“Many people think that if they were only in some other place, or had some other job, they would be happy. Well, that is doubtful. So get as much happiness out of what you are doing as you can and don’t put off being happy until some future date.”
Dale Carnegie
Consider the lilies of the field… Matt 6:28
thedailylily.com 
Webster: content … adjective” in a state of peaceful happiness”
This passage of scripture among others give me reason to believe this quote as a possibiity for us.
Passage Philippians 4:12:Message
Content Whatever the Circumstances
10 -14I’m glad in God, far happier than you would ever guess…happy that you’re again showing such strong concern for me. Not that you ever quit praying and thinking about me. You just had no chance to show it. Actually, I don’t have a sense of needing anything personally. I’ve learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I’m just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I’ve found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am. I don’t mean that your help didn’t mean a lot to me it did. It was a beautiful thing that you came alongside me in my troubles.
“Content-(ment)” depends on the “CONTENT”. If our thoughts are full of the Word and focused on our Lord; if our hearts are filled with Christ’s promises, then we can be content because we know that He will never leave us nor forsake us. No matter what assails us, or who opposes us, as the Scripture says, whether in want or in abundance, whether in health or in affliction, it doesn’t matter AS LONG AS WE HAVE THE LORD AS OUR CENTER. Great is His faithfulness if you’re CONTENT to keep the CONTENT of your being filled with His Spirit and with good works and with the Word of God.
This was the scripture that came to my mind, also. I have just reread this scripture in the New Living Translation. The quotes from the bottom of the page sure sums it up: “Are you able to get along happily (be content) in any circumstances you face? Paul knew how to be satisfied whether he had plenty or whether he was in need. The secret was drawing on Christ’s power for strength. Do you have great needs, or are you dissatisfied because you don’t have what you want? Learn to rely on God’s promises and Christ’s power to help you be content. If you always want more, ask God to remove that desire and teach you how to be satisfied in every circumstance. He will supply all your needs, but in a way that he knows is best for you.Paul could get along happily because he could see life from God’s point of view. He focused on what he was supposed to do, not what he felt he should have. Paul had his priorities straight, and he was grateful for everything God had given him. Paul had detached himself from the nonessentials so that he could concentrate on the eternal. Often the desire for more or better possessions is really a longing to fill an empty place in a person’s life. To what are you drawn when you feel empty inside? How can you find true contentment? The answer lies in your perspective, your priorities, and your source of power.” God, help us to be like Paul, and keep our priorities straight.
Needles, I see that you have found a key-ring with many good keys for living and now giving us permission to use any and all. The one that stands out to me with red colors at this season of the year is the following, your quote.
“If you always want more, ask God to remove that desire and teach you how to be satisfied in every circumstance. He will supply all your needs, but in a way that he knows is best for you.”
If we would take that key and use it I believe we would all find a big room of great surprises. We were told that this week-end “Tom/Kat” had a wedding for the rich and famous to feast their eyes upon while the world over many others were just grasping for a peak. This reminds me a little of how it is when we don’t use the key (s) you have stated above. We are not the invited guest, we are still the ones peaking in from every little crack and hole. What satisfaction did that or would that bring to any of us that only had a peak?
With the right keys to success for happiness we are of the Bride/Groom and party not the paupers ( void of happiness) peeking in.
You made me think of these stories in the Bible when you made the comment about “we are of the BRIDE/GROOM party and not the paupers,” just peeking in. In the parable of the Wedding Banquet Jesus was teaching that the WEDDING FEAST of GOD’S Son Jesus Christ is already prepared and the invitations have been sent out. But some refuse to come. Others would like to attend but have excuses and alibis for why they cannot come. But Jesus said His Father is determined that His wedding feast will be full of Guests and so He brings in the paupers and the homeless and the halt and the lame. Now this part gets very interesting. In looking over the guests, Father notices one who is not wearing the wedding garment; that is, the robe of righteousness that is provided for all the guests who will receive it through the righteousness of Christ’s death and shedding of blood. Although this one was compelled to come in “he/she” did not bother to put on the Free Garment of praise and righteousness provided and thus was “kicked out” of the feast.
In a similar story in Luke 14:15, Jesus says, “Blessed is the man who WILL eat at the Kingdom Feast. And He goes on to tell the story of a King Who prepared a feast for His people and they, again would not come but made all kinds of excuses. It reminds me of what Sara was teaching yesterday about God’s people answering HIS call to pray and intecede concerning the Church and our nation, “oh, I am so busy. Oh, I am so tired. oh, I am so sick oh I am so distracted” etc. etc. Here God is asking and inviting us to come and dine. NOT JUST A PEEK like in TOMKAT but a full-fledged, honored guest!
Psalm 45 says, The KING’S daughter is all glorious within. Her garments are gold. Her companions are glorious,also. That’s US, the CHRUCH if we would JUST DO IT. The King’s Palace is more glorious than any Italian Medieval Castle.
We don’t have to just peek, if we seek the KINGDOM OF GOD AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS we can have it all. BRIDEGROOM< FATHER AND FEAST!
I Agree with both you Sara and Needles…There is no satisfaction of only peeking in…If we would Take the key and Use it…some have taken the key and only held it…and you said if we would take and use it….that He would supply all our needs…Genesis 22;13-14 Jehovah-jireh..the Lord will provide….dj
Several weeks ago our minister was telling us about Paul and his contentment. He said that even in prison, he was content. He was about the business of bringing souls to Jesus. He said that when in prison in those days that the prisoner was chained to the guard as long as he was on guard duty. Paul had a real captive audience 24/7. With each changing of the guard, Paul had another guard to share Jesus with. Thus many came to know Jesus. Paul was content, he was about the Father’s work.
I was reading what Sara wrote on a comment under her blog “Unfold in the Arms of Love or Unravel in the Soul” (pg 3 under Inspiration) and I saw that she said we would have a ‘leaky heart’ and have no peace (or contentment)if we didn’t live by the Golden Rule. And that means we must do unto others as we want them to do unto us. This is an essential ingredient for happiness and contentment.
I really read and re-read and searched the Word and read and you know how inside your being when something the Lord is saying to you stirs and you sit and listen and then suddenly the light hits you?!..well this is what I got…I dont know the author of this song but this is a few lilnes of it..and I have heard you sing it at times….”Little is much when God is in it labor not for wealth or fame theres a crown and you can win it if you go in Jesus name”….(Thats why Paul was content…you are right he had the recipe)….dj
I love this quote about happiness. I personally believe you can be happy in any situation. God never promised us that every situation that we have to go through was going to be easy. What ever we are going through, we need to focus on our Lord with joy in our hearts. Just knowing that our Lord will never leave us is enough to make anyone in any situation smile. God will never put more on us than we can handle. Each situation that we go through just makes us stronger. Live each day for one purpose. To glorify God in everything we do. How can we not be happy with what God has promised us. Let the joy over flow our hearts and let happiness overwhelm our spirits.
Chickenfarmer your comments take me back to this quote Sara wrote on pg 2 under Inspiration by Dale Carnegie also: “Remember happiness doesn’t depend upon who you are or what you have; it depends solely on what you think.”
You think (believe)that you can be happy in any situation. Sounds like in order to believe that you had to “put on the mind of Christ.”(Philippians 2:5). That’s a powerful mind that can be used for powerful results if we can put off focusing on what we are not happy about and put on a focus of Him instead.
What a wonderful statement. As a mother of grown children I wish I had worked on this statement a little harder with my sons. Work is an essential part of each one’s day. To get to that state of mind of being content no matter the situation we find ourselves in seems to alude so many. Knowing Jesus is with me, I have peace and JOY to face the day. At school we often say, “Change your attitude!” It’s our attitude that make all the difference. God is the potter, and we are the clay. Let’s be the JOYOUS, HAPPY vessel that lets Jesus shine through us each and every day no matter what the day holds.
Rena, I think many Mother’s would join you in your wish. But, I think Paul understood us better than we think. Noticed how he said….”I’ve learned by now…”
“I’ve learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances.”
Wonder how old he was and how many conflicts he had gone through before he learned. I love it that we can always learn and change and have great success with our change, if we be willing. Isaiah 1:19:gives us great hope
“If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land.”
We are still learning and changing and we believe we will eat the good of the land and that includes many things we didn’t understand or know or knew and still didn’t do. When we confess them and change there is HOPE. Oh, how I love Jesus because He is a God of Hope and a Hope giver. So let us work and walk together from the Village of The Daily Lily as children of great hope. Always giving our children, families, communities and one another Hope.
Rena I looked up the word attitude…and in the American century dictionary.it says=attitude 1. opinion or way of thinking. After reading the definition I repeated your sentence and it became clearer …”Change the way you think”…Its our thinking that makes all the difference….Wow…then I read what Sara wrote below about Paul learning how to be content…He changed his thinking…The American Century Dictionary also said attitude body posture and behavior….that means it shows!….and if we are to be lights to the world we had better change our Attitudes…youre right Rena and Sara…no matter what the day holds we need to keep our eyes on the true prize..and be content just like Paul…
Proverbs 27:1 Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth…I Timothy 6:5-8 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness; from such withdraw thyself.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….Luke 12;16-10 The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully. and he thought within himself saying what shall I do because I have no place to bestow my crops and he said, I will pull down my barns, and build greater and there will I bestow all my crops and my goods..and I will say to my soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry…But God said unto him, thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee; then whose shall those things be.?….(It seems to me that not being content/happy with what one has can lead to greed, and anxiety and the loss of what one does have…not good)…being content with what God has given and being happy in what God has promised that is worth the effort of being content, and if you are blessed with super abundance it is best if one shares that happiness with others rather than heap it on oneself)…dj
I thought about this quote a little more today and re-read Rena’s story “Trumpet the Green Turtle” (under children)and saw where that allegorical story beautifully illustrates this quote. Depressed Trumpet ‘cried out to God everyday to change him or his surroundings’ thinking that would make him happy. Happiness came when he changed his behavior and focused not on self but on others. We have much opportunity this Christmas season to show,tell and ‘trumpet’ the message of Christ out to the world instead of focusing on self. That’s a happiness we don’t have to put off until a future date. ‘Tis the Season and Jesus is the reason.
You are right Debi, if one focuses on oneself it is not Christ like….Our Lord Jesus when he came to us in the manger, when he walked among us teaching us, and when he hung on the cross, He did not lose His focus and it was not on Himself…but on us..and He said…love others as I have loved you……little trumpet the turtle I think at the end got that message…so must we all…This Season of Christmas…..and all other seasons as well….dj