Devotional

The verse prior to this talks about working out our salvation with fear and trembling . That’s a concept I have never really understood until I studied it further.  The New Living translation says it a different way: “‘Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear.” (end of verse 12)  That translation makes more sense to me.  So what are the results of my salvation?  And How does that align with God working in me?

The results of my salvation are many.  Forgiveness for all past and future sins.  Eternity in heaven with God.  Knowing this world is not my final destination.  The indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Reconciliation with God.  And through that reconciliation with God, He begins working in me.

In order for me to show the results of the above list, I first have to believe that they are true.  But believing with my head is not the same as believing in my heart.  For me, I have to ACT like I believe these incredible things until my heart truly believes them.  There is a saying in AA that applies here: “You cannot think your way to right actions, you must act your way to right thinking.”  So I must behave as though I am forgiven until I really believe this glorious truth.  When shame and fear enter my mind, I must choose to call them out as lies and behave as though I am forgiven.  I believe it conceptually, I choose to behave accordingly, then eventually my heart truly believes the truth.

So back to today’s verse.  One of the things I have wrestled with for a long time is trying to know the difference between what is my responsibility and what is God’s.  I know that God is in control, but where does my obedience (or lack thereof) play into this equation.  Where does my trust fit in?  Is God leading all of the “good” stuff I do, while I am responsible for all the missteps?

I don’t have the answers to those questions.  But I do know a few things.  God is working right now to keep my body alive, to keep this planet spinning, to keep the birds flying.  He is responsible for all of it.  I believe a person can be saved for eternity by belief in Jesus and still have a miserable earthly life.  I believe the devil and free will get in the way of the abundant life that is available to us.  I have the freedom to draw my strength and power from the Holy Spirit, while I also have the freedom not to use that power.  I’m wondering if it all comes down to submission.  Do I truly submit to God’s authority? If I do, then I will want to do what pleases Him. Can I be content on this earth living a life that pleases God? If I am going to do what pleases Him, I’m going to need help with that.  How in the world can I know what would please God if not for His help?  So if I submit to His Lordship in my life and I long to please Him, I do so from a place of awe and reverence for my salvation.

The other option is wanting God to meet MY needs and desires.  This is a longing for God to help ME to do what pleases ME.  And honestly, I think that’s where many of us begin our spiritual journey.  I don’t think there is anything wrong with starting in that place.  We are human, after all.  It’s the equivalent of a child behaving in a childish way.  It’s age appropriate.  But we help and encourage this child to mature, right?  That’s what God is doing in us as we learn to know and love Him more.  He is helping us to mature spiritually. 

So I guess it all boils down to this: Do I want to spend the time I have on this earth pleasing God? Or pleasing myself? If I long to please God, then He honors that desire and helps me to do just that. If I’m only chasing my own desires, my experience tells me that God will keep pursuing me until I change my mind.

Journal Prompts

Answer only the questions that seem relevant to you today.

Deep down, do you want to please God or please yourself? (It’s OK if this is not a cut-and-dried answer. God always prefers honesty.)

How have you seen God helping you when you were trying to honor Him with your actions and desires?

How would your life look differently if your humanness didn’t get in the way?