Autárkēs = CONTENT

The following is something I wrote back in March, but never shared.  I pray it blesses you as you read it.  It has to do with the ‘C’ word:  Contentment.  The struggle for it is real…and so is His Spirit Who brings it fully and continually!

Contentment is learned (Just like, DIScontentment).  

Discontentment almost always stems from you waiting for someone else to bless you.  A discontent spirit is always waiting - not upon the LORD - but upon someone else to fill up that ‘holy space’ within.  A discontent spirit is never and can never be truly joyful.  Because she truly believes ‘joy/happiness’ is on the other side of whatever event she’s hoping for.

Human nature is prone to wander…prone to search out something to fill since he/she doesn’t have it already.  This shouldn’t surprise any of us.  It started in the Garden (like everything else!!).  Eve was momentarily discontent when Nachash (serpent) presented her with options other than what ADONAI of LIFE had spoken. 

That’s it, isn’t it?  Options.  Always looking at our options when only ONE is designed to FILL.  The Ruach Eloyim Chayim (Spirit of the LIVING God)!  Of course, we still have options in this world, don’t we?  Just because we have them doesn’t mean it’s beneficial to us (isn’t that what we tell our kids?).

True contentment in the Ruach HaKodesh, however, is both ‘caught and taught’ as we look for another to ‘bless’.   That’s the way of ADONAI - blessing, extending compassion, mercy, truth, love, light, healing, food, water, blankets, phone calls and smiles.

contentment:  ‘unfailing strength/satisfaction in/with oneself’ (From two Greek words:  Auto: himself, herself, same + Arkeo: to be possessed of unfailing strength, to be enough!)

1. sufficient for one's self, strong enough or processing enough to need no aid or support
2. independent of external circumstances
3. contented with one's lot, with one's means, though the slenderest

In fact, Sha’ul, in the fullness of the Spirit, wrote about contentment!  It’s such a B I G deal, this ‘learning to be satisfied/strengthened independent of externals’.  Learning contentment is an aspect of shalom (nothing broken/nothing missing).  Paul LEARNED contentment.  Do NOT miss this.  And his words are still teaching us today how to learn contentment as well.  It’s such a BIG deal that the CONTEXT of the famous verse ‘I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me’ is ALL ABOUT C O N T E N T M E N T!!!!   Whaaaaa?  Read it for yourself.  I lie not.

READ NOW ALL OF PHILIPPIANS [it’s short] in your version of choice (with special attention to Philippians 4:10-13).   What did you see????

Of course you struggle with it as a Follower of Christ.  Welcome to being human!!  But, like anything else in this life, the BEST way to learn something is to PRACTICE it.  Won’t you join me in practicing by His Spirit!!

ADONAI ELOHEINU, teach us and create newness (LIBERTY from self!!) within by Your Spirit of Content Living!  Baruch HaSHEM!!!

Loving you all!
Carmen