The Secret of Joy, Contentment and Peace

What is the secret to joy, contentment and peace?

The accumulation of wealth?  material possessions?  numerous estates?

    

The attainment of degrees?  titles?  awards?  trophies?  fame? 

Finally getting all of the "If only's" in your life (If only I had a child...a better paying job...spouse/parents/family/friends who would understand/love/support me...the winning lottery ticket...everything the one-percenters have...)?

The daily news and tabloids are full of stars, celebrities, and the ultra-rich who have achieved all of these things and more; yet they are still empty, longing, depressed, and discontent.

Our minds ask, "How can this be?"

But deep in our souls, at the very core of our beings, if we are willing to be completely honest with ourselves, we know it to be true.

So is there no hope of experiencing True and lasting joy, contentment and peace?

That depends on whether you view joy, contentment and peace as something to achieve...or something to receive.

If you continue to strive, struggle, grasp and claw after it in your own strength, by your own cleverness, ingenuity, and sheer force of will --then all you will experience will be a fleeting illusion; a counterfeit, cheap imitation of the real thing.  

I know.  Been there, done that, have the scars to prove it.

But if you are willing to humble yourself, and turn to the One who knows everything about you, who knows you better than you will ever know yourself, yet loves you so much that He willingly wrapped Himself in mortal flesh, and came to this earth as a helpless baby, knowing that he would face ridicule, rejection, betrayal, torture and death, THEN you can experience True joy, peace and contentment.

Philippians 4:4-8 puts it this way:  ⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵ Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. ⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  ⁸ Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things (emphasis mine).

 

A dwelling is a place where we live.  This is why it is vital that we pay close attention to the things we allow our minds to dwell on.  If we let our minds dwell (live) in deceptive, ignoble, wrong, impure, unlovely, contemptible things, it WILL negatively shape, impact and direct our lives.

But if we choose to have our minds dwell on the One who is the Truth, our lives will be transformed.

This Christmas, I urge you to accept the gift of Jesus as your Savior, and receive the joy, peace and contentment that your soul so desperately longs after.  He is the only One who is the source of all that is true, noble, pure, lovely, excellent and praiseworthy.

Kevin N