Antidote to Worry (4) – Self Satisfaction/Contentment

My Daily Covenant with God Devotional

Devotion for Sunday January 8, 2017               

Topic: Antidote to Worry (4) – Self Satisfaction/Contentment

Text: Philippians 4:10 – 12

Today we are studying the last of the antidotes for worry. The fourth antidote to worry is self-satisfaction or contentment. Contentment means satisfaction. Contented means quietly happy and satisfied with the ways things are or have been done. A worldly life is never at ease when things are not happening the way we wanted it. Such life will be filled with anxiety which may result to depression. You can easily notice that there is something wrong somewhere. Such is not the case of a true Christian.

As a Christian, are you able to get along happily (be content) in any circumstances you face? Do you wear anger, bitter, want, hunger, etc, when you come out in the public? Are there times when you get easily frustrated that thing are not working out well for you? Such is not the way a Christian should behave. We know that this world is not our home. When we don’t get what we actually wanted, it shouldn’t lead to worry because we will certainly leave them here on earth and return to God our maker.  

According to our text, it is not so with Apostle Paul. He knew how to be content whether he had plenty or whether he was in need. The secret was drawing on Christ’s power for strength. A contented mind is an invaluable blessing, and is one of the virtues we should develop as Christians. It arises from the belief that God is right in all His ways. Why should we be impatient, restless or discontented? Do you have great needs, or are you discontented because you don’t have what you want? Learn to rely on God’s promises and Christ’s power to help you to be contented with what God gives you. If you always want more, ask God to remove that desire and teach you contentment in every circumstance. He will supply all your needs, but in a way that He knows is the best for you.

Food for Thought: Hebrew 13:5 - Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (ESV)

Memory verse: Philippians 4 verse 11

Prayer: Almighty God, grant me the spirit of contentment with all you provide for me in Jesus name. Amen.

Antidote to Worry (3) - God’s ability to meet our need

My Daily Covenant with God Devotional

Devotion Saturday January 7, 2017            

Topic: Antidote to Worry (3) - God’s ability to meet our need

Text: Philippians 4:19    

Yesterday we discuss the need to understand God and what He can do in order to reap from His blessings and promises. In this antidote we are looking at God’s ability to meet our need. In this epistle of Paul to the Philippians, he was emphatic about the ability of God to meet His needs. He had full of assurance in God’s abilities. There was no doubt in his heart that God can meet him at the point of his needs.

Why was he so confident about God? He had personal encounter that opened his eyes to understand God well. It is very important to know the God you serve. Personal relationship with God is very essential because it opens our eyes to why he called us and what we stand to benefit in our call. With such assurance, Paul was bold to tell the Philippians what God can do.

Again, Paul demonstrated his faith in God’s abilities. Can you imagine the kind of assurance David had to stand against Goliath? He was full of assurance despite intimidations from his brother, King Saul and Goliath. We shouldn’t be discontented and unhappy in any condition of life which can lead to worry or anxiety. By so doing, we endanger our lives and lose faith in the ability or God to provide for our daily needs; rather we should keep on trusting God in all areas of our lives. If He woke us up this morning in good health, we should also have faith that His plans for us would be perfected because He has good thought and intentions for us (Jeremiah 29:11). We can always trust God to meet us at the point of our needs.

There is a difference between our wants and our needs. Most people want to feel good and avoid discomfort or pain. We may not get all that we want with such mindset. But by trusting in Christ, our attitudes and appetites can change from wanting everything to accepting His provision and power to live for Him. Let this be your guide as you live your live today and in the days ahead.

Food for Thought: Trusting Christ helps us to moderate our desires and live within what He provides for us on daily basis.

Memory verse: Philippians 4 verse 19

Prayer: God, help me to trust in your ability to provide for my needs in Jesus name. Amen.

Antidote to Worry (3) - God’s ability to meet our need

My Daily Covenant with God Devotional

Devotion Saturday January 7, 2017            

Topic: Antidote to Worry (3) - God’s ability to meet our need

Text: Philippians 4:19    

Yesterday we discuss the need to understand God and what He can do in order to reap from His blessings and promises. In this antidote we are looking at God’s ability to meet our need. In this epistle of Paul to the Philippians, he was emphatic about the ability of God to meet His needs. He had full of assurance in God’s abilities. There was no doubt in his heart that God can meet him at the point of his needs.

Why was he so confident about God? He had personal encounter that opened his eyes to understand God well. It is very important to know the God you serve. Personal relationship with God is very essential because it opens our eyes to why he called us and what we stand to benefit in our call. With such assurance, Paul was bold to tell the Philippians what God can do.

Again, Paul demonstrated his faith in God’s abilities. Can you imagine the kind of assurance David had to stand against Goliath? He was full of assurance despite intimidations from his brother, King Saul and Goliath. We shouldn’t be discontented and unhappy in any condition of life which can lead to worry or anxiety. By so doing, we endanger our lives and lose faith in the ability or God to provide for our daily needs; rather we should keep on trusting God in all areas of our lives. If He woke us up this morning in good health, we should also have faith that His plans for us would be perfected because He has good thought and intentions for us (Jeremiah 29:11). We can always trust God to meet us at the point of our needs.

There is a difference between our wants and our needs. Most people want to feel good and avoid discomfort or pain. We may not get all that we want with such mindset. But by trusting in Christ, our attitudes and appetites can change from wanting everything to accepting His provision and power to live for Him. Let this be your guide as you live your live today and in the days ahead.

Food for Thought: Trusting Christ helps us to moderate our desires and live within what He provides for us on daily basis.

Memory verse: Philippians 4 verse 19

Prayer: God, help me to trust in your ability to provide for my needs in Jesus name. Amen.

Antidote to Worry (3) - God’s ability to meet our need

My Daily Covenant with God Devotional

Devotion Saturday January 7, 2017            

Topic: Antidote to Worry (3) - God’s ability to meet our need

Text: Philippians 4:19    

Yesterday we discuss the need to understand God and what He can do in order to reap from His blessings and promises. In this antidote we are looking at God’s ability to meet our need. In this epistle of Paul to the Philippians, he was emphatic about the ability of God to meet His needs. He had full of assurance in God’s abilities. There was no doubt in his heart that God can meet him at the point of his needs.

Why was he so confident about God? He had personal encounter that opened his eyes to understand God well. It is very important to know the God you serve. Personal relationship with God is very essential because it opens our eyes to why he called us and what we stand to benefit in our call. With such assurance, Paul was bold to tell the Philippians what God can do.

Again, Paul demonstrated his faith in God’s abilities. Can you imagine the kind of assurance David had to stand against Goliath? He was full of assurance despite intimidations from his brother, King Saul and Goliath. We shouldn’t be discontented and unhappy in any condition of life which can lead to worry or anxiety. By so doing, we endanger our lives and lose faith in the ability or God to provide for our daily needs; rather we should keep on trusting God in all areas of our lives. If He woke us up this morning in good health, we should also have faith that His plans for us would be perfected because He has good thought and intentions for us (Jeremiah 29:11). We can always trust God to meet us at the point of our needs.

There is a difference between our wants and our needs. Most people want to feel good and avoid discomfort or pain. We may not get all that we want with such mindset. But by trusting in Christ, our attitudes and appetites can change from wanting everything to accepting His provision and power to live for Him. Let this be your guide as you live your live today and in the days ahead.

Food for Thought: Trusting Christ helps us to moderate our desires and live within what He provides for us on daily basis.

Memory verse: Philippians 4 verse 19

Prayer: God, help me to trust in your ability to provide for my needs in Jesus name. Amen.

Antidote to Worry (2)

My Daily Covenant (2017 Edition) Devotion for Friday January 6, 2017                  

Topic: Antidote to Worry (2)

Text: Psalm 23:1 – 6                

Yesterday, we started series of teaching on antidote to worry. It will last till Sunday. If you missed yesterday’s devotion, look for it and read. It will help you so much.

This antidote to worry in our text is proper understanding of our relationship with God and the tenets of His covenant with us. What God means to you will determine the kind of benefit you will receive from Him. Such understanding is a great advantage in reaping from His promises and blessings just as David expressed in this Psalm 23.

In describing God as his Shepherd, David wrote this out of his personal experience because he spent his early years caring for sheep (1 Samuel 16:10–11). Sheep are completely dependent on the shepherd for provision, guidance, care and protection. Sheep doesn’t doubt the competence and ability of the shepherd. It subjects itself to the command and authority of the shepherd. It is not disturbed or perturbed by threat of the enemies around.

In Gen 17:1, God introduced Himself as Almighty God, meaning All-powerful; having supreme unquestionable power over everything. This introduction was necessary because Abraham needed to understand the God that called him. From that moment, his walk with God changed. Beloved, if you must avoid worries, then you should have God as your shepherd. You must know Him as the Almighty God with whom ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE.

In John 10, Jesus said that He is the Good Shepherd. If we have proper understanding of the work of a shepherd, we will not stress ourselves with cares for worldly things because He knows all we need and will provide them at the appropriate time. At the start of the New Year like this, it is proper to have God speak to us just as He spoke to Abraham. That will help us to live our lives less of worries because we will come to understand that He is the Almighty, with whom all things are possible. Trust Him as you go out today to take care of all those cares and worries.

Food for Thought: Worry is an insult on God that He can’t fulfil His promises.

Memory verse: Psalm 23 verse 1 - ​ The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want (English Standard Version).

Prayer: Lord God, help me to understand that you are the Almighty with whom all things are possible in Jesus name. Amen.

Antidote to Worry 1

My Daily Covenant (2017 Edition) Devotion for Thursday January 5, 2017                  

Topic: Antidote to Worry 1

Text: Matthew 6:31 – 34     

As I was meditating on this topic, I got a question that I haven’t received an answer till now. Why is it that mad people don’t fall sick as normal people and they don’t receive treatment as we do in hospital yet some of them live longer than normal human being except they die by accident? One thing I have come to understand which may not necessarily be the answer is that mad people don’t live lives of worries. They take things one day at a time. They don’t care about what they eat or where they sleep.  

Have you ever thought of a life without worry? Have you ever thought of seeing the promises of God fulfilled as we have them in the bible? Don’t think it is impossible because there is nothing too hard for God to do. Why then do we keep on worrying ourselves?

In our text, Jesus gave us antidote to worry – GOD KNOWS THAT WE NEED THEM. Instead, we should seek the kingdom of God first and God will meet us at the points of our needs. Unfortunately, most of the things we characterized as needs are wants and not needs. Because of the ill effects of worry, Jesus tells us not to worry about those needs that God promises to supply.

Worry can (1) damage your health, (2) disrupt your productivity or affect your productive organs, (3) negatively affect the way you treat others, (4) reduce your ability to trust in God (5) shorten our lives and (6) lead to other ailments like stroke, hypertension, etc. From the above, how many ill effects of worry are you experiencing? Here, is the difference between worry and genuine concern—worry immobilizes, but concern moves you to action. Anxiety springs from the desire that things should happen as we wish rather than as God wills. Are you anxious about what the year holds for you? Remember our devotion for yesterday – Trust God All Through. He will not fail you neither will He disappoint you as you hold on to His promises. Have a great day.  

Action: Think of what to do so as to have your needs met and begin to act on them from today.

Memory verse: Matthew 6 verse 33 - But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 

Prayer: Help me, O Lord to trust you to provide all I need on daily basis.