Ours is a discontented world, and current events indicate that more unsettled times are just ahead, creating more anxiety and dissatisfaction. God’s Word tells us, however, that we must be content in all things.

God wants us to be content to save us a great deal of heartache and to prevent us from breaking His commandments. Yet, because of our carnal nature, human reasoning clouds our thinking, and we often miss the real significance of God’s instructions, which, as God’s children, we need to know and practice.

In Ecclesiastes 5:10, Solomon writes, “He who loves silver will not be satisfied with silver; nor he who loves abundance, with increase. This also is vanity.” In his wisdom, Solomon had seen that money and possessions do not bring a person true happiness and is, therefore, vanity. The dictionary defines vanity as a “display of excessive pride,” and Proverbs 16:18 tells us, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” These scriptures show that money or possessions are not the way to happiness. Yes, we can enjoy these things, but if that is all we are interested in, we will never be content. Just look at the lives of the rich and famous!

God is not a God who wants us to live miserable existences, working all our lives just to pay off debts that we have accumulated, perhaps because we tried to keep up with the Joneses. He wants us to have an abundance of good things in our lives, and that begins with obeying His Word. We can all look at the people in our towns and see many who do not obey God yet seemingly prosper and have all that life can provide. Some may have gained high positions in the community or government, but are they genuinely happy? Did they, perhaps, achieve so much through dishonesty and underhanded tactics?

What drives many people is the desire to take as much out of life as possible, and they try to prove it by the possessions they accumulate—whether they can afford them or not. Some remain unsatisfied until they have bigger and better things than their neighbors, which means every time a neighbor gets something new, they have to top it. When they go shopping, they give in to the demands of all the eye-catching merchandise screaming out to them, “Buy! Buy! Buy!” These people are never content! Ultimately, they are in heavy debt and leave a mountain of bills as their children’s inheritance.

Too often, people fill their homes with things that they might appreciate for a few weeks or even months but then either throw them away or put them on sale at a garage sale. What a waste! Sadly, it seems that some people work solely for possessions. Discontentment is a hard taskmaster, and many make themselves slaves to credit cards and second mortgages.

Not being content with what they have drives people to lose all reasoning and break more of God’s laws. Sometimes, when people receive a gift they did not particularly want, and someone else receives what they desired, their discontentment leads them to jealousy and feelings of unfairness. The fact that the person giving the gift had put a lot of time and effort into choosing and purchasing the gift becomes lost in ingratitude. When we allow ourselves to become discontent, we allow this damaging, carnal thinking to rob us, not only of the joy of receiving, but also of the love and thoughtfulness that went into it. If we do not stay on top of them, our carnal natures can lead us into all kinds of unhappiness, with the result that we sin. Being discontent has serious consequences.

— Geoff Preston

Jeremiah 39:18 For I will surely deliver thee, and thou shalt not fall by the sword, but thy life shall be for a prey unto thee: because thou hast put thy trust in me, saith the Lord. 

When I see or hear the word “prey” I immediately get a picture of a bird of “prey” focusing on its next meal. For that reason the thought of God viewing my life as a “prey” has never made sense. So when I came across this verse again I decided to work it out in Hebrew and the word lsalal changed the picture significantly. In context it refers to God coming to Jeremiah when he was in prison and making him a promise…

Jeremiah 39:15-17 Now the word of the Lord came unto Jeremiah, while he was shut up in the court of the prison, saying, 16 Go and speak to Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, saying, Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring my words upon this city for evil, and not for good; and they shall be accomplished in that day before thee. 17 But I will deliver thee in that day, saith the Lord: and thou shalt not be given into the hand of the men of whom thou art afraid.

It is in fact a promise from God that wherever He sends us, He promises to guard our life. The translation of that verse in Hebrew is … but thy life shall be spared. It is the complete opposite of what that word means to us; to hunt and kill for food or an animal that is hunted and killed.

The message is that when God calls us to do something or go someplace for Him there is no time for us to be focused on being a “prey” in the circumstances because He will “spare” us. Or put another way, we cannot go where He wants us to go or do what He wants us to do if we are in fear of being “prey.” We can’t be concerned about what it may mean for us if we are not justly dealt with in the process. That was Jeremiah’s concern. How would he be dealt with at the hands of Ebed-melech when Jeremiah delivered God’s message… Behold, I will bring my words upon this city for evil, and not for good.

If we are concerned about being justly dealt with by this world when we follow the Lord we are standing on the edge of self-pity in fearing that we will be treated unjustly. God promises us just the opposite. Jesus tells us to go on with what He has told us to do and He will guard our life if we walk in faith and not fear, not leaning on our own understanding.

The bottom line is never to look for justice in this world. If we do, we will find plenty of justification to hold back from what God is asking us to do. Rather we need to hold fast to what God told Jeremiah… because thou hast put thy trust in me, saith the Lord. It’s all about having complete faith in the promises of God…

 Rom 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.

If we are walking in accordance with Jesus’ “purpose” for our life, our faith in Him is the guarantee that there is nothing the world can do to counter the “justification” that we have in Him. Everything … “everything” … is working for our good if we remain focused on His purpose for our life. His purpose of conforming us into His very image. And if we keep in mind that in Him we are already “justified,” whether or not are we justly dealt with in the world is irrelevant and of no conscience.

About Thomas M. Mitchell

Pastor Tom has a deep love for the Word of God and a hunger to see lives changed since dedicating his life to the Lord in 1963. It is his vision to see the bride of Christ walk with her bridegroom with a repentant and obedient heart and a never ceasing hunger for His presence in her daily life. Without that desire, our time here on earth is destined to fall far short of His best for us. Walking with Jesus is the most exciting and rewarding blessing after becoming a Christian. In the loving words of Oswald Chambers … “My Utmost For His Highest.” And you will find His Highest when you spend time with Him in the Holiest Place – that garden He has created for you alone, where He waits and longs to spend time with you.

In recent times, people are going crazy about compiling knowledge. They are obsessed with the fast development in every sector, and while this is admirable, it can lead to mental stagnation. These people feel that the difference between them and their success plateau is who mentors them. They spend untold amounts of money convinced that if experts in various fields coach them, they will surely hit it big in that field.

𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒆?

Is gathering knowledge from every business specialist in the world including Bill Gates, enough to make you succeed in life?  As a copy and creative writing coach, I have seen many students eager to hack the copywriting sphere and make millions of dollars like others before them. Through weeks of learning, it was clear to me who indeed would be successful and who wouldn’t.

How could I tell? Hunger! A hungry person will do anything they can to get food, and then they apply the food to their hungry stomachs. They don’t stare at it, or save it in the fridge, or admire how well it looks. They simply gobble it all up till the hunger pangs are assuaged. The difference between you and your goal is in how much you want it! Even if Bill Gates, Dangote, or Jeff Bezos agree to mentor you for a month or even a year, there won’t be much difference if you don’t have what I call “The Hunger Quality”.

The question is are you truly hungry to be successful or you’re just saying so because everyone is saying it? If the latter is your answer, then thank you for reading thus far, you can continue with what you’ve been doing. But if your answer is the former, keep reading because this is for you. Knowing everything there is to know about something is simply not enough, you have to apply it like butter on bread. Like a hungry man, apply the food and solve the hunger!

For many years, I spent more time gathering knowledge, some were confusing, some useless, others useful but not bringing any results. I wondered if I was cursed or I just wasn’t made for the good life. Like you, I was improving my skills so I could make money! However, I just had all this accumulated information gotten over the years from various coaches, books, seminars, classes, etc, but I still wasn’t making money. After much soul search, I stopped being afraid and started to implement the important lessons one after the other, and boom! It’s been back-to-back results ever since!

Listen, if you have spent so many resources learning how to write, stop ‘learning!’ Oops, yeah I said it. Stop aggravating your poor brain and use what you already learned. Stop learning, start applying! Go back to your notes, videos and audio notes, or whatever materials you got, list out what is important in your writing journey, then take action. Challenge yourself to a one-month or three-month writing marathon where you implement everything you have learned, daily. Improve on what you know, play with it, have fun, and don’t stop writing. Soon, the people with the money would be all over you like zombies on fresh meat. Sorry, bees on honey. Well… you get the point now. 9-5, 24/7 jobs that seem prevalent in this part of the world with little or no profit to show for it are now becoming a thing of the past. No offense to those who enjoy these kinds of jobs, I truly envy your dedication. I just want to write and be taken care of.

Understand this equation: Knowledge + Application = Showers of Money.

If you want to make money, diligently apply what you know, otherwise you will gain nothing but a head full of empty promises.

I wish you the best

I sometimes stumble but I can’t seem to trip or completely slip.

You may not get it, so here; I’ll fill you in.

I’m only following the Hand holding me.

Shattered to bits and let into the streets.

The several parts of me, even I could not identify with.

I found a Hand that picked my pieces and put me back together.

Now, I’m a pen in that same hand, writing pieces for the broken to find shelter.

With shaky feet and weary hands, I carry on.

At each point in time, I’m strengthened to do more.

I’ve come a long way with this Hand and Guide; I certainly can’t turn.

This journey of faith is one I must run.

Even when things are spiraling out of control.

His constant presence is an assurance that tightens my hold.

Though I constantly face the pains of being forged,

But I’ll rather be broken by the Hand I’m held by.

Well, this isn’t a part of the piece but a declaration that I’ll stick with Him and follow His hand.

Internal testimonies are often underrated; barely will you see a congregation shout and applaud testimonies like “I just want to thank God for the sanity of my mind,” in contrast to “thank God for the billion dollar contract I just signed.” The basis of our rejoicing in the faith is largely still too shallow.

External blessings can happen to anyone; saved or unsaved. But you see our internal blessings; peace, joy, love, etc.… It even takes real work for us the owners to walk in it, less talk of those outside the faith; it’s a no-go for them. This, indeed, should be the basis of our rejoicing:

That in the face of a hurt, we’ve LEARNT to respond in love. That in the midst of the storm, we’ve LEARNT to walk in resolute PEACE. That in the face of lack, we’ve LEARNT to abound. By the time you start putting in the work, you’ll marvel at what great level of joy your soul has been deprived of, leaning on just mundane breakthroughs as make-ups all along.

Check the apostles, Paul especially, and find out the basis of rejoicing for the man in Christ. It may shock you to find out that you truly have not tasted the joy of the lord since you got saved. If that’s true for you, don’t feel bad. Just roll up your sleeves and get resolute to put in the work. You truly can MASTER JOY as a default state of being. Just don’t shy away from the WORK; I mean, in the WORD and consistent fellowship. Grace. Great Grace.

According to Wikipedia, an anchor is a device, normally made of metal, used to connect a vessel to the bed of a body of water to prevent the craft from drifting due to wind or current.

In essence, an anchor is built for the purpose and with the capacity to hold its attachment in a designated position for a period which could be temporary or permanent.

Regardless of what day of the week it is, for many of us, it is the continuation of an endless circle of racing around and tackling the same or lookalike challenges while calling it life. These days, we colour it cool and call it the hustle or the grind.

Don’t get me wrong, work is good and working hard is great too, because as a matter of spiritual, and secular fact, there is dignity in labour. But the work we do shouldn’t be whatever comes; it should be the result of a deliberate, informed, and strategic choice. Otherwise, what one has without this deliberateness is void of dignity and largely confusing. And this is a principle that applies beyond physical work and reaches the borders of our choices in marriage, friendships, choice of profession, books we read, places we go…. the list is endless really.

It is convenient to get up daily and “live”. But activity does not equal productivity many times. For all the work you do, you deserve to have a life that is steady and rewarding. You also owe it to yourself to be deliberate about your actions. Hence the question, what is your anchor? Why do you do the things you do? How did you come about the path you walk? Before you chose your present journey (maybe it’s a journey you’re about to decide on), what do you see? What holds you in place? Or are you even ever held in place by anything?

It is not okay for you to be tossed in every direction for every reason at every time. I cannot assure you that all your plans and dreams will turn out perfect but if you base your choices on a solidly built foundation, you will have many victories in life even when the body of water is pulling in all kinds of directions and sometimes when storms rage. We cannot afford to live life as it comes; not anymore. We must probe each decision we make and each direction we go to ascertain what our anchor is.

For some, their anchor is a person whom they hold in high esteem. A parent perhaps who has been there for them, so they make their choices based on this person’s every desire. For some, it’s a situation they hope to avoid or create, and they tirelessly pursue that. But the question is how sustainable are these, especially in the face of the storm?

In my over two decades of walking with God and interfacing with His Word, I have found His Word to be the most solid anchor anyone can ever have. Among other things, it is living, powerful and unchanging in the face of storms.

I invite you to trace your anchor to that source that doesn’t run dry and watch your life dance in the direction of greatness and contentment.