Get Over the Hump Already

So, how many of you are losing some of the excitement that came from our corporate decision on Sunday that we would NOT be whiners and complainers? That we would be content in all things? That we would not live our lives comparing our circumstances and "stuff" to others? It doesn't take long for the excitement and determination to fade, or for the realities of life to change your focus and encourage you to forget the decision.

I am there today. For lots of reasons... doubt, fear, fatigue.. lots of things have conspired to put out that spark. Somehow, I doubt I am alone here. I follow all sorts of conversations that appear on Facebook, Twitter and other places, and I see some of the same symptoms. So what do we do?

Well, the best answer is to go back to where we got our first ones... Scripture. I spoke on Sunday from Philippians 4.4-9. I am not going to re-hash that here, but you can go back for a refresher. Right now I am looking at what is next, so let's look at verses 10-14:

"I'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."


What is Paul saying to the Philippian Christians here? First, he is grateful for their love and support. Their encouragement has helped him through some rough patches (putting it MILDLY). After all, he is writing from a jail cell. Got that? A JAIL CELL! Second, Paul has learned not to EVER... let me repeat... EVER allow circumstances to have power over his choice to be content. We learned earlier that his contentment comes from his knowledge of and participation with Christ and His suffering.

So what to do? Breathe deep. Stop what you are doing and spend a few moments just thanking God for His faithfulness to you, and His grace that covers you. Meditate on Him for a while, and allow yourself to be overwhelmed by His love for you.

There is this old worship song where the line says, "I went to the enemy's camp, and I took back what he stole from me!" Now the inspiration for this song is Old Testament accounts of war and battle. It was customary for armies to invade their enemy's camp and retrieve what had been taken. This is a feel-good song, and the imagery of kicking the devil around is empowering.

However, I think it is wrong. See, this line of thinking gives WAY too much power to the devil. According to what I read in Scripture, the devil can take a lot of things away from you... possessions, relationships... STUFF. However, he CANNOT take away your joy, or the grace of Jesus Christ operating in your life. He simply does not have that power. Greater is He that is in you than he that in is the world, and all that good stuff.

So, if I could re-write the song, the line would go like this: "I went to the enemy's camp and I took back what I GAVE to him!" The joy is yours... don't give it away. If you already did... TAKE IT BACK! It is a gift from Christ Jesus and it is YOURS! Drop some money in the Complaint Jar and move on. Believe me, I already did!

Encourage one another. Meditate on Him. Be happy!

Make it over the hump... it is one more step to living life to its fullest!

I am praying for you all!

Pastor Brian