Devotional readings focused on Psalm 16, 37 and 131 for the second week of March.
Meditation
There is something special about wrapping up in a fuzzy blanket in front of a roaring fire and just soaking up a moment of contentment. Husband Jack and I love to escape to a cabin in a snowy wood and enjoy a weekend of coffee, stars, and conversation because it restores our sense of peace and well-being. I always bring a big velvety blanket along so we can warm up after a hike or a star-gazing session. Those weekends away do us so much good!
But at some point, we have to pack up and drive home, back to the big city bedlam. On the way home we often discuss how to find contentment in an environment where we aren’t innately comfortable—we both grew up as free range children in small towns and we love the wide open spaces.
We have brainstormed quite a few city survival techniques: walk at the nearby park, bike some of the trails, take advantage of the multicultural dining options, visit the free museums, appreciate the convenience of nearby shopping centers and the variety of entertainment options. There is much to be thankful for and to celebrate about our particular city, and we take seriously God’s direction to His own exiled people in Jeremiah.
Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile.
Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.
(Jeremiah 29:7, NIV).
In the end, however, the best technique we have found for city survival is cultivating the Christian discipline of contentment. David’s Psalm 16 paints an idyllic picture of contentment for me:
Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup;
you make my lot secure.
The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
surely I have a delightful inheritance.
(Psalm 16:5-6, NIV)
When I read this Psalm, I picture myself sitting on my broad front porch and looking out over a spacious, grassy field where birds and butterflies flit about under a blue sky. But that’s not even close to how I live at the moment! My view from my tiny backyard balcony is of a busy road with honking horns, screeching tires, and muffled music from cars waiting at the traffic light. How do I find these boundary lines pleasant and delightful?
David tells us the secret further on in the psalm:
I keep my eyes always on the Lord.
With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices. . .
(Psalm 16:8-9b, NIV)
Contentment starts with our focus. If we look around at what we dislike, or seek what we think we are missing, we will never find contentment. But if we keep our eyes on Christ, we can live lives of steadfast fulfillment and joy.
I’m finding that the practice of pursuing contentment in Christ is even more essential in the empty nest years. It is really easy to picture a midlife season that I think I would like more than the one the Lord has ordained for me. I always imagined our kids living within a few hours’ drive so I could babysit the grands and serve up hearty Sunday dinners on my big front porch. While that’s not the life I am living at the moment, I know that the God who is always with me also knows what’s best for me.
This week, as we explore together the practice of contentment, pay special attention to how the presence of God in our lives is the key characteristic of a life of peace and fulfillment. You probably had your own expectations of these midlife years. When those expectations aren’t met, can we respond with faith and trust in God’s good plan? Yes! We can because He is our faithful guide and companion on the way He has mapped out for us.
You make known to me the path of life;
with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
(Psalm 16:11, NIV)
Readings and Reflection Questions
Reflection Questions: How are you feeling about the boundary lines that God has drawn for your life in this season? Psalm 37 addresses some of the circumstances that might cause us anxiety and discontent. Which ones are currently affecting your ability to find contentment? What encouragement do you find in Psalms 16 and 37?
Tuesday's reading: Ruth 1
Reflection Questions: In this passage, Orpah decides to return to what is familiar but Ruth chooses to follow Naomi’s God into an unknown future. Which woman do you relate to in this season of life? How could you rephrase Ruth’s declaration in verses 16-17 to reflect your own commitment to follow God?
Wednesday's reading: Philippians 4:4-13
Reflection Questions: This passage is Paul’s manifesto on contentment. What daily practices is Paul recommending for developing inner contentment? Which ones are you already practicing? Which ones do you need to work on?
Thursday's reading: Matthew 6:19-34
Reflection Questions: In this passage, Jesus discusses some of the things that cause us anxiety. Make a list of all the things Jesus says we should not worry about. What does Jesus say we can trust God to provide? What should we focus on instead?
Friday's reading: Colossians 3:15-17
Reflection Questions: What does this passage say about the peace of Christ? The message of Christ? The name of the Lord Jesus? How might focusing on these three things help us cultivate contentment?
Weekend reading: Psalm 131
Reflection Questions: How might you rediscover or develop a child-like faith in God and His sovereignty in your life?
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