The enemy doesn’t like agreement (Matthew 18:20). But you know what he dislikes even more than people praying together in the presence and the power of God? He is afraid of your contentment. When your happiness is greater than any challenge it sends out a strong signal, an unforgettable fragrance, a beam of light that says –no matter what— your soul is not for sale. The price for your life has already been paid. That’s why contentment is powerful; it’s a statement of faith. Instead of carefully crafted words and speeches, the contented person’s actions speak louder than any eloquent orator. Make no mistake, though. It is not easy. It is a choice.
Contentment requires a shift in perspective, a change in mindset, a prayer and a plan. Contentment is a decision to be determined to be happy or at peace. Contentment requires practice and a conscious effort to view life through a spiritual lens. Consider the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Philippians from a miserable prison cell:
I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:10-12)
Paul doesn’t deny his troubles; instead he denies his trouble power over him. We see it again in the desperate cry of the Shunammite woman (2 Kings 4:8:37). She’s a grieving mother whose son just slipped away in her lap after a tragic accident. But, she’s determined and she has a plan. She seeks out the prophet Elisha and she’s asked the question we all hear every day, “how are you?” She responds, “it is well.” This grief-stricken woman says it’s OK because she knows the source of her joy. She is grateful for a son. She is grateful to have seen him in his last moments. She is heartbroken but grateful she is a mother. It doesn’t minimize her pain but it maximizes her peace. When gratitude becomes your attitude contentment washes over you.
In the case of the Shunammite woman, her son’s life is miraculously restored. The takeaway for us is the conscious effort to achieve contentment can unleash an awesome blessing, a marvelous miracle! Be a walking, living and breathing billboard today. Don’t just say it with fancy words, show the enemy you’re happy!