We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. ~ 2 Corinthians 10:5 (NIV)
Over the last several weeks, I have felt the Lord speaking to me about various issues on contentment. Last week, I had the privilege of guest posting on my friend, Angela Mackey’s blog, Rethinking My Thinking where I shared my personal story of finding Contentment in God Alone.
Today, I share my last blog post on the contentment series. This will also be my final blog post. Comfort to Comfort will continue to exist as an informational website with my testimony, book information, and speaking events.
I will also continue posting to the Comfort to Comfort Ministries Facebook page with various verses, prayers, quotes, and encouragement. To follow, just click on the Comfort to Comfort Ministries Facebook page on the right sidebar of this site, and then hit the “like” button. I pray you will be encouraged!
It has been my honor and privilege to blog for anyone who may have enjoyed reading my posts. :) I love sharing from my heart and plan to spend some time working on new writing projects as well as serve on our women’s ministry blog team at my church.
Now, back to Captivating Contentment…my last post dealt with contentment as a heart issue. But it is also very much a head issue.
2 Corinthians 10:5 says, “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” It took me a long time to understand this verse. Unfortunately, for most of my life I didn’t know it, much less practice it.
And even once I heard it, was a tough one to digest. How many times did I let my negative thoughts control me and defeat me?
Too many to remember or count, I’m sure.
Finally one day, it clicked. I envisioned a little thought bubble appearing in my head like a cartoon character. Then, I hold up those thought words beside words of Scripture, relating to the same topic. If my thought words go against God’s words, based on what I know to be Biblically true, my thought words get taken captive.
They are moved out of the way. And they get thrown out! Out of my head and into the dark place where they belong!
Our thoughts lead to feelings. And our feelings many times lead to actions.
Contentment is a choice. We first make that choice in our mind. If we don’t deal with it there, it can settle down inside of our heart where it breeds discontentment.
Here’s one way to remember:
When a negative thought enters your head, take God’s Word and strike it dead!
It really goes back to Armor of God (Ephesians 6). Sword of the Spirit (the only weapon mentioned in the armor) is the Word of God. But we first have to know His Word so we can defend ourselves in those mental battles.
So be proactive with contentment. Before those negative thoughts stick around and stir up trouble, take it captive. Pierce it with the sword (of God’s Word) and throw it out!
Choose contentment.
If you’re struggling in area, ask yourself, what does God’s Word say about that? If you’re not sure, find a Bible concordance and search by topic. My Bible has one in the back and it has been a wonderful resource.
Remember, the enemy loves mind games. His goal is to make us ineffective, feel defeated, and ultimately worthless in the Kingdom of God.
Choose your weapon carefully and learn how to use it.
God Bless You, Friends!
For His Glory,
Christy
Lord, I pray that instead of trying to fight my own battle inside my head, that I would instead commit Your Word to memory. Help me to remember to use Your weapon effectively against the schemes of the evil one so that negative thoughts do not breed discontentment in my life. I want to live a life that glorifies You. Amen.
Key Scriptures:
Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:17 (NIV)
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2 (NIV)
Other Resources:
Lies Women Believe and the Truth That Sets Them Free, Nancy Leigh DeMoss, Moody Publishers 2001
(c) 2011 Christy Long. All rights reserved.
A Content Heart
The series on contentment continues as God spoke to me this morning through a passage in Ezekiel 36, during my chronological Bible reading.
Ezekiel is prophesying that God would bring His people back from exile into their own land and that Israel would again populate and prosper. God tells Israel, through Ezekiel, that He is not doing it for them, but for Himself, “for the sake of His holy name” (vs. 22) so that “the nations would know I am the Lord.” (vs. 23)
I was struck while I was reading verse 26, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you, I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” (The Message)
“And I will put my spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.” (Ezekiel 36:27, The Message)
How does this relate to contentment, you ask?
Well, I believe that being content really is based on the condition of the heart. We know that a hardened heart contributes to all kinds of unhappiness and discontentment with one’s life.
A hardened heart is a selfish heart. It looks out for its own interests. A hardened heart seeks worldly happiness rather than godly contentment.
A hardened heart often leads to divorce. (See Matthew 19:8)
Jesus Himself warns us in Matthew 24:12, in speaking of the end times, “Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold.” Stone cold, maybe?
When we harden our hearts, it is actually a form of rebellion. Hebrews 3:8 reminds us,“do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the wilderness.”
So, how do we protect our hearts from turning to stone?
It is through the daily filling of the Holy Spirit that God puts His love inside of us. We ask Him to make His desires our desires. We ask Him to move us to accomplish His will. And it is through His Spirit that we may live an obedient and thankful life.
A content heart is one that is God-willed rather than self-willed.
Lord, I do not want to end up with a cold, heart of stone. Forgive me for the times that my heart has felt hard, tough, and shone traces of rebellion. Put a new heart in me and with it, give me Your desires for my life. I pray that You would move me to do Your will and to follow Your ways, according to Your word. Remove the parts of my heart that are self-willed, and replace them with a heart that is God-willed.
Key Scriptures:
They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Ephesians 4:18 (NIV)
Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart. Psalm 37:4 (AMP)
So let God work his will in you. Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him scamper. Say a quiet yes to God and he'll be there in no time. Quit dabbling in sin. Purify your inner life. Quit playing the field. Hit bottom, and cry your eyes out. The fun and games are over. Get serious, really serious. Get down on your knees before the Master; it's the only way you'll get on your feet. James 4:7-10 (The Message)
© 2011 Christy Long. All rights reserved.
Ezekiel is prophesying that God would bring His people back from exile into their own land and that Israel would again populate and prosper. God tells Israel, through Ezekiel, that He is not doing it for them, but for Himself, “for the sake of His holy name” (vs. 22) so that “the nations would know I am the Lord.” (vs. 23)
I was struck while I was reading verse 26, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you, I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” (The Message)
“And I will put my spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.” (Ezekiel 36:27, The Message)
How does this relate to contentment, you ask?
Well, I believe that being content really is based on the condition of the heart. We know that a hardened heart contributes to all kinds of unhappiness and discontentment with one’s life.
A hardened heart is a selfish heart. It looks out for its own interests. A hardened heart seeks worldly happiness rather than godly contentment.
A hardened heart often leads to divorce. (See Matthew 19:8)
Jesus Himself warns us in Matthew 24:12, in speaking of the end times, “Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold.” Stone cold, maybe?
When we harden our hearts, it is actually a form of rebellion. Hebrews 3:8 reminds us,“do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the wilderness.”
So, how do we protect our hearts from turning to stone?
It is through the daily filling of the Holy Spirit that God puts His love inside of us. We ask Him to make His desires our desires. We ask Him to move us to accomplish His will. And it is through His Spirit that we may live an obedient and thankful life.
A content heart is one that is God-willed rather than self-willed.
Lord, I do not want to end up with a cold, heart of stone. Forgive me for the times that my heart has felt hard, tough, and shone traces of rebellion. Put a new heart in me and with it, give me Your desires for my life. I pray that You would move me to do Your will and to follow Your ways, according to Your word. Remove the parts of my heart that are self-willed, and replace them with a heart that is God-willed.
Key Scriptures:
They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Ephesians 4:18 (NIV)
Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart. Psalm 37:4 (AMP)
So let God work his will in you. Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him scamper. Say a quiet yes to God and he'll be there in no time. Quit dabbling in sin. Purify your inner life. Quit playing the field. Hit bottom, and cry your eyes out. The fun and games are over. Get serious, really serious. Get down on your knees before the Master; it's the only way you'll get on your feet. James 4:7-10 (The Message)
© 2011 Christy Long. All rights reserved.
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