A Prayer for Contentment
Many times a lack of contentment can lead us into activities and pursuits which cause emotional distress in our lives. There is a story in 2 Kings 14 about a king with just such a problem.
King Amaziah of Judah suffered from a lack of contentment. He was a young man who had been successful in battle, having proudly conquered and defeated two neighboring kingdoms. He was on a roll.
Armed and freshly victorious, King Amaziah sent a message challenging his much larger neighbor, King Jehoash’s of Israel. Listen to King Jehoash reply to King Amaziah of Judah in 2 Kings 14:10, “You have indeed defeated Edom, and you are very proud of it. But be content with your victory and stay at home! Why stir up trouble that will only bring disaster on you and the people of Judah?”
Much like you and I, King Amaziah refused to listen to the warning of his wise neighbor, King Jehoash, bringing great destruction on Judah and the capture of King Amaziah.
King Amaziah forgot who gave him the victory. He didn’t listen when God sent a messenger to warn him of impending disaster if he continued in his own strength. King Amaziah suffered from a lack of contentment.
Do you suffer from a lack of contentment? Sometimes God calls us to rest, trust and become content that He is working everything to bring about good in our lives—some way, somehow.
I Timothy 6:6 tells us, “Now godliness with contentment is great gain.”
When we find ourselves in need of contentment, we can take it to the Lord in prayer.
King Amaziah of Judah suffered from a lack of contentment. He was a young man who had been successful in battle, having proudly conquered and defeated two neighboring kingdoms. He was on a roll.
Armed and freshly victorious, King Amaziah sent a message challenging his much larger neighbor, King Jehoash’s of Israel. Listen to King Jehoash reply to King Amaziah of Judah in 2 Kings 14:10, “You have indeed defeated Edom, and you are very proud of it. But be content with your victory and stay at home! Why stir up trouble that will only bring disaster on you and the people of Judah?”
Much like you and I, King Amaziah refused to listen to the warning of his wise neighbor, King Jehoash, bringing great destruction on Judah and the capture of King Amaziah.
King Amaziah forgot who gave him the victory. He didn’t listen when God sent a messenger to warn him of impending disaster if he continued in his own strength. King Amaziah suffered from a lack of contentment.
Do you suffer from a lack of contentment? Sometimes God calls us to rest, trust and become content that He is working everything to bring about good in our lives—some way, somehow.
I Timothy 6:6 tells us, “Now godliness with contentment is great gain.”
When we find ourselves in need of contentment, we can take it to the Lord in prayer.
Dear Heavenly Father,
We are distressed and struggling with a lack of contentment. We know that is not Your desire for our lives. Help us to gain a heart that is completely content in every circumstance because our mind is stayed on You.
Show us Your will and Your way, Father. Help us to cease striving and know that You are God, as Your Word tells us in Psalm 46:10.
Still our hearts and quiet our distress, Father, as You teach us how to be content in You.
We thank You and praise You for Your mighty power in every moment in every day of our lives. Forgive us where we fail You, and draw us ever closer to You.
We ask all these things in Your perfect, holy name.
AMEN.
We are distressed and struggling with a lack of contentment. We know that is not Your desire for our lives. Help us to gain a heart that is completely content in every circumstance because our mind is stayed on You.
Show us Your will and Your way, Father. Help us to cease striving and know that You are God, as Your Word tells us in Psalm 46:10.
Still our hearts and quiet our distress, Father, as You teach us how to be content in You.
We thank You and praise You for Your mighty power in every moment in every day of our lives. Forgive us where we fail You, and draw us ever closer to You.
We ask all these things in Your perfect, holy name.
AMEN.
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