Oct. 3

Philippians 4

Back in the 16th century, Ponce de Leon was linked to a myth regarding the Fountain of Youth. In today's world we are bombarded by another myth that the secret to happiness can be found in material things and we are blindsided by the world around us. Contrast all this with today's reading, and although it was written over 2000 years ago, Paul reveals to us the true "Secret of Contentment". Paul knew what it meant to live in prosperity as well as lack.  He also learned that his identity and happiness had nothing to do with his upbringing or what he owned.  Paul reveals in verse 13 what he called "the secret of contentment".  "I can do all things through Messiah who strengthens me" (Tree of Life Version) .Circumstance wasn't the foundation of his state of being, Jesus was.  He learned to be content with whatever circumstance he was in because everything he needed was provided by God.  As we learned to pray in the Lord's Prayer, "give us this day our daily bread" now takes on new meaning. Whatever Paul encountered, good or bad, being in Christ and being connected to God daily was all that mattered to him. He totally depended on God and trusted that his life in Christ was sufficient. Think about how that one encounter with Jesus that day in Damascus radically changed him. No matter what he was going through, his spirit rejoiced in the Lord and as a result he lived a life where God's gentleness was known to all people. With prayer, petition and thanksgiving, he made his requests known to God, and his life bore witness to The Messiah. He didn't only pray for himself, he prayed for everyone, confidently knowing that God heard him, and he trusted God would take care of the rest. He encourages us to put into practice everything we learn from him, and the God of shalom (peace) will be with us just as He was with the Apostle Paul.  Indeed, the true secret of contentment.

Randi