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  document.writeln("<span class=\"body\"><b><span class=\"headings2\"><span class=\"actsititle\">Learning to Be Content </span></span></b><br>");
  document.writeln("<span class=\"actsilinks\"><a href=\"#\" onclick=\"window.print()\">Print this page</a></span>");document.writeln("<br><div id='actsartcl1'>");document.writeln("<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family:");
document.writeln("&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif\"><i>Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be");
document.writeln("content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything.");
document.writeln("I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a");
document.writeln("full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through");
document.writeln("Christ, who gives me strength.<sup>1</sup></i><o:p></o:p></span></p>");
document.writeln("<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family:");
document.writeln("&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif\">Philippians 4:13 is often used as a motivational verse when");
document.writeln("trying to reach new goals, entering a new season of life, or preparing for an");
document.writeln("academic or athletic event. However, when Paul wrote this, he was in prison.");
document.writeln("During this time Paul had found that basing your contentment on your");
document.writeln("circumstances is deceptive, but he had learned that his joy and contentment");
document.writeln("were found in the One who transcends any and all circumstances. He knew that he");
document.writeln("could do all things, in any situation, because Christ was the source of his");
document.writeln("strength and was in control. This is how he could truly be content. <o:p></o:p></span></p>");
document.writeln("<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family:");
document.writeln("&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif\">I think the key point in this passage is that Paul <i>learned</i>");
document.writeln("how to be content. Our human nature may find it easy to complain when we face");
document.writeln("difficult situations, but we, too, can learn to be content wherever we are.");
document.writeln("Being content does not necessarily mean that you resign to the fact that you may");
document.writeln("not get what you hoped for. Instead, it means that we are willing to continue");
document.writeln("working faithfully where God has us, knowing that He is always teaching us and");
document.writeln("working through us. <o:p></o:p></span></p>");
document.writeln("<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family:");
document.writeln("&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif\">I am sure there are things we would like to see change in");
document.writeln("our present circumstances, but can we be content in them and allow God to");
document.writeln("fulfill his purpose for us? If we trust that his plan is perfect, we know that");
document.writeln("he will give us all we need, be our strength wherever we are, and we will learn");
document.writeln("to be content. <o:p></o:p></span></p>");
document.writeln("<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family:");
document.writeln("&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif\">Suggested prayer: Dear God, like Paul, we have also");
document.writeln("experienced good times and hard times. I ask that you help my response imitate");
document.writeln("his, and that I would learn to be content where I am, knowing that you are in");
document.writeln("control and that you will walk with me always. I can do nothing without you.");
document.writeln("Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. In the name of Jesus I pray, amen. <o:p></o:p></span></p>");
document.writeln("<p class=\"MsoListParagraph\" style=\"text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1\"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif;");
document.writeln("mso-fareast-font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"mso-list:Ignore\">1.<span style=\"font:7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif\">Philippians");
document.writeln("4:11-13 (<i>NTV</i>). <o:p></o:p></span></p>");
document.writeln("<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family:");
document.writeln("&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif\"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p>");
document.writeln("<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family:");
document.writeln("&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif\">Today\'€™s Encounter was written by: Crystal B. <o:p></o:p></span></p>");
document.writeln("<br></div>");  document.writeln("</div><hr /><span class=\"body\"><p class=\"actsicopyright\"> </p>");
  document.writeln("<p style=\"font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;font-size: 10pt;\">This and other devotionals by Richard (Dick) Innes <a href=\"http://www.actsweb.org/archives.php\" target=\"_blank\">can be read online</a>.<br><br>Copyright &copy; 1990 - 2025<br /><a href=\"http://www.actsweb.org/\" target=\"_blank\">ACTS International</a></p>");
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