Posted July 23, 2010 By Cole Phillips
A few weeks ago, I was in a conversation about people being “happy” in life. In the conversation, I began thinking about how many people I know that have used “I’m not Happy” as an excuse to make major life decisions.
We have made happiness “cheap”. We have made it into an emotion that can be given to us by people, circumstances, and general life events. We get a new car… it makes us happy. We get a new job… it makes us happy. We get a new phone… it makes us happy. The list can go on and on. However the new car grows old, the new job becomes routine, there is a newer phone that comes out. This can even carry over into relationships. We are no longer happy in our marriage….get another spouse….no big deal…. “Do what makes you happy!”
Happiness cannot be given to you from external sources. It must come from within! When Jesus was teaching in Matthew 5:1-11, He began to list many things that would cause us to be blessed. We know this chapter of the bible to be the Beatitudes. They go something like this in the Message Bible….
3 “You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule. 4 “You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you. 5 “You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are – no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought. 6 “You’re blessed when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God. He’s food and drink in the best meal you’ll ever eat. 7 “You’re blessed when you care. At the moment of being ‘careful,’ you find yourselves cared for. 8 “You’re blessed when you get your inside world – your mind and heart – put right. Then you can see God in the outside world. 9 “You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family. 10 “You’re blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God’s kingdom. 11 “Not only that – count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable.
According to Strong’s,” Blessed” can be substituted with “Happy”. So read the passage and trade those words out.
“You’re Happy when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule. 4 “You’re Happy when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you. 5 “You’re Happy when you’re content with just who you are – no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought….”
Happiness is something that only YOU control. It must come from a decision inside, a trust and peace in GOD, and a desire to find contentment in life. There are people all over the world that can’t own an iPhone, an HDTV, may not have a car, or even a home. There are people who can’t go to church, don’t own a Bible, and are killed for being a Christian. Yet they are HAPPY. When asked most of these people would describe their life as Blessed!
Go today and realize God is good, life is what we choose it to be, and I choose for it to be HAPPY….
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