17 November 2021

Are you chasing happiness or holiness?

I will share with you this sequence of events. Willow, my 4-year-old granddaughter, was looking through the junk mail and brochures from different stores and she was circling lots of things.

She then states to her Mum, “I need to write out a list for Santa for if he gets me the wrong things on Christmas Day, I’ll be very unhappy.”

Oh, I chuckled!

One – how important it is to write out your dreams.

Two – as you mature you are actually happy with lots of things. With maturity you trust more that God will give you the desires of your heart and if He does not, then the relationship you have with your God helps your heart to change to the desires He has for you.

So even a four-year-old wants to be happy.

Many years ago, I heard on the radio a parenting expert speaking to Oprah. Oprah said to the expert, “Every person has a right to be happy.”

The expert said in reply, “Thank goodness I’m sitting down or I would have fallen down because what does this happiness mean to each individual?  Each one’s perception of happiness is so different. For some just food on the table, while others want a Mercedes Benz car! What does this happiness mean?”

A piece of time where I got what I wanted? Till the next time I want something?

What about those who are happy even if not in a good environment or circumstances of life? So basically, what is true happiness?

Happy the poor in spirit.

Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of God.

We all have a right because of what Jesus Christ has done for us to be called blessed. Not a right on my ability or what I deserve but always on the righteousness of Jesus. He alone attained this blessed life for us.

This is where I am truly happy.

This happiness is not affected by my circumstances or how I am feeling.

We are encouraged by God to become holy as He is holy.

This holiness brings us true happiness.

Funny how before becoming a saint, when the church states you as a holy person, you are announced as ‘Blessed.’

Then I read Psalm 34:8

⁸ O taste and see that the Lord [our God] is good! Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man who trusts and takes refuge in Him.

Psalm 34:8 AMPC

It goes on to say in verse 9…

⁹ O fear the Lord, you His saints [revere and worship Him]! For there is no want to those who truly revere and worship Him with godly fear. (awe)”

Psalm 34:9 AMPC

Did you read that? If you have awe before the Lord, there is no want! Your God supplies all that you need!

Verse 7 describes a defending angel encamping around us and God delivers us.

Verse 10 describes the young lack food and suffer hunger, but “they who seek the Lord, none of them shall lack any beneficial thing.”

That is what true happiness and holiness is. Being in the Lord’s presence all the days of our lives and forever dwelling with Him eternally!

So don’t stay in a four-year-old mindset. Find Him who can make you truly happy.

May these jottings from my journal inspire you to believe in and fall in love with Christ- the hope of the world, as stated in Jeremiah 17:7, ‘Blessed is the man who believes and trusts in and relies on the Lord and whose hope and confident expectation is the Lord!’

Love

Rosemary

Every week groups of ladies meet together to chat about the things I raise in my weekly blog post and to chat about life in general. We call these ‘Heart Connect’ groups. If you would like more information please click HERE.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Are you chasing happiness or holiness?

Have you thought about what does make you happy? Have you placed it before the Lord and asked Him if this is what He desires for you?