---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In a word a contented Christian, being…"
description: "\"“In a word a contented Christian, being sweetly captivated under the authority of the Word, desires to be wholly at God's disposal and is willing to li..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cde/thomas-watson-4209_christian_in-a-word-a-contented-christian-being-sw_2107952.png"
---

#  In a word a contented Christian, being sweetly captivated…

![“In a word a contented Christian, being sweetly captivated under the authority of the Word, desires to be wholly at God's disposal and is willing to live in that sphere and climate where God has set him.” quote by Thomas Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cde/thomas-watson-4209_christian_in-a-word-a-contented-christian-being-sw_2107952.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cde/thomas-watson-4209_christian_in-a-word-a-contented-christian-being-sw_2107952.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cde/thomas-watson-4209_christian_in-a-word-a-contented-christian-being-sw_2107952.png)

> ““In a word a contented Christian, being sweetly captivated under the authority of the Word, desires to be wholly at God's disposal and is willing to live in that sphere and climate where God has set him.””

[Thomas Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-watson/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A contented Christian seeks total surrender to God, embracing His authority and environment.

**In simple terms:** A happy Christian wants to live fully under God's rule.

Key Takeaway

Cultivate contentment and willingness to follow God's will.

Themes

faith contentment submission

Mood

reflective devotional

Type

theological inspirational

When to use this quote

- personal prayer
- church community
- life decisions

Key Concepts

theology spiritual surrender divine authority

Questions to Reflect On

- What does true surrender look like for you?
- How do you discern God's will?

A Different Perspective

Blind submission can ignore personal discernment and healthy boundaries.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Christian Sweetly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian-sweetly-4242408/) [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Contented](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contented/) [Contented Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contented-christian-1864818/) [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Desires Wholly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desires-wholly-2800519/) [Word Desires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/word-desires-4242409/)

## Related quotes

> [“A contented Christian does not seek to choose his cross but leaves God to choose for him. He is content with both for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-watson/a-contented-christian-does-not-seek-to-choose-his-cross-but-leaves/)

[Thomas Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-watson/)

> [Our desires are never wholly transparent, even to ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-kingwell/our-desires-are-never-wholly-transparent-even-to-ourselves/)

[Mark Kingwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-kingwell/)

> [A contented mind is the best source for trouble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plautus/a-contented-mind-is-the-best-source-for-trouble/)

[Plautus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plautus/)

> [I'm a contented man and that probably reflects in my personality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dharmendra/i-m-a-contented-man-and-that-probably-reflects-in-my-personality/)

[Dharmendra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dharmendra/)

> [To be contented—that’s for the cows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-vreeland/to-be-contented-that-s-for-the-cows/)

[Diana Vreeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-vreeland/)

> [Be contented as a single ! be free of doing things!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/be-contented-as-a-single-be-free-of-doing-things/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [What would really satisfy us would be a God who said of anything we happened to like doing, 'What does it matter so long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/what-would-really-satisfy-us-would-be-a-god-who-said-of-anything-we/)

[C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/)

> [“Your body and spirit, subconscious and conscious—every portion of you recognizes home.  That is why on the moment of arrival, your entire being relaxes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/your-body-and-spirit-subconscious-and-conscious-every-portion-of-you/)

[Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/)

> [The Christian is the most contented man in the world, but he is the least contented with the world. He is like a traveler…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/the-christian-is-the-most-contented-man-in-the-world-but-he-is-the/)

[Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/)

> [“God has considered contented state of chit (internal component of knowledge and vision) as happiness. Even when someone swears at you, picks your pocket;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/god-has-considered-contented-state-of-chit-internal-component-of/)

[Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/)

> [“In my experience people are rarely contented to end up where they started.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-catton/in-my-experience-people-are-rarely-contented-to-end-up-where-they/)

[Eleanor Catton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-catton/)

> [For me, I would rather read a good book, from a contented author. I don't really care what it takes to produce that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/for-me-i-would-rather-read-a-good-book-from-a-contented-author-i-don/)

[Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/)

> [The contented person is never poor; the discontented is never rich.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-contented-person-is-never-poor-the-discontented-is-never-rich/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [We must be contented to amuse, when we cannot inform.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/we-must-be-contented-to-amuse-when-we-cannot-inform/)

[Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/)

> [I may never be good enough for everybody. But I'll always be the best for someone who's contented to have me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-may-never-be-good-enough-for-everybody-but-i-ll-always-be-the-best/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

## More by Thomas Watson

> [“Oh, Christian, if you are overspread with this fretting leprosy, you carry the man of sin about you, for you set yourself above God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-watson/oh-christian-if-you-are-overspread-with-this-fretting-leprosy-you/)

[Thomas Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-watson/)

> [A wicked man in prayer may lift up his hands, but he cannot lift up his face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-watson/a-wicked-man-in-prayer-may-lift-up-his-hands-but-he-cannot-lift-up/)

[Thomas Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-watson/)

> [Joining a company is an act that calls for absolute loyalty in big matters and little ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-watson/joining-a-company-is-an-act-that-calls-for-absolute-loyalty-in-big/)

[Thomas Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-watson/)

> [It is our work to cast care, and it is God's work to take care.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-watson/it-is-our-work-to-cast-care-and-it-is-god-s-work-to-take-care/)

[Thomas Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-watson/)

> [“It is easy to catch a disease from another, but not to catch health. The bad will sooner corrupt the good, than the good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-watson/it-is-easy-to-catch-a-disease-from-another-but-not-to-catch-health/)

[Thomas Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-watson/)

> [“The world is but a great inn, where we are to stay a night or two, and be gone; what madness is it so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-watson/the-world-is-but-a-great-inn-where-we-are-to-stay-a-night-or-two-and/)

[Thomas Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-watson/)

> [The Ediles among the Romans had their doors always standing open, that all who had petitions might have free access to them. The door…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-watson/the-ediles-among-the-romans-had-their-doors-always-standing-open-that/)

[Thomas Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-watson/)

> [“This judgment is on many, the earth swallows up their time, and thoughts, and discourse, they are buried twice; their hearts are buried in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-watson/this-judgment-is-on-many-the-earth-swallows-up-their-time-and/)

[Thomas Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-watson/)

> [“Upon our turning to God, we have more restored to us in Christ—than ever was lost in Adam. God says to the repenting soul,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-watson/upon-our-turning-to-god-we-have-more-restored-to-us-in-christ-than/)

[Thomas Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-watson/)

> [Christ went more willingly to the cross than we do to the throne of grace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-watson/christ-went-more-willingly-to-the-cross-than-we-do-to-the-throne-of/)

[Thomas Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-watson/)

> [The more we enjoy of God, the more we are ravished with delight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-watson/the-more-we-enjoy-of-god-the-more-we-are-ravished-with-delight/)

[Thomas Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-watson/)

> [“To obey God, is not so much our duty—as our privilege; his commands carry food in the mouth of them. He bids us repent—and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-watson/to-obey-god-is-not-so-much-our-duty-as-our-privilege-his-commands/)

[Thomas Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-watson/)

> [Prayer is the offering up of our desires to God in the name of Christ, for such things as are agreeable to his will.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-watson/prayer-is-the-offering-up-of-our-desires-to-god-in-the-name-of-christ/)

[Thomas Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-watson/)

> [Affliction may be lasting, but it is not everlasting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-watson/affliction-may-be-lasting-but-it-is-not-everlasting/)

[Thomas Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-watson/)

> [Prayer delights God's ear; it melts His heart; and opens His hand. God cannot deny a praying soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-watson/prayer-delights-god-s-ear-it-melts-his-heart-and-opens-his-hand-god/)

[Thomas Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-watson/)

[Explore all 113 Thomas Watson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-watson/)

## More Christian quotes

> [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. "Jameson, open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/i-need-a-bath-he-chuckled-you-smell-of-smoke-as-do-i-the-duke-turned/)

[Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/)

> [I think, here's what I've realized from interviewing people, and I've been very open about my Catholicism and my love of Christ and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-think-here-s-what-i-ve-realized-from-interviewing-people-and-i-ve/)

[Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/)

> [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Why do Christians sing when they are together? The reason is, quite simply, because in singing together it is possible for them to speak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/why-do-christians-sing-when-they-are-together-the-reason-is-quite/)

[Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/)

> [I'm very used to working with first time actors - you can just look back at 'E.T.' with Drew Barrymore, and Christian Bale from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-m-very-used-to-working-with-first-time-actors-you-can-just-look/)

[Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/)

> [“A question for Christians who accept evolution: When did we gain a "soul"? Did Homo habilis have a soul? Homo ergaster? Did God only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-g-mcafee/a-question-for-christians-who-accept-evolution-when-did-we-gain-a/)

[David G. McAfee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-g-mcafee/)

> [Always have the fear of God in your heart, and remember that God is always with you, everywhere, whether you are walking or sitting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennadius-of-constantinople/always-have-the-fear-of-god-in-your-heart-and-remember-that-god-is/)

[Gennadius of Constantinople](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennadius-of-constantinople/)

> [For many, the call to be a Christian can seem demanding, even overwhelming. But we need not be afraid or feel inadequate. The Savior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-d-hales/for-many-the-call-to-be-a-christian-can-seem-demanding-even/)

[Robert D. Hales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-d-hales/)

> [A real Christian in an odd number anyway. He feels supreme love for One whom he has never seen, talks familiarly every day to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-real-christian-in-an-odd-number-anyway-he-feels-supreme-love-for/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [When the Lord Jesus Christ became my surety . . . He went to Calvary's cross, and all my guilt was charged against Him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-allen-ironside/when-the-lord-jesus-christ-became-my-surety-he-went-to-calvary-s/)

[Henry Allen Ironside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-allen-ironside/)

> [The world's history is a divine poem, of which the history of every nation is a canto, and every man a word. Its strains…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/the-world-s-history-is-a-divine-poem-of-which-the-history-of-every/)

[James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/)

> [Poor David Hume is dying fast, but with more real cheerfulness and good humor and with more real resignation to the necessary course of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/poor-david-hume-is-dying-fast-but-with-more-real-cheerfulness-and/)

[Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/)

> [“Is there any holy beings like human beings?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/is-there-any-holy-beings-like-human-beings/)

[Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/)

> [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/)

[Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/)

> [We need to discover all over again that worship is natural to the Christian, as it was to the godly Israelites who wrote the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer/we-need-to-discover-all-over-again-that-worship-is-natural-to-the/)

[J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/)

[Browse all 14,306 Christian quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“In a word a contented Christian, being sweetly captivated under the authority of the Word, desires to be wholly at God's disposal and is willing to live in that sphere and climate where God has set him.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Thomas Watson"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-watson/in-a-word-a-contented-christian-being-sweetly-captivated-under-the/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Christian"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-watson/in-a-word-a-contented-christian-being-sweetly-captivated-under-the/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cde/thomas-watson-4209_christian_in-a-word-a-contented-christian-being-sw_2107952.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cde/thomas-watson-4209_christian_in-a-word-a-contented-christian-being-sw_2107952.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cde/thomas-watson-4209_christian_in-a-word-a-contented-christian-being-sw_2107952.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“In a word a contented Christian, being sweetly captivated under the authority of the Word, desires to be…” — Thomas Watson",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Thomas Watson",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-watson/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“In a word a contented Christian,...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-watson/in-a-word-a-contented-christian-being-sweetly-captivated-under-the/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-watson/in-a-word-a-contented-christian-being-sweetly-captivated-under-the/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
