7 THINGS GOD SAYS TO YOU IN THE MIDST OF THE BATTLE

He said, “Listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Listen, King Jehoshaphat! This is what the LORD says: Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. (‭2 Chronicles‬ ‭20‬:‭15‬ NLT)

The neighboring nations around Israel had declared war on King Jehoshaphat and he was rightfully terrified. (2 Chronicles 20:1-3)

Have you ever felt like that - terrified of the looming battle that is ahead?  It can't be avoided and you can't run away. I know I have - many times.  The battle has even taken place and your mind is going crazy with worry.

They did the only thing they could do - they prayed and fasted.

It is then that God sent a prophet, Jahaziel, who spoke these famous words to Jehoshaphat and to the people of Israel.

Notice the 7 instructions that God gives in the midst of the battle...

2 Chronicles 20:14-20

1. Do Not Be Afraid! - vs. 15    

Depending on what translation you use the word fear is mentioned about 385 times in the Bible.
About 62 times the Bible says, "Fear not."

Fear will never change your circumstances - it only exacerbates you.  Someone once said, "Fear tolerated is faith contaminated.  Fear will never conquer the enemy.

God speaks to his children over and over again in the Word and He says:

Isaiah 41:10 -    Fear not for I am with you

Isaiah 41:13 - Fear not for I will help you

Isaiah 43:1 Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. 

Luke 12:7 Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.

2. Don't Be Discouraged - v.15

Do you ever get discouraged?  I know I do.  This is God's Word to us - "Don't be stressed out, don't be distraught, don't be in tears, don't be troubled, and don't be concerned."

Isaiah 41:10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God:

3. The Battle Isn't Yours - v.15

David knew this...

And everyone assembled here will know that the LORD rescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the LORD’s battle, and he will give you to us!” (‭1 Samuel‬ ‭17‬:‭47‬ NLT)

4. Take Your Position - Vs. 17    

But you will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the LORD’s victory. He is with you, O people of Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out against them tomorrow, for the LORD is with you!” (‭2 Chronicles‬ ‭20‬:‭17‬ NLT)

Where is our position? Where should we be positioning ourselves? We should be headed straight at the enemy’s location. We should take our place on the front line. 

Vs. 17 tells us if and when we take our place on the front line that we will not need to fight in this battle.

5. Stand Still - V.17 

If you leave the fight, if you leave your position, you will never see or taste the victory. 
When you have done all...Ephesians 6 says, STAND!

6. Watch The Lord's Victory - V.17    

Miracles will begin to happen. God is working on your behalf.  We won’t have to talk about the work God used to do. 

7. Go Out Against Them Tomorrow, For The LORD Is With You!”  - V.17

Face the enemy with confidence! We shouldn’t be cocky or arrogant, but we can be confident and sure. Why? Because He is with you. 

No matter what you are facing today - God is with you.  Trust Him in whatever battle you might be facing and allow His Holy Spirit to guide you in and through whatever land mines that are before  you.

"Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord!"

SAYING WHAT GOD SAYS

1 Kings 22:14 (NLT) 14 But Micaiah replied, "As surely as the LORD lives, I will say only what the LORD tells me to say."

Words mean something.  They are not just noise in the air but they convey a message - both good and bad. Words have been a great blessing to me and they have also have brought great distraught and discouragement.  Words are important - especially words of truth.

Today we want to learn from one man in the Bible, an OT prophet Micaiah. If you want an example your children can follow, here it is - in 1 Kings 22.

He lived in the days of wicked King Ahab of Israel. The King wanted to pick a war with his neighbouring country Aram (Syria), claiming that one of the cities in their land belong to Israel - Ramoth Gilead. King Ahab asked his friend King Jehoshaphat (Judah) for help and he was given this advice: "First seek the counsel of the Lord." (v.5)

So King Ahab brought together his prophets - 400 of them... "Shall I go to war against Aram or should I not?" The false prophets did not really consult God... They just wanted their own ways and to please the king. "Go," the answered, "for the Lord will give it into the king’s hand." (v.6)

Ahab’s friend Jehoshaphat must have been a little skeptical about 400 prophets all agreeing so completely on something. So he asked Ahab, "Is there not a prophet of the Lord here whom we can inquire of?" (v.7)

Ahab said there was - Micaiah, the no. 401 prophet - but said, "I hate him because he never said anything good about me, but always bad." (v.8)

You see, truth is not always nice, but it’s the truth. Eph 4:15 "Instead, speaking the truth in love..." 

The Lord loves those who are truthful - Psalm 15:1-3 1 LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill? 2 He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart 3 and has no slander on his tongue, who does his neighbor no wrong and casts no slur on his fellow man...

So they decided to send for Micaiah. A messenger was asked to fetch Micaiah. And he said to him (v.13), "Look, as one man the other prophets are predicting success for the king. Let your word agree with theirs, and speak favorably."

Micaiah said, "As surely as the Lord lives, I can tell him ONLY what the Lord tells me." (v.14)

He was not afraid of anybody. He was not afraid of the consequences. In fact, he was only afraid of God - he HONORS God - He would only say what God wants him to say.

Micaiah proceeded to tell the 2 kings that God had decreed disaster upon them. (v.23)  As a result King Ahab died in the war.  He tried to disguise himself but he was killed by a random arrow.

We cannot run away from the truth.

Num 32:23 says when you sin against God, "... you may be sure that your sin will find you out."

It’s better to tell the truth that hurts - but bring good, bring healing and blessing, than to tell a lie that feel good but then kills you.

An open rebuke is better than hidden love! Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy. (‭Proverbs‬ ‭27‬:‭5-6‬ NLT)

Micaiah was hated for telling the truth, because it wasn’t good news to Ahab.

It’s better to be unpopular for telling the truth, than to be loved for telling a lie. We must not tell a lie to gain acceptance. You may gain man’s favor but incurs God’s wrath.

It pays to know the truth and live by it. Truth brings blessings...

Telling the truth is not easy for us, but God demands that we do that. The 9th Commandment tells us not to lie. Exo 20:16 You shall not give false testimony against your neighbour. 

A minister told his congregation, "Next week I plan to preach about the sin of lying. To help you understand my sermon, I want you all to read Mark 17." 

The following Sunday, as he prepared to deliver his sermon, the minister asked for a show of hands. He wanted to know how many had read Mark 17. Every hand went up.

The minister smiled and said, "Mark has only 16 chapters. I will now proceed with my sermon on the sin of lying."

Your words do mean something - especially the truth spoken in love. We live in perilous times where truth is being compromised and people are wanting us to agree with them about their sin.

No, I can't do that.  I must say what God has to say. I must speak truth.  Yes, it is hard at times but as John 8:32 says, "The truth will set you free."  If you say what God says - it is truth.  Nothing else matters.

WHAT DO YOU SEE?

Finally the seventh time, his servant told him, “I saw a little cloud about the size of a man’s hand rising from the sea.” Then Elijah shouted, “Hurry to Ahab and tell him, ‘Climb into your chariot and go back home. If you don’t hurry, the rain will stop you!’” (‭1 Kings‬ ‭18‬:‭44‬ NLT)

One of my most favorite places in Israel is that of Mount Carmel - the place where Elijah prayed fire down from heaven.  The view over the Jezreel Valley is breathtaking.

But more than that - it's the experience I sense as I stand in the place where Elijah had a showdown with the prophets of Baal. It was overwhelming.

Last year I was leading a tour through Israel.  When we got to Mount Carmel - something happened in me - something big.  The presence of God was so strong and real as I gathered my group to read the passage of scripture of Elijah calling fire down on the Altars of Baal.

Right next to our group was a large African contingency from Kenya who were singing (with their African beat) Ron Kanoly''s song "More Power." 

Between the reading of the word and listening to these people cry out to God for more power - tears started to flow down my face wanting that same power in my life.

It was a surreal, unforgettable experience.

Elijah, after calling fire down from heaven, turned to his servant and said...

Then Elijah said to Ahab, “Go get something to eat and drink, for I hear a mighty rainstorm coming!” (‭1 Kings‬ ‭18‬:‭41‬ NLT)

While the servant is gone Elijah climbs to the top of Mount Carmel and begins to pray with his face between his knees.

When his servant returns he sends him toward the sea (which was a difficult hike in itself) to look for the coming promise of rain.

Each time the servant returned - he said he saw nothing.  Finally, after the 7th time he states -  “I saw a little cloud about the size of a man’s hand rising from the sea.” 

That little cloud about the size of a man's hand became the beginning of a huge rainfall and blessing to the people of Israel.

My question to you right now is this - "What do you see?"  Do you only see what the servant saw - more drought, more heat, and more misery?  Or, do you see that God is up to something - even if only looks small like the size of a man's hand.

When you first look at this passage you may think, ‘There’s not much here.’ But look closer. Elijah was a man just like us. Yet he became man of prayer. 

Elijah was fearful, sinful, weak, busy, distracted, just like you and I. But his prayers were heard. Elijah became convinced that God had heard and would answer his prayers. His prayers were means by which God would unleash supernatural power and accomplish things. Does that sound attractive?

There are two passages that are often misused about prayer. Psalm 37:4 "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart." Another is Matthew 18:19 "If two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven." 

The sense of these verses is not that we are telling God what He should do. Nor is it that we agree with someone else about what we want God to do. Rather, it is that He has communicated to us through prayer what His will is. 

As Elijah prayed for rain and continued seven times until it came, it wasn’t that God had to send rain because Elijah wouldn’t shut up about it. As Elijah prayed he became more and more sure that God was telling him He was going to keep his promise at that time. 

Get it? Prayer isn’t lining up all people/ prayers to twist God’s arm to conform to your will. Prayer is the means by which we seek and ascertain His will. 

It is the means of releasing what God already planned to do and has in store for you. And it is rejoicing in his promise to be faithful, a time when He lays things on your heart that are near to His heart. 

This weekend our church is on a 3 day fast.  We are seeking God's power and His presence.  We are hungry for more of God.  Perhaps you don't see anything right now but keep praying and keep looking for even the smallest evidence that God's power and blessing is coming your way.

For me, I see a cloud only the size of God's hand right now but that is enough.  It is a sign that more is to come as we keep praying.

May God richly pour out His blessings and power over you in this season of life you find yourself right now.

PERMISSION TO CRY

Psalm 30:5 (NLT) Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.

I come from the emotional side of my family where tears easily flow.  My grandfather would cry for everyone and everything.  He really cared about people. In jest, we always said that he could cry just by reading the label on a Peanut Butter jar.

Tears have always been part of my life.  God wired my heart to be sensitive to those around me and their needs.  My heart breaks over the hurting and broken and the injustices of life. Tears flow easily.  I could be doing a funeral for someone I don't really know and could up crying with the family.

It's not something I'm ashamed of and I don't feel any less of man because I cry.

Tears are the waters that cleanse, clear and refresh your soul’s path. It’s important in life. It’s part of the healing process in life. Old hurts, resentments, pain, and anger must be flushed out if we are to move toward health.

Our internal world affects us physically, spiritually, mentally and emotionally. As a result, tears can flow as a release for the pain we feel....

Tears are the lubricant of the eye. With every blink the eyelids sweep across the surface of the eyeball carrying away dust and harmful particles while evenly spreading the tears.

Tears contain lysozime, one of the most effective antibacterial/antiviral agents ever known. Those who have ever had eye infections know how important this is to comfort as well as eyesight.

Onions cause our eyes to tear up to neutralize the sulphuric acid in them which could cause severe damage.

Scientists have also discovered many benefits of crying.  Studies prove that tears shed by emotion remove harmful toxins from the body which are not affected by tears from an onion, for example.

Crying lowers the level of manganese in the body, a mineral which affects mood.  Crying also releases endorphins which lower stress levels and improve mood.

Crying is also effective communication, provoking sympathy from others in times of stress and sorrow.

All air-breathing animals produce tears but only humans can cry.

Crying is a good and positive thing and a healthy person’s response to emotional pain as well as a necessary part of the grieving process of life.

Your body detoxifies itself when you cry.  When you experience deep emotions - it can produce endorphins to actually relieve the pain we’re suffering.

I still, upon remembering a certain event or situation in my past, can have tears that come to the surface.

We think that something is wrong with us when we cry – we want to stop it  – cut it off – get over it – move on with life – etc.  When we do that, we are asking ourselves to not be human.  Crying as a response to sadness is actually a gift that we have because it is almost exclusively a human trait.

Crying helps us express the pain and what we don’t express, we will repress.  That repression may delay healing and interfere with adaptation of the loss, meaning making and continuing the bond with our loved ones who have died.

Crying also signals empathetic responses in others which can enable us to receive connection and comfort.  It is a way of asking for love and support without words.

Granted, whether alone or in the presence of a safe and trusted person, it is no picnic.  It hurts.  It’s messy.  It reveals our vulnerability.  For many of us, being that raw and vulnerable can be very difficult and can feel out of control, intimidating, uncomfortable and/or foreign.

Paradoxically, I see crying as a signal of strength.  I don’t like it either, but I get through it with the knowledge that on the other side is healing and growth.  For me, it is a small price to pay for love.

There are some cultures that look down on person who is crying.  Their response is that we need to stuff it down and move on.  That only delays the healing for further down the road.

I'm giving you permission to cry, to let it all out.  God loves you so much and he will make sure that you will get to the other side of that deep pain in your life.

Someday God will...

Revelation 21:4 (NLT) 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever."

WHEN YOU WANT TO CALL IT QUITS

Have you ever wanted to call it quits? We all have- every single one of us has gone through a time when giving up seemed like the best, more promising option.

It happens when the press of people's opinions suffocates our lives or when the crushing demand of other's expectations squelches our spirits.

Couple those with our own sense of inadequacy and it all comes spiraling down... and the words "I quit" seem to be the natural next step.

But that's not true!

Jesus shows up

When you're ready to call it quits, Jesus shows up.  Mark my words; He shows up!

Your eyes may not recognize Him at first, but He's there.  If you'll listen, His voice will cut through the fog, but you'll have to incline your ear to His voice.

Now... you could easily ignore His voice; you can even deny His voice.  But when you're lost, He'll show you the way out... if you'll follow.

When you're ready to call it quits, Jesus will speak to you.  Or more accurately, He'll speak to the spirit of defeat you've allowed to take residence within you.

"Simon Peter said to them, "I'm going back fishing...that night they caught nothing.  But when the day was now breaking, Jesus stood on the shore, yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus." (John 20:3ff para)

When Peter realized that indeed it was Jesus - he jumped out of the boat, swam to the Lord, and finding the Lord sitting at a fire with some fish, sat and stared.

The Lord asked him again, "Peter, what have I called you to do?"

Jesus asked Peter the same question He had asked the first time He came across Peter and his empty nets. And there they sat, on the same sandy shore, after three dynamic years of world-changing ministry.

Yet, Jesus had to ask the same hard question.

And in doing so, Jesus restored Peter to his original call. This will be the very first step to take when you want to call it quits:

Return to Your Original Call

Go back to your original call.  When Peter was ready to call it quits, Jesus called to him a second time from the lakeside. He reminded Peter of the first call.

"'Do not fear, from now on, you will be catching men.' And when they brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed Him." (Luke 5:10)

As soon as Peter met Jesus, he was given his call: to become a fisher of men.  No, it wasn't going to be easy, but was clear.

Sometimes, God has to bring us back to our original call by cutting everything else out.  Sometimes, you don't realize that Jesus is all you need until Jesus is all you have.

And if we refuse to realize that, He lovingly cuts everything out in order to correct us back to that assurance.

God will always provide all the grace you will need for the assignment He has called you to do.  When we move outside of God's grace, we choose to move toward discouragement, bitterness, and depression.  When you're ready to call it quits, that's a warning light that you've been adrift.

Run to the Lord

Run toward God, not away from Him.  It's a natural tendency for us to run away when we've sold out and find ourselves at the end of a bad decision and its terrible consequences.

When you're ready to call it quits, you will not know what to do, so don't try to figure it out.  You may not be in the position to hear, but you are in a position to heal.  But first, you must do one thing: cry out to God; let it all go, give it over to God.

The first step in overcoming an impossible situation when you want to call it quits is to return to your original call.  The second step is to run to the Lord.  And finally, Jesus said, "Now, move forward in faith."

Move Forward In Faith

"Master, we worked hard all night, but at your bidding we will let down the nets." (Luke 5:5)

"At your bidding" -  these words prove that Peter didn't want to do it.  He didn't feel like doing it because he didn't have the energy left to do it.

There are going to be times when you don't feel like doing something but because God asks you to, you do.

Sometimes, we need to revisit things that came up empty the first time.  The Lord will turn you back and say, "Yes, it came up empty but, if you'll do this at My bidding and not because you're expecting results, then you'll find the catch."  And when you revisit it with this pure motivation, you'll indeed find the catch.

There are times in our lives when, like Peter, we want to call it quits.  That's okay if you're quitting those things God wants to deliver you from.  But to call it quits for the others reasons - to look good or to be in control - may not be God's best for your life.

My encouragement to you is to relinquish your life with reckless abandonment and entrust your future to Jesus.  Don't call it quits and don't try to do it on your own.  Simply surrender to Him; when you want to call it quits, discover the life saving power of Jesus.

Original Sermon by Wayne Cadeiro

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

In public, my dad was one of the great pastors of his generation. He served as a pastor and speaker for over 60 years with my mom in four locations. They traveled to many countries to preach the gospel and he mentored many young leaders who continue to be in ministry today.

In private, he was the same man who lived his Christianity at home as well.  He had 3 kids (all who are in ministry today) and had 10 grandkids.  There are currently 16 great grand kids.

Some things about my dad:

1. He loved camping and fishing.  

Don't tell mom but he was known to come and pick me up at school and take me fishing because the fish were biting right then.  He loved the outdoors, whether it be camping or hiking or hunting.

2. He was a Bible man.

My dad was wholeheartedly devoted to Jesus. He dedicated his life to reading God's Word.  His Bible was tattered and used.  He knew the Word backwards and forwards.  In the waning part of his life I would often go into his office at his home and see the Bible open as his head bent forward taking a little nap.

3. He was a man of prayer.

It was not often that we didn't see him on his knees when we woke up in the morning in prayer.

Before he died he kept reading Philip Yancey's book on prayers.  I asked him how many times he had read it and he told me 13x's.  I asked him why so many and his answer was classic, "Because soon I will be going to heaven and I want to know my Savior better."

4. He was a man of faith.

He didn't have much growing up in the way of material things but he had a faith that could move mountains when there was a need.  People naturally followed behind him as presented vision for them to follow.

5. He loved my mom.

It was obvious.  Always.  I don't ever remember them screaming at one another or throwing each other out of the house.  They married for life and gave us a good example to follow.

6. He cheered me on.

He was always my biggest cheerleaders in life - cheering me on even when I couldn't see what was ahead of me. During his retiring years he sat on the front row at every service praying for me and encouraging me to push on. 

7. I had to learn to share him with others.

This wasn't a negative thing then nor is it now.  Many people called him dad because he was in the truest sense their dad also.  I have many brothers and sisters in life.

8.  He was funny.

Some of my gut wrenching fun times were with my dad.  He loved to tell a joke (even if he got it all messed up).  He loved practical jokes and he loved life.

9. He taught me the love of ministry.

When I was around 5 years old he bought me a little suit that I wore on Sundays because I wanted to be just like him.  As hard as ministry is at times - it has been the most rewarding of all the things I do.  My dad taught me to love people because God loves people.

10. He loved us when it wasn’t easy.

My brother and myself weren't always perfect.  We made life a little hard at times.  Yet, my dad and mom continued to love us even when we were being less than our best.  As preachers kids we lived our life in a fish bowl (which wasn't always easy).  My dad always made sure we knew that we were always loved.

11. He told me ministry isn’t everything.

Pastors often consume their lives with ministry and often forget their children.  My dad often told us to have a life outside of ministry.  One of his last words to us was "I wish I had gone to Disneyland more often."

A few years ago it became obvious that my dad's health was waning.  As family gathered around and said their goodbyes - it was one of the most powerful moving experiences of my life.  He was going in and out and telling us visions of heaven.  He made sure he had meaningful conversation with each of us.  We laughed.  We cried.  We shared.  

Eventually he breathed his last breath on earth and peacefully entered into heavens gates.

I know that I'm the man I am right now because of this man who loved me, my sister Carol and my brother Robert unconditionally.  I know for myself (and I speak for them) that we were the most blessed of all because we had him as our dad.  I look back with very fond memories and hope that I can attain to be that type of dad and grandpa to my own family.

Happy Father's Day!

BEING CONTENT WITH WHAT YOU HAVE

Ecclesiastes 6:9 (NLT) 9 Enjoy what you have rather than desiring what you don't have.

It seems that more and more people are frustrated and upset about life than ever before. People are craving for things they don't need and they are not happy about what God has already given them.  

This is especially true about relationships. Husbands and wives are not happy or satisfied with one another and make each other's lives absolutely miserable.  They don't like the lives they currently have and they for sure won't be happy if anything changes because they are miserable and angry inside.

Jeremiah Burroughs defines Christian contentment in this manner. Christian contentment is that sweet, inward, quiet, gracious frame of spirit, which freely submits to and delights in God's wise and fatherly disposal (loving control) in every condition. 

Contentment is the most powerful proof of living the Christian life.  It is recognizing the sovereignty of God over all people and situations.  The people and circumstances that I live with are by God's perfect design.  Either I am to be a blessing to them or they will be to me.

You might be wondering about that cantankerous person or that terrible situation that you are dealing with.  Could it be that God placed you there to be a testimony of God's grace.  Could it be that God wants to use you to minister to the ugliness of their life and to pray for them or for that situation?

The proof that your Christian confession is genuine will be found in a life of contentment. A Life of contentment, as you live it before your children and before the world and before your friends, is the strongest witness you could ever give of your confession. 

Your reaction to how much you are paid; your reaction to your house and the things in it; your reaction to your looks; how you react to setbacks and disappointments - this is the confession that you make before the world. Contentment seals our confession. 

Contentment is seen in our life when, at all times, it becomes obvious to others that we believe we are in the hands of God. In a life of contentment we are showing that we believe the power and the grace of God. 

Contentment, therefore, is to say with the apostle Paul in Philippians 4: "I have all and am full." It is expressed in the words of Asaph in Psalm 73:25, "Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee." I have no more desires on earth if I have Thee. "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want"( Ps. 23). I do not lack. The Lord is my portion, saith my spirit ( Ps. 119). It is to be truly happy, to be truly content in belonging to the God who is God. 
        
Do you possess the grace of Christian contentment, of peace and a satisfaction in your soul? Do you believe that God will meet all your needs and has met your great need in Christ, and that the heavenly Father works all things for your good? Do you believe that? 

Or do you live a life of discontentment? Is that simply your confession of mouth, but it is different with respect to your feelings about your house, your car, your job, your pay, your weight, your looks, your children, your clothes, that you have no children, that you are dissatisfied with your wife or husband, that you are dissatisfied with a single life or married life, or with the church or with the elders, or with fellow believers or with yourself? Are you content in the grace of God? 

The word contentment is a very beautiful word in the Scriptures. If depression may be said to be the life in darkness, contentment is the life in the sunshine of God's countenance. Contentment beautifies the Christian life. The word means "to be sufficient, to be enough, to be full." God Himself is the complete and sufficient One. He is full. Contentment, therefore, involves God. Contentment can be found only when the God of the Bible is our God by His grace. 
        
So we read in the Scriptures, Philippians 4:11, where the apostle says to his beloved Philippians, "Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content." 

Again we read, in I Timothy 6:6-8, "But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content." 
                
Contentment gives us peace and strength and an eagerness and readiness to serve. It is an inner calm with the grace of God so that we become a devoted worker. We become energetic unto every good work. The contented person is the person who has a stick-to-itiveness. He sticks to it. He believes that God is with him. And he is content to persevere in obedience. 
        
I love what Isaiah 26:3 says, "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee." 

I pray for you to become a very contented person in Christ today.  I know it might be rough and perhaps circumstances are not to your liking but find yourself in Him - in His presence!  Rest in His arms that He's got this and you can trust Him to bring better days ahead.