Contentment Tool #7 ~ The Promises of God

Thirty-six years ago today Brian and I were married. We stood in front of our friends, family and God and promised to love, honor, and cherish one another until death do us part. Divorce… never! Murder… maybe!

That Brian and I are both still alive, and still married, is the result of our stubbornness (or “strong will” in today’s vernacular), our understanding of, and commitment to, “What God has joined together, let man not separate,” and most of all God’s amazing grace.

Brian and I know how difficult it is to keep promises; humans are just not good at promise keeping. God, on the other hand, is an amazing promise keeper; he keeps every promise he makes.

God promises that when someone decides to become a Christian, that person is united with God in Christ Jesus in a union that cannot be broken or undone.

“When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession – to the praise of his glory.” – Ephesians 1:14

It is a done deal: as a Christian, you belong to God. You are his and he is yours. One of the sweetest parts of this union is that God initiated it! God chose you!

“For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will…” – Ephesians 1:4-5 NIV

God chose you, and when you chose him, you were united with him in Christ Jesus. God, in the Person of  the Holy Spirit, lives in you. This unbreakable union should give the believer confidence in every situation and circumstance. This is the foundation of our contentment

“If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever – The Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.” – John 14:15-17

“On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.” – John 14:20

Jeremiah Burroughs in “The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment” says, “When believers know that they are in an unbreakable and unshakable relationship with God, it gives them a humble, quiet confidence and contentment.”

What does that mean? What does that look like?

For you and for me it means that whatever our circumstances, no matter how dark the day, how fearful the night, how fierce the storm, how lonely and deep the silence, the Almighty, all powerful, all consuming God is with us.

And not just an “Oh well, at least I have God.” – God is not the consolation prize when we don’t get the things we think we want. God is the prize. God is the goal. God is our portion. God is sufficient. God is what we have and what we need.

Because of God’s promises, we know that God has not, nor will he ever abandon us. We know that God is actively at work in our circumstances and therefore we can be content.

When life is difficult and suffering is acute, the promises of God anchor our souls in hope and security. Meditating on the promises of God fuels contentment.

Hebrews 13:5 “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

Philippians 1:6 “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

Romans 8:35 “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. [Nothing] in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” –

Romans 8:1 “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,”

Isaiah 26:3 “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.”

These promises are but a sampling of the hundreds of promises God has for us. He is at work in all things for our good. He will sustain us. He will give us all things. His presence is always with us. His strength is sufficient in our weakness.

There is no need for anxiety, there is no call for worry when we recognize the depth to which we are united to God in Christ. When we fix our thoughts on who God is, what his promises are, and the reality of who we are in him, he will bring us peace in every difficult situation and every alarming circumstance – there will be contentment.

“I am in my Father, you are in me, and I am in you. Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them. Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.” – John 17:20-21, 23NIV

William B. Barclay in “The Secret of Contentment” says, “Because God has established an everlasting bond with his people through the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ, Christians can stand firm in the midst of turmoil and trouble, knowing that their relationship with God is secure.”

Contentment is a battle that is won in the mind as we meditate on who God is and his promises to us. Will you allow God to transform your thinking so that you can enjoy contentment in whatever his good and perfect will is for you?

Standing on the Promises of God
Standing on the promises of Christ my king,
Through eternal ages let his praises ring;
Glory in the highest, I will shout and sing,
Standing on the promises of God.

Refrain:
Standing, standing,
Standing on the promises of God my Savior;
Standing, standing
I’m standing on the promises of God.

Standing on the promises that cannot fail,
When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail,
By the living Word of God I shall prevail,
Standing on the promises of God. (Refrain)

Standing on the promises of Christ the Lord,
Bound to him eternally by love’s strong cord,
Overcoming daily with the Spirit’s sword,
Standing on the promises of God. (Refrain)

Standing on the promises I cannot fall,
Listening every moment to the Spirit’s call
Resting in my Savior as my all in all,
Standing on the promises of God. (Refrain)

Click here for week 1 — “Not That One, That One!”
Click here for week 2 — “Contentment Defined!”
Click here for week 3 — Tool #1: “Search The Heart”
Click here for week 4 — Tool #2: “Remember That Life Is Short”
Click here for week 5 — Tool #3: “Listen To Your Words”
Click here for week 6 — Tool #4: “Compare Wisely”
Click here for week 7 — Tool #5: “Live Out Your Faith”
Click here for week 8 — Tool #6: “Enjoy Your Pasture”
Click here for week 9 — Tool #7 “The Promises of God”
Click here for week 10 — “When Discontent is the Right Thing”
Click here for week 11 — “In Defense of Discontent”
Click here for week 12 — “Breaking Bad: The Danger of Discontent”
Click here for week 13 – What’s Next

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