I Have All That I Need

 YouTube Channel Video Devo

https://youtu.be/LYLYCvXeb-M?si=Fr8kElb7yH2Z2sbh

“I Have All That I Need”

Psalm 23:1 NLT

The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need.

 

Philippians 4:11-12 NIV

I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 

 

For the past month, these two passages have been on my mind constantly.  Mostly because I have really struggled with being content in life.  I have to admit that I so often find myself comparing our lives to other people and my life to others and wanting more.  There are a couple of immediate problems this presents for me.  First, always wanting more. Second, not being grateful for what God has already given to me. 

 

What really stands out to me in the Philippians passage is the word “Learned”.  The state of being content for Paul didn’t come naturally.  It was something he had to learn.  We all have things in life that we’ve had to learn and did not come easily or overnight for us.  The experience of life is so much learning and none of us are exempt to this.  As we continue to fail at different things, we learn how to move forward. We learn what to avoid and what to strive for that will help make us stronger. 

 

I really believe what we need to realize more and more and is what Psalm 23 states.  The Lord is our Shepherd, we have ALL that we need.  That sums it all up!  We could be so content if we just stopped comparing with others who have more and realize that Christ is all we need.  He provides and always will.  I’m often wondering why I get so discontent and I realize that I’m focused on the wrong things.  Instead of focusing on what I don’t have(there will always be these things), I need to focus on what I already have(God has definitely blessed me). 

 

I want to wake up each day and be grateful for what I do already have.  I want to focus and remember that if I have Christ, then I have everything.  He is ALL I need. 

 

It’s not easy to be content in this world.  It’s so easy to compare our lives and be discontent and always long for more.  While seeking out new opportunities in life is often an encouraged endeavor, we must check our motives for doing so and keep an attitude of contentment. 

We're All In This Together

 YouTube Channel Video Devo

https://youtu.be/HPfV5RrDkfU?si=UFytiKBJSIP1li3z

“We’re All In This Together”

1 Corinthians 12:27 NLT

 All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.

 

Recently, when I was on one of my long runs, I ran past an oncoming young guy who looked up at me and started pumping his fist into the air and clapped and said, “Yeah”.  When he did that, I mimicked what he did, smiled and laughed.  It was one of those “Runners” moments that only runners can really share together.  In only a few moments, I felt the encouragement this guy gave to me and it was a feeling of hearing, “Good job, man!  Keep it going!”  While he said nothing, I just felt a “runners” connection for a brief moment.  It made me feel good inside as I thought about that on my continued run.

 

As I’ve been running again for a little over a year, it’s just been great to keep up the learning experience and connecting with other people who also either have a passion for it or they are just getting going with running.  I am connected with multiple people who encourage me and I encourage them.  Honestly, I could NOT keep this up without them and the encouragement they give me.  There’s just something about connecting with other runners who share the same passion and you encourage one another. 

 

A few months ago, I was running one of my usual courses and another runner met up with me briefly, came up beside me, looked at me and pumped his arm into the air and was like, “Yeah!”.  It was excitement for him and me just having that moment of running together and finding a fellow runner. 

 

As I think about a few months ago and yesterday, I started thinking about how we are all the body of Christ.  Just like us runners share a common passion for what we are doing, we also in the body of Christ are called to come alongside of each other and encourage each other.  Why?  Because we are all in this together.  We all have different life situations, but we are running this race of the Christian life together.  We come alongside of each other and encourage one another.  We celebrate in the good times and comfort each other in the hard times.

 

I am grateful for the reminder these fellow runners gave me of not only a community feeling shared with running, but also the reminder of how vital it is that we stay strong for each other in the body of Christ.  God wants us all to work hard together.  One of the things the past 4 years that we are grateful for is our church community.  We’ve been part of the same church for over 4 years now and it’s amazing the friendships we have built.  We love seeing these people every week and just being the body of Christ. We laugh together, worship together and cry together.  This is doing community with each other. 

 

Let this be a reminder and encouragement that we are all part of the same body and are called to build one another up.