In All Things Be Content

Mr. M

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I have advised people to pray the Lord's prayer and mean it.
In response to their expression, I tell them that having prayed "your will be done",
you have to trust in His sovereignty to go through what your life brings you as you
continue in prayer.
That is the only way this works.

Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God,
to those who are the called according to His purpose.
How do you feel about suffering?
1 Peter 4:
1
Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the
same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,
2 that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men,
but for the will of God.

People often object to the notion that God has ordained for us to suffer,
but this is Peter's lesson about the Will of God for the saints.

1 Peter 3:17 For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good
than for doing evil.

Here is another scripture that is often quoted out of context and misunderstood.
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
I have seen and heard this used like some sort of "positive thinking, rah rah speak".
Read in context and you will see a teaching that tells you how to deal with feelings
that result from the circumstances of your life. The objective is to remain content,
regardless of circumstances, and the feelings associated therewith.

11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am,
to be content:
12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in
all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and
to suffer need.

13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

1 Timothy 6:
6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain.

7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry
nothing out.
8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.

Contentment is a biblical feeling we work into our salvation.
 
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Mark Quayle

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I have advised people to pray the Lord's prayer and mean it.
In response to their expression, I tell them that having prayed "your will be done",
you have to trust in His sovereignty to go through what your life brings you as you
continue in prayer.
That is the only way this works.

Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God,
to those who are the called according to His purpose.
How do you feel about suffering?
1 Peter 4:
1
Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the
same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,
2 that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men,
but for the will of God.

People often object to the notion that God has ordained for us to suffer,
but this is Peter's lesson about the Will of God for the saints.

1 Peter 3:17 For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good
than for doing evil.

Here is another scripture that is often quoted out of context and misunderstood.
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
I have seen and heard this used like some sort of "positive thinking, rah rah speak".
Read in context and you will see a teaching that tells you how to deal with feelings
that result from the circumstances of your life. The objective is to remain content,
regardless of circumstances, and the feelings associated therewith.

11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am,
to be content:
12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in
all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and
to suffer need.
13
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

1 Timothy 6:
6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain.
7
For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry
nothing out.
8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.

Contentment is a biblical feeling we work into our salvation.
Which is the Greek here? -- 1 Thessalonians 5:18 "In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." Is it saying that it is God's will concerning us to give thanks, or that the thing (eg, circumstance in which we find ourselves) is God's will concerning us?
 
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Mr. M

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Which is the Greek here? -- 1 Thessalonians 5:18 "In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." Is it saying that it is God's will concerning us to give thanks, or that the thing (eg, circumstance in which we find ourselves) is God's will concerning us?
Both. Our circumstances are His Sovereign Will, and we give thanks for His Presence in our circumstances. Have you ever read Lamentations?
Lamentations 3:
19 Remember my affliction and roaming,
The wormwood and the gall.
20 My soul still remembers
And sinks within me.
21 This I recall to my mind,
Therefore I have hope.
22 Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassion fail not.
23 They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.
24 “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
“Therefore I hope in Him!”
25 The Lord is good to those who wait for Him,
To the soul who seeks Him.
26 It is good that one should hope and wait quietly
For the salvation of the Lord.
27 It is good for a man to bear
The yoke in his youth.
28 Let him sit alone and keep silent,
Because God has laid it on him;
29 Let him put his mouth in the dust—
There may yet be hope.
30 Let him give his cheek to the one who strikes him,
And be full of reproach.
31 For the Lord will not cast off forever.
32 Though He causes grief,
Yet He will show compassion
According to the multitude of His mercies.
33 For He does not afflict willingly,
Nor grieve the children of men.
 
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Mr. M

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Both. Our circumstances are His Sovereign Will, and we give thanks for His Presence in our circumstances. Have you ever read Lamentations?
Lamentations 3:
19 Remember my affliction and roaming,
The wormwood and the gall.
20 My soul still remembers
And sinks within me.
21 This I recall to my mind,
Therefore I have hope.
22 Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassion fail not.
23 They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.
24 “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
“Therefore I hope in Him!”
25 The Lord is good to those who wait for Him,
To the soul who seeks Him.
26 It is good that one should hope and wait quietly
For the salvation of the Lord.
27 It is good for a man to bear
The yoke in his youth.
28 Let him sit alone and keep silent,
Because God has laid it on him;
29 Let him put his mouth in the dust—
There may yet be hope.
30 Let him give his cheek to the one who strikes him,
And be full of reproach.
31 For the Lord will not cast off forever.
32 Though He causes grief,
Yet He will show compassion
According to the multitude of His mercies.
33 For He does not afflict willingly,
Nor grieve the children of men.
Psalm 43:5 Why are you cast down, O my soul?
And why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God;
For I shall yet praise Him,
The help of my countenance and my God.
 
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Mr. M

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Psalm 43:5 Why are you cast down, O my soul?
And why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God;
For I shall yet praise Him,
The help of my countenance and my God.
Habakkuk 3:
17
Though the fig tree may not blossom,
Nor fruit be on the vines;
Though the labor of the olive may fail,
And the fields yield no food;
Though the flock may be cut off from the fold,
And there be no herd in the stalls—
18 Yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will joy in the God of my salvation.
 
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Mark Quayle

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Both. Our circumstances are His Sovereign Will, and we give thanks for His Presence in our circumstances. Have you ever read Lamentations?
Lamentations 3:
19 Remember my affliction and roaming,
The wormwood and the gall.
20 My soul still remembers
And sinks within me.
21 This I recall to my mind,
Therefore I have hope.
22 Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassion fail not.
23 They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.
24 “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
“Therefore I hope in Him!”
25 The Lord is good to those who wait for Him,
To the soul who seeks Him.
26 It is good that one should hope and wait quietly
For the salvation of the Lord.
27 It is good for a man to bear
The yoke in his youth.
28 Let him sit alone and keep silent,
Because God has laid it on him;
29 Let him put his mouth in the dust—
There may yet be hope.
30 Let him give his cheek to the one who strikes him,
And be full of reproach.
31 For the Lord will not cast off forever.
32 Though He causes grief,
Yet He will show compassion
According to the multitude of His mercies.
33 For He does not afflict willingly,
Nor grieve the children of men.
Agreed. But if 'this' that is God's will concerning us is referring to our circumstances, we should give thanks even if it is for the circumstance itself, not just his presence in/during the circumstance. God will is good for us. No?
 
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Mr. M

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Bobber

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Habakkuk 3:
17
Though the fig tree may not blossom,
Nor fruit be on the vines;
Though the labor of the olive may fail,
And the fields yield no food;
Though the flock may be cut off from the fold,
And there be no herd in the stalls—
18 Yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will joy in the God of my salvation.

I choosing to joy or rejoice in the Lord I like what verse 19 states too,


19The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places.
 
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