“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.” (Psalm 23:1 NIV)
It’s scribbled in the margin beside this familiar verse; “You are enough.” Last night, the Lord reinforced it in the quiet arms of prayer. (I specify quiet because sometimes prayer is a rowdy affair.) Contentment whispered into the sanctuary and my heart like the heady scent following a hard rain.
I don’t know how many times I’ve recited John Wesley’s daily covenant in heartfelt attempts to internalize it:
“I am no longer my own, but Thine. Put me to do what Thou wilt, rank me with who Thou wilt; put me to do nothing, put me to suffering; let me be employed by Thee or laid aside for Thee, let me be full, let me be empty; let me have things, let me have nothing; I freely and heartily yield all things to Thy pleasure and disposal. And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Thou art mine and I am Thine. So be it. And the covenant, which I have made on earth,
let it be ratified in heaven. Amen.”
John Wesley had discovered that the secret of contentment did not lie in usefulness or acquisition. It wasn’t found in position or performance. It could not be measured out in pounds and shillings. Contentment is about divine connection, about being close enough to God to be fully satisfied by His presence.
Today I choose that. Everything else may not be quite right, but my God is quite enough. I choose to have a contented heart. A heart gentled by the presence and affection of a loving Father can, in fact, learn to live in the tension of not quite right with grace. We can decide that He alone is all we need.
“I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.
I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or want. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:11-13 NIV)
“But godliness with contentment is great gain.” (1 Timothy 6:6 NIV)
Why is it great gain? Because when we are content we can endure anything for Kingdom’s sake.
Lord, let us choose contentment today. May we make a decision and wear it until You gather us home. Our happiness is not based on external factors but our joy is forever fettered in You. We covenant ourselves anew. Amen.