August 20, 2018 

READ: Psalm 37:1-20 

Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires (v.4).

A well-known fashion retailer announced the opening of a new store that contains a spa, bar, hair salon and stylists who guide shoppers in selecting personalised wardrobes that can be ordered online. The store has everything—except merchandise. The retailer has removed its racks of clothes “to keep shoppers from feeling overwhelmed by too much choice”.

It’s hard to feel happy when surrounded by so many options. Psychologists call it FOMO, the fear of missing out. We fear committing to any one person, career or even weekend party, in case something better comes along.

How to be content in a world with so many choices? We can start by not seeking our joy in the stuff of this world. David encourages us to “take delight in the Lord” (Psalm 37:4). The Hebrew word for delight means “take great pleasure in”, and comes from a root that suggests soft, delicate luxury. Just as we might cheerfully sink into warm, billowy sheets and pillows, so we can take exquisite delight in the fine features of our God. When our heart desires nothing but Him, we find that He gives us our heart’s desires. He’s what we’ve been looking for.

David adds, “Commit everything you do to the Lord” (v.5), which can be translated “roll away your way to the Lord”, an intriguing metaphor that suggests giving all of our plans over to God.

Someday we’ll leave this life with nothing but Jesus. When we take delight in and commit our way to Him, we’re able to “be still” in His presence and “wait patiently for him to act” (v.7). Like children snuggling happily with their mother (Psalm 131:2), we don’t worry about what does or doesn’t come our way. Our joy is in the Lord, and we’re satisfied.

—Mike Wittmer

365-day plan: Luke 17:1-19

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August 19, 2018 

READ: Philippians 4:10-20 

At the moment I have all I need—and more! (v.18).

My life’s been enriched by a friend who’s consistently content. Rather than lamenting what she doesn’t have, she’s chosen to trust Jesus and find deep satisfaction in Him. Through her, I’ve gained a deeper understanding of this valuable quality, and I’ve experienced how wonderful it is to be around someone who displays such deep contentment with God, and with the life and circumstances He’s provided for her.

I’ve also further grasped that contentment isn’t merely a result of our environment or experiences but a state of heart, mind and soul that needs to be cultivated, as the apostle Paul explains in Philippians 4:10-20.

Giving glory to God, Paul humbly shared that he hadn’t always been content, but that he learned to be. To ‘learn’ means to acquire knowledge by studying. In this passage we observe that Paul’s contentedness (in all circumstances—whether in times of need or abundance) increased as He studied God and grew in understanding of “Christ, who gives me strength” (v.13).

Contentment in Christ prompted Paul to affirm the Philippians and say to them, “As you know, you Philippians were the only ones who gave me financial help when I first brought you the Good News and then travelled on from Macedonia. No other church did this. Even when I was in Thessalonica you sent help more than once” (vv.15-17). Instead of asking for more, he was content with what they’d given him.

When we’re content in Jesus, it gives us freedom to extend grace to others. And as we increasingly grasp that He’s the secret to finding joy “in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little” (vv.12-13) we’ll learn, like Paul, to be content in all circumstances.

—Roxanne Robbins

365-day plan: John 11:37-57

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