What makes you happy? I mean, really happy? I’m not talking about the typical answer, like a great family or good friends or job success. Those are givens. Of course those things make a person happy. If I sit and think about that question long enough, I envision a type of graphic organizer or more specifically, an outline of a person. The limbs are a person’s obvious reasons for happiness, but the insides – the essential organs – are a person’s reasons happiness works. They are the very meat of being happy.
So, let’s be real. Honesty is freeing and can open up a whole new world of gratitude, if we let it. My #1 should be God, right - my salvation, my relationship with Jesus, my blessings?! It should be, and in a Sunday School answer, it would be. I’ll even tell myself that when I’m the one asking the question. But in reality, if God is my #1 reason for happiness, wouldn’t He also be my #1 in every aspect of my day? I mean, who doesn’t want to be happy from sun up to sun down? Perhaps it’s my definition of happiness that’s the problem.
Other than a great family, good friends, and job success, my happiness is:
*alone time with the sound of rain and a good book
*my chicken biscuit and large coke for breakfast
*a day to myself to write or watch movies
*a letter in the mail addressed to me
*my own bag of Oreos or chocolate chip cookies (Who wants to share?!)
*hearing praise for something I’ve done
*when my dog obeys my voice over everyone else’s ;)
*getting to sleep in
Okay, so there’s not technically anything wrong with all of those reasons. They do all have limits though. When the book is finished, the movie over, or the cookies eaten, my happiness comes to an end. Why? Because I’m at the heart of those reasons. I’m the most vital organ of my “graphic organizer.”
What would happen if we put God where He belongs – at the heart & mind & soul of our lives? Would the definition of happiness change? Would it ever come to an end?
Yes, it would change! No more words involving me, but instead involving Him – unselfish, service, encouragement, love. Remember we are here to bring Him glory. No, it would never come to an end! Joy in God is real happiness, true happiness. We will have our times of sadness on this earth for sure, but God and His Holiness are eternal, never-ending.
So, what might my happiness look like if I had the right One in the right places in my person outline?
*the sound of rain
*the laughter of a full house
*the smile of an elderly neighbor after helping him with yard work
*sending a letter of encouragement
*making a meal for a widow
*getting to wake up each morning
*giving praise for something God has done
*thankfulness & contentment
Changing the definition of happiness is hard. We are driven by self in this fast-paced world. But oh, the world we would live in if we could permanently drop the self and hold onto Jesus. Lord, help us do just that.
He must become greater; I must become less. ~John 3:30
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.
~Matthew 22:37
Thanks for stopping by! ;)
So, let’s be real. Honesty is freeing and can open up a whole new world of gratitude, if we let it. My #1 should be God, right - my salvation, my relationship with Jesus, my blessings?! It should be, and in a Sunday School answer, it would be. I’ll even tell myself that when I’m the one asking the question. But in reality, if God is my #1 reason for happiness, wouldn’t He also be my #1 in every aspect of my day? I mean, who doesn’t want to be happy from sun up to sun down? Perhaps it’s my definition of happiness that’s the problem.
Other than a great family, good friends, and job success, my happiness is:
*alone time with the sound of rain and a good book
*my chicken biscuit and large coke for breakfast
*a day to myself to write or watch movies
*a letter in the mail addressed to me
*my own bag of Oreos or chocolate chip cookies (Who wants to share?!)
*hearing praise for something I’ve done
*when my dog obeys my voice over everyone else’s ;)
*getting to sleep in
Okay, so there’s not technically anything wrong with all of those reasons. They do all have limits though. When the book is finished, the movie over, or the cookies eaten, my happiness comes to an end. Why? Because I’m at the heart of those reasons. I’m the most vital organ of my “graphic organizer.”
What would happen if we put God where He belongs – at the heart & mind & soul of our lives? Would the definition of happiness change? Would it ever come to an end?
Yes, it would change! No more words involving me, but instead involving Him – unselfish, service, encouragement, love. Remember we are here to bring Him glory. No, it would never come to an end! Joy in God is real happiness, true happiness. We will have our times of sadness on this earth for sure, but God and His Holiness are eternal, never-ending.
So, what might my happiness look like if I had the right One in the right places in my person outline?
*the sound of rain
*the laughter of a full house
*the smile of an elderly neighbor after helping him with yard work
*sending a letter of encouragement
*making a meal for a widow
*getting to wake up each morning
*giving praise for something God has done
*thankfulness & contentment
Changing the definition of happiness is hard. We are driven by self in this fast-paced world. But oh, the world we would live in if we could permanently drop the self and hold onto Jesus. Lord, help us do just that.
He must become greater; I must become less. ~John 3:30
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.
~Matthew 22:37
Thanks for stopping by! ;)