A Contented Life
Proverbs 10:27 TPT
Living in the worship and awe of God will bring you many years of contented living.
Since I was a little girl, I have always felt the Presence of the Lord in my life. Oh yes, there were those teen years where I questioned God and would wander off to the right or left of the straight and narrow path, but then I would eventually make my way back to center. When I was a girl, I would come home to a house where people lived who served the Lord, who had their struggles and hardships, but always turned to the Lord for their strength and guidance.
Then I got married and Stephen and I went off to college together. Our little one-bedroom apartment became filled with His Presence as He went with us to Rhode Island and lived with us there. Our next abode was a little apartment over my grandparents, as we transferred to another college near our home. Yet again, His Presence was there. The story goes on and on throughout my life. Every place I have gone, He has been there. But there is one common denominator in it all—living in the worship and awe of God. That is the secret.
It hasn’t just been me. My great English grandfather, Enoch Petchey, who I had the privilege of knowing when I was a little girl, worshipped and served the Lord with awe. My grandparents did the same, and so did my parents. This carries on in my life today and in the lives of my children and grandchildren. His Presence has always been there.
How does this happen? Our verse says as we live in worship and awe of God, our lives will be long and content. Psalm 23:6a says, “For your goodness and love, (your mercy), pursue me all the days of my life.” When we respond to His great love, His goodness and love and mercy will abide, dwell, inhabit our lives. We can’t ignore Him for days on end, and then expect He will abide with us in a strong way. No, He says He will never leave us or forsake us, but oh, how sweet His Presence is, how much stronger is His Presence in our lives when we worship Him and stand in awe of Him each and everyday. I must express my inner thoughts and feelings to Him, telling them to Him as He is the greatest confidante anyone can have. He listens, He responds, I listen and take in everything He speaks to me. I write it down and ponder and meditate upon His instruction and care for me. My restlessness soon settles into quite peace, a peace that even passes all understanding. Oh, how I love Him! How faithful He is to me!
Trust Him with everything big; trust Him with everything small and everything in between. Worship Him and be in awe of Him. He will lead your life into many years of contented living.
What about you? Is there contentment in your life? Are you worshipping Him throughout your day, or giving in to sadness and sorrow, confusion and hurt? Begin to worship Him and be in awe of Him. His contentment for you will come. Press into Him today.