At the end of Part 1 in The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment by Jeremiah Burroughs, the author summarizes:
Contentment is the inward, quiet, gracious frame of spirit, freely submitting to and taking pleasure in God's disposal in every condition: That is the description, and in it nine distinct things have been opened up which we summarize as follows: First, that contentment is a heart-work within the soul; Secondly, it is the quieting of the heart; Thirdly, it is the frame of the spirit; Fourthly, it is a gracious frame; Fifthly, it is the free working of this gracious frame; Sixthly, there is in it a submission to God, sending the soul under God; Seventhly, there is a taking pleasure in the hand of God; Eighthly, all is traced to God's disposal; Ninthly, in every condition, however hard it be and however long it continue.
In simply reiterating Burroughs definition of 'contentment' I realize how desperately I need to read, understand, and apply this book to my life:
I'll take a personal inventory of my 'frame' during difficult times:
God help me.
I offer the following description: Christian contentment is that sweet, inward, quiet, gracious frame of spirit, which freely submits to and delights in God's wise and fatherly disposal in every condition.
I'll take a personal inventory of my 'frame' during difficult times:
- sweet - nope
- inward - nah
- quiet - no
- gracious - nada
- freely submits - nyet
- delights - not likely
God help me.
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