2239) As a teen, I can remember reading Philippians 4:1, …for I have learned, in whatever situation I am, to be content.

I didn’t understand it because I thought of contentment as an emotion yet, as I have matured, both in my Bible knowledge and circumstantially, I see something different in this verse.  

The first thing I notice is what Paul says he has learned. Learning isn’t an emotion; it is acquiring knowledge.

The second thing I have learned from this verse is Paul uses the verb be; an action.  

You cannot manufacture emotions, but you can make a choice to be content.  

Content means to be satisfied without depending on circumstances. How? It comes in making the choice to trust that God has given you everything you need, for now, and you trust that when you need something else, he’ll give it.  

Choosing to be content is an act of faith that depends on making this choice every day.