Finding peace and comfort

News highlighted in this morning’s Drudge Report: “A Talker Research survey of 2,000 U.S. adults found that the average respondent, earning around $79,000 a year, would willingly hand over nearly $57,000 of that annually just to feel secure. That’s roughly 72 cents of every dollar earned, gone in exchange for a sense of calm and stability.”

“Living in a constant low-grade state of threat taxes the body over time, affecting sleep, decision-making, and overall health,” reported the article by StudyFinds. “That so many people would sacrifice nearly three-quarters of their income to escape that state speaks to how exhausting sustained uncertainty actually feels.

“Dr. Martin argues that lasting peace of mind doesn’t come from a bank account. ‘Sustainable peace of mind is less about removing uncertainty and more about increasing our ability to handle it,’ she said. ‘Research tells us that internal regulation, not external control, is the more reliable way to go.’ ”

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Here’s a good quote from my pastor: “To engender confidence in Him and a healthy distrust of yourself is God’s ultimate reason for every experience He allows into your life.”

“Any growth that ever takes place costs something and what it costs is called suffering; the very fact of the existence of suffering is a part of the necessity for growing,” says Richard Jordan. “The God of all comfort comforts us in our suffering so that we’ll learn the only person who will never let us down is Him.

“The whole issue behind it all is that you learn to trust Him because, when you learn that He’s all you’ve really got, then He’s all you can really trust. And when He’s all you’ve really got to trust, you’ll find out He’s all you really need. And when you realize He’s all you really need, you’ll learn a healthy distrust of yourself: ‘It’s not I but Christ.’

“It’s in the excellency of the power of God’s Word that works in you and teaches you, and the truth of it—otherwise you’re like a blind bat flying backward in a dark cave. You don’t know what the purpose of it is.

“Paul writes in II Timothy 3:15, ‘And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.’

“The salvation there is not salvation from hell because Timothy’s already saved. It’s salvation from the deception and the difficulties you read about in the first 14 verses of the chapter.

“Where do you find salvation from the perilous times? Where do you find salvation from the persecution and in the afflictions? You find it in God’s Word. That’s what deliverance from those things is.

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“One of the more valuable emotions is the emotion of contentment and, surprisingly, it’s one that is learned. It’s that emotional stability that comes from that ‘renewed mind’ depending on Christ as enough. It comes from depending on Him as your life. It’s that deep inner peace, that sense of the supernatural sufficiency of who you are in Christ.

“It’s that stability to live in ALL of life with that understanding of my dependence on Him being enough, being the treasure, being ‘for to me to live is Christ,’ and knowing that to die is just to bring that into ultimate reality.

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Paul writes in Philippians 4, [10] But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.
[11] Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
[12] I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
[13] I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
[14] Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction.

“The Philippians developed personal compassion; they put the needs of others above the wants of themselves.

“They developed a generous spirit, because when you begin to release the very thing that consumes you—money, in this case; when you let it go you develop the ability to give.

“It destroys the compulsion to get because it’s the opposite of it. That happens when you do what verses 17-18 of Philippians 4 are talking about—you develop an eternal perspective: [17] Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account. [18] But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.

“You come to the place where you realize your spiritual and financial decisions are literally joined at the hip. And that EVERY decision you make about things, relationships and money and emotions—all of those decisions are really spiritual decisions that have an eternal impact and they can bring honor and praise to God or can destroy your testimony. 

“You see, our treasure—the thing we invest our talents, time and money to—reveals and directs our heart. You remember what Jesus said: ‘Where a man’s treasure is there will his heart be also.’ Now that’s a principle anywhere you go in the Bible.

“I learned a secret about that years ago. If there was an area in my life that I noticed needed attention; maybe it was a neglected area. I learned that if I would take that area of my life and just begin to focus some of my time and my treasure toward it, whatever it is, you know what, my heart followed. Because your treasure directs your heart. It’s that powerful a thing!

“We unconsciously tell God what standard of living we’re willing to live at, what standard of relationships we’re willing to have, what standard of emotional life we’re willing to put up with. And then we impose those ‘demands’ on Philippians 4:19: [19] But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

(will have a new article this evening for certain)