Godliness with contentment

[shazeep]

this might be contrasted with the way many or most people spend their entire day; in pursuit of these things that we are told not to worry about.

[Aquila]

I remember being so frustrated about getting into the ministry. I wanted to preach. I had been a part of a minister's team and did very well. I was also happy for once in my life. Preaching was like breathing. Natural, refreshing, empowering, and inspiring, even to me as I preached to others. But all the doors wouldn't open. Politics became a problem. Then struggles for power and influence. So, I quit. But that call continued to bubble up inside of me. I'd be so full of anxiety as every day passed. Another day wasted, not fulfilling "my calling". I blamed the church. I blamed leadership. After my wife left, I blamed her too.

I wasn't content about anything. I was a wreck. A certified mess.

One day I was walking downtown in Dayton, Ohio. I was so emotional and broken, worried, filled with anxiety, torn up, bitter, and hurting I was ready to cry at any moment. I silently prayed as I walked to the car, "Lord, I was supposed to be somebody. I was supposed to be something beautiful that you created. I was supposed to be preaching your Word." I felt Him say, "You are my beautiful creation. And my precious child, you are somebody. You're everything to me." Then I said, "But Lord, you called me to preach, now look at me!" He said, "My eyes are always upon you. I've called everyone to share my message, not just you." I said, "But Lord, I'm shattered, torn, and broken. No one would ever allow me into a pulpit again." I began to cry. God said, "My child, look up and tell me what you see." I looked up and saw the crosswalk at the street corner. I said, "I see a street corner." He said, "How many of them do you believe exist throughout Dayton?" I said, "Perhaps hundreds." He said, "My child, define you're reality. It looks to me like you have perhaps hundreds of pulpits. Why aren't you preaching?" I wept. I wept because I realized that I wanted that wooden pulpit with a nice plaque or banner on it. I wanted some preacher to sign me up and get me "licensed". I wanted $400 suits and an office with my name on the door. I wanted... things of this world along side of my calling. So... after much prayer and soul searching... I began to preach on the streets. I began to pray with hurting people, many of which I never saw again. People asked me what church I belonged to. I said, "God's church." They'd ask where it was inquisitively, and I'd say, "Look around you. This is it." God then opened my eyes to the house church movement. Soon... I found... me. God gave me back to myself. Today, I don't need a license. I don't need a suit. I don't need a building. I don't need a wooden pulpit. I don't need a salary. I don't need a preacher patting me on the back to sign me into a memorialized social club. What I was called to do was with me all along. Everything I needed... I already had it. And no human authority can take it away from me, because they didn't give it too me.

Life is about realization. Realizing your need for a Savior, as a result of realizing who and what you really are without Him. Realizing who He is. Realizing who you are in Him. Realizing what He has called you to do. Realizing that mission in your everyday life. Realizing is... in essence... making all these things "real" to you. And to make anything real to yourself... you must define it as it is in relation to your self. You must define these things in your life for yourself. If you don't, a church board will define them for you. A pastor will define them for you. An organization will define them for you. The government will define them for you. A boss or manager will define them for you. A career will define them for you. A college professor will define them for you. The media will define them for you. A wife, lover, or friend will define them for you. And you will be walking around in a world wherein you're clamoring for all of these sources to clarify every step of the way. While many of these sources mean you no intentional harm, you will discover that you are indeed in bondage... to them... if you allow them to define your entire life for you. Because in doing so, they define... you. My friend, there is ONE mediator between you and God, Jesus Christ. These other sources are merely helps along the way providing commentary and color to your life. But they are not defining factors. Don't allow them to be. That isn't fair to you... nor is it fair to them.

Be content. Define your circumstance. Define who you are in said circumstance. And when you define it... define it in accordance to God's own Holy Word. Then act on what you have declared it to be. You'll realize that your faith can indeed... move mountains.

[shazeep]

a big amen! we are trained to seek sources other than God, yup. very hard to break free from, sometimes.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by shazeep

a big amen! we are trained to seek sources other than God, yup. very hard to break free from, sometimes.

God often uses these sources. And these sources can provide excellent advice sometimes. However, no man or institution of man can ever be allowed to be the final authority, especially as it relates to defining your life and your walk with God. That's... your job. And prayerfully, we will define ourselves and our entire lives in accordance to God's Word as it relates to us personally and unfiltered.

Contentment is a choice. The choice to define your reality. You are not jobless... you are blessed with the time to discover and live out your dreams. You are not abandoned by a spouse or family... you are set free to find people who truly love you for who you truly are. You are not a failure... you're being called to greater success. You are not dying of cancer... you are victoriously holding to your faith, and conquering the spirit of this world.

Didn't God bring the animals before Adam? Of course He did. Did God tell Adam their names? No. God told Adam to name them. Define all things. The power of life and death is truly... in the tongue. In your words. In how you define.

[Aquila]

Everything you need... you already have it. If you properly define it. This is one thing God has spoken to me about and it has changed my life in many ways. It has also simply taken a bad day... and caused me to realize that it is a blessed day.

[Aquila]

Did you get a ticket for speeding? No. You got an open door invitation to witness and/or testify to the woman working the counter at the court building. lol

[shazeep]

yup. our pov is not God's pov; but God's pov is not going to change, therefore ours must.

[KeptByTheWord]

Aquila, you certainly "preached" your heart out above by sharing how the Lord showed you that we are all essentially on the mission field, and the crosswalks of our lives are open doors to share the gospel with whomever we meet. We don't need plaques, suits, and special recognition to be about the Lord's business.

I learned that lesson quite some time ago myself. I learned first from the Lord that I, as a woman, have my most important ministry at home, with my family, teaching, loving, guiding, caring, feeding, and nurturing them. My ministry as a wife and mother is to my family, first, and then - as I go about my day - to the bank, grocery store, library, local businesses, - wherever I go - there is a ministry that the Lord has for me - a smile, a word spoken in due season, a prayer prayed for one I know needs the Lord. I may not ever have a plaque on the wall, or a pat on the back, but I don't need one. I am doing exactly what the Lord has called me to do, and there is peace, and great contentment in that!

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by KeptByTheWord

Aquila, you certainly "preached" your heart out above by sharing how the Lord showed you that we are all essentially on the mission field, and the crosswalks of our lives are open doors to share the gospel with whomever we meet. We don't need plaques, suits, and special recognition to be about the Lord's business.

I learned that lesson quite some time ago myself. I learned first from the Lord that I, as a woman, have my most important ministry at home, with my family, teaching, loving, guiding, caring, feeding, and nurturing them. My ministry as a wife and mother is to my family, first, and then - as I go about my day - to the bank, grocery store, library, local businesses, - wherever I go - there is a ministry that the Lord has for me - a smile, a word spoken in due season, a prayer prayed for one I know needs the Lord. I may not ever have a plaque on the wall, or a pat on the back, but I don't need one. I am doing exactly what the Lord has called me to do, and there is peace, and great contentment in that!

Amen! This kind of thing makes me cry. lol I love it. God is so good!

[shazeep]

amen!