"Unto Him who can do much more than we can ask or imagine" Eph 3:16




A Summer of Contentment


Shakespeare's Richard II speaks of 'the winter of our discontent'. The phrase has also been borrowed to refer to difficult times in the summer season, such as in Martin Luther's King Jr famous 'I have a dream' speech. The Christian life is a life of joy and contentment even when we suffer. Make sure that this is a 'summer of content'! How? 


Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!  Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Phil. 4:4-7


1. KEEP AWAY FROM THE DECEPTIVE SHORTCUTS

     Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!  


The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord  are radiant, giving light to the eyes.  Psa. 19:8


We all know them - the deceptive shortcuts to feeling good abound. However for us, there is another way of living. God wants us to flourish as human beings, and He has shown us how. Then our joy will not be just our own, but the joy of the Lord Himself. So this summer decide to do away with the  false happiness of sin and your contentment will be in the Lord. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.  John 15:11


2. WITH MORE TIME ON YOUR HANDS, SPEND GOOD TIME IN PRAYER

    The Lord is near.


 Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray.  1Pet. 4:7


Prayer makes sense when I realise that it is God who is taking the initiative and is constantly calling me and wanting to speak to me. However to grow in prayer I need to co-operate with the Him in a purifying process of my heart. The Lord is near - He wants to teach us, He wants to guide. Yes He is 'in heaven' but as 'Our Father' He wants to be close to us. That is why He gives us His Spirit by which we cry  'Abba Father.'  Remind yourself often 'The Lord is near to me'  - Am I near to Him?



3. WHY WORRY WHEN YOU CAN ASK

     Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with               

     thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  


Our every day lives inevitably have moments of worry, anxiety - sometimes things just go so wrong. Sadly prayer is used like a spare wheel - only to be used in case of emergency. However we are told to ask, to petition the Lord, to ask Him, to place all our concerns before him.


When I was young my father would allow me to choose my Christmas Present which he would then give me on Christmas Day. However I would still thank him for it before he actually gave it to me because I knew he would really give me the gift when Christmas day arrived. 


If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!  Matt. 7:11


4. LIVE IN GOD'S PEACE

  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts    

  and your minds in Christ Jesus.


This verse says that God's peace will guard our hearts. It doesn't say that all our troubles will vanish in an instant once we have prayed; it doesn't say that the Lord will necessarily give us all we want but He will certainly give us what we need.


It is important to keep in mind that the spiritual life is not a matter of self-improvement do-it-yourself programme  but of growth in holiness, that is growing in love of God and other. That is why the Word says 'Let your gentleness be evident to all'. That will keep us busy all summer but ours will be a summer of contentment.




  • Jesus Christ is Risen
  • When God seems so distant
  • More food in Lent
  • What makes a Happy New Year
  • Staying Afloat in Summer
  • Stay With Us
  • The 5 before and after prayers
  • Accepting Him who accepts me
  • Cancelled Funeral
  • The Holy Spirit in Our Lives
  • The Dinosaur in the Crib
  • Love and Do What You Want
  • Preparing for the Second Christmas
  • In the Potter's Hands
  • A Contest Worth Winning
  • State of the Heart
  • An Amazing Gift
  • Our Deepest Need
  • The Upside Down Kingdom
  • The Emmaus Walk
  • Little is Much when You Trust Him
  • The Divine Coach
  • No Cross No Crown
  • Prayer - the Second Most Important Decision
  • Are You a Water Walker?
  • Don't Become the Lion's Lunch
  • Christmas in Our Winter- Lessons from Narnia
  • What Makes a Happy New Year
  • Filled With Hope
  • When God Ran
  • The Prayer of Jabez
  • When Nobdy is Looking
  • Deepening Our Desire For God
  • Liar, Lunatic or Lord
  • The Power of Pentecost
  • Who Do I say He is?
  • Deepening Our Desire For God
  • You are What You Eat
  • How to Live Advent
  • Lemons and Butterflies
  • Cana or Paceville?
  • The Power of Pentecost
  • Questions and Answers
  • Rhythms
  • Questions and Answers
  • If You Seek Him



Youth Fellowship's mission is to share the love and truth of Jesus with young people by encouraging them to cultivate and nurture a genuine spiritual life, helping them experience His presence and power, and accompanying them in the challenges of living as true disciples. Using the language that youth understand, our meetings, programmes and events seek to be prayerful, relevant, contemporary and dynamic whilst helping the young people foster meaningful relationships amongst themselves and with us as faithful members of His Church.
(Mission Statement)
Youth Fellowship . Tel: +356 21 241010 .info@yfellowship.org.SB.Web Design .www.desktopcreations.com.mt