Did you ever think that Christians lived thee most boring lives on this planet? I did.
That was before I became a born again Christian myself. It happened in the Spring of 1977 near Newport Beach California. I was in my late teens then and sick of my party life of sin. Pleasure seekin' and all that came with that was kind of what I learned in high school, but I can't blame Dana Hills High School. It was my fault. Sin is fun for a season.. that doesn't last. Since that time I’ve found that God and just living for him isn't boring at all. Nope. I learned that boring people are the ones who get bored. Not him, God never does get bored.
Living 100 percent for him doesn't either. I have found that the holy way, the godly way, the disciplined way of the Spirit, the way of obedience to direct Authority (God) and to delegated authority short of sinning (I mean submitting to the word under flawed leaders here), is in reality the happy way of life. Some Christians talk about all that they’ve given up to follow Jesus Christ. What? Really? Yep, but what do each really give up? For some, it’s addiction to porn, gambling, too much work, greed, drugs or alcohol. Do you really want any of that junk? For most, it’s guilt, emptiness, fears of death etc., and painful loneliness.
Personally, I can fully concur with the words of the apostle Paul who said, “Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ” . Philippians 3:8 nlt What was Paul saying? The things I have given up to follow Jesus are zip, null, nada, nothing compared to what God has given up for me and given to me. Want to be a happy born again Christian? You can be. Let Jesus be Lord -- I mean in practice rather than merely in theory. Sow to the Spirit and not to the flesh.
No time for mixed sowing, to the world and then to the Spirit. Why sow to the flesh and to this world's system only to become weak or corrupt inside?
Live close and hear God's voice in agreement to the Bible.
He still speaks and directs. Obey your Father God for there is no other way to be happy in Jesus. What steps specifically can I take? Here's some steps of how to...
Morning Prayer and Bible Reading (Hearing)
Building a deeper relationship with God ..like with any relationship.. it takes some time. Morning quiet time in the Bible is a great way to edify yourself, I mean spending time reading, musing over, memorizing Scripture, as well as praying to the Father in the name of the Son, Jesus. Way important. It’s SO worth getting up a little earlier too if you must.. to build yourself up in your most holy faith.. before starting your day.
Share the Love of Christ with Others
From the basis of a healthy local church that teaches the word.. one that's led by born again spiritual leaders.. be and live as a witness for Christ. With a good attitude. These are good choices for all. Maybe you can pay for a single mom’s groceries, or buying someone a gas card, or writing your witness. I mean witnessing of your faith in different ways, like giving someone a word of encouragement--it will get your mind off on you and your own worries. God can use you to make an impact in your world! Ask him to.
Take a Break from Biased Social Media Platforms
Close the apps and shut the computer off for a time. Do a fast from social media (even the crazy news) for a while. You can do this, really! With so much distracting and vying for your attention, just unplug from the world in this way for a time and it will help you have time to invest in other things like God, friends, family and your own spiritual walk of faith.
Journal Some of Your Prayers and Ideas
Us guys like to do this on our computers. You really don’t have to be a poet to write down your victories (that God has given you), favorite Bible verses or your struggles or goals and thoughts in the puter or on paper. Just don’t hold anything back and perhaps use colored markers. Think of new ways to apply the word of God.
Give thanks, Give Praise and Rejoice in Jesus Daily
When you have done all you can in your circumstances--just give thanks to God for the good things in your life..and in all kinda of circumstances too. Not for the bad circumstances, but in them. it up to God. Sing a song of praise in and out of church. This might feel hard to do at times because we want to take control and fix everything..even if we can't fix it all, but laying it out in prayer with praise and thanksgiving will give you a sense of gratitude, peace, release like God is the author of your story. Cuz he is. Speak the Word of God out loud so your ears can hear. Repeat the verses that apply to your weaknesses or failings.
The Bible says “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5). The Scripture in Philippians 4:19 has also helped me a lot. The Bible says, "Praise the Lord from the earth, you great sea creatures and all the depths; Fire and hail, snow and clouds; stormy wind, FULFILLING HIS WORD." Psalm 148:7-8
Get and Be Real with God and Others
That’s right, be candid -- throw it all out there for God to work with! Honesty is a must. It’s not like God doesn’t know what you’re thinking or going through. We tend to wear masks in the world -- that's so easy to do. Stop it. Snap out of that hiding. Start talking to God openly even if you are angry at him or others, or frustrated or becoming bitter and hard-hearted towards someone or him your seemingly unanswered prayers.
Lord, we like to hear YES when we pray to you, but so often it's like we only get a NO or a Wait and we feel discouraged. Help me/us overcome discouragement and live blessable keeping ourselves in the agape love of God.
We can't earn any blessing and you are the greatest blessing to us really, but we need to know afresh that you care for us and what we care about (if it's not sin). Please guide and provide. Thanks for being in control, Jesus. Amen. You know how religious false teachers tell us "Become a follower of Jesus and all your troubles will be over. God will bless, help, and keep you from sickness. He'll make you successful if you just believe the right things and Speak it", "Name it and claim it!"
But nowhere in the Bible does God promise this, Buckeroo. Jesus actually said..
"In the world you will have tribulation." John 16:33
Trouble is a part of this life for unbelievers, and the troubles work against them. No one escapes it, but Christians start experience trials instead after they repent and believe.. and trials can work for them as they stay focused on Christ. The Bible says, "Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble." Job 14:1
Christians must expect trials, suffering and opposition. The Bible says, "All who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution." 2 Timothy 3:12
We must "through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God." Acts 14:22. And yet.. we can still have JOY daily and live happy in Christ Jesus as we stay close to him.
Remind Yourself of God's Love Towards You
Why? Cuz he really does love you...even if you've failed like a thousand or more times. His arms are still open wide. If you've fallen down, get back up and walk. Have you sinned? Admit it and quit it. The Bible says he still cares...
"How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them!" Psalm 139:17
Know that God has Good Goals For You
Yep, and primarily.. one is to conform us to the image of His Son. But how? He does this through the nice and not-so-nice circumstances, and through the disciplines of the Holy Spirit ..that yes involve some trials, hardships, some mockings, jeers, persecutions and some suffering. He loves us too much to leave us as we are -- God's got a goal for you...
"Those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters." Romans 8:29 (net Bible)
Trust that God is Sovereign in Your Life
What does that mean? It means that He rules over everything in this world and in the entire universe too. He has all power in Heaven and in earth. There is nothing that can hinder or prevent God from doing what He purposes to do. It's going to happen. The Bible says..
"He does according to His will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain His hand or say to Him, 'What have you done?'"
Daniel 4:35 nkjv It clearly says, "Whatever the Lord pleases He does, in heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deep places."
Psalm 135:6 All the things of nature, and of flawed men who sin, and of nations, and of kings ..are under God's control here basically. The Bible assures of this...
"The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord…He turns it wherever He wishes."
Proverbs 21:1 Just remind yourself therefore of how God the Lord is for you. He is totally good. This is so true, regardless of your circumstances or of my circumstances. The Bible says...
"Praise the Lord! Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for HE IS GOOD! For His mercy endures forever." Psalm 106:1 I love what my SoCal pastor friend said on living happy:
"We see in the Bible that happiness is always connected to holiness. We also find that happiness is not something that should be sought outright; rather, it’s a result of seeking something else. And that something else is holiness.
Although the Declaration of Independence refers to 'the pursuit of Happiness' as one of our 'unalienable Rights,' pursuing happiness in and of itself is generally a futile search. As philosopher Eric Hoffer said, 'The search for happiness is one of the chief sources of unhappiness.'
Many people today who are searching for happiness never will quite have it. There are people with a lot of accomplishments, a lot of fame and a lot of money who live miserable, empty lives. They’re searching for something but in the wrong way.
Happiness is a byproduct of holiness (in relationship with the Father through his Son). When you get your life in order, happiness soon will follow.
That is why unbelievers can never know true happiness. They will go after the world’s cheap counterfeits, which are shallow. The world’s concept of happiness depends on good things happening.
The Bible tells us how to find and maintain holiness, and as a result, happiness, in our lives. And in Psalm 119 we have God’s original design.
First we’re told that if we want to be holy, then we are to walk in an undefiled way: 'Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the Lord. Joyful are those who obey his laws and search for him with all their hearts. They do not compromise with evil, and they walk only in his paths' (verses 1–3 NLT).
From the very beginning of our lives, we learn the importance of walking. It’s interesting how little children immediately start moving that way. Of course, we help them along and feel proud when they take their first steps. But babies don’t want to just lie there. They want to push themselves up. They try again and again, and then pretty soon, they’re crawling. Then they struggle to pull themselves up and stand on their wobbly baby legs. They keep trying until they can do it.
Walking speaks of progression, of moving forward, as opposed to simply sitting still. If we want to be truly happy and holy people, then we should not only avoid what is wrong, but we should also embrace and actively engage in what is right.
It’s true that the Bible tells us what we should not do. But it also tells us what we should do. Those who see the Bible as a list of rules and regulations have not carefully examined it. Yes, God tells us what to avoid. Yes, God warns us of things that are perilous to our spiritual health. At the same time, he tells us what we must do.
For example, the Bible tells us, 'Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts.' But it also says, 'Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts' 2 Timothy 2:22.
If you want to be holy – and happy as a result – then you must actively walk in God’s ways.
Years ago I was in the backyard with my dog when I saw a brightly colored finch sitting on the ground. I walked over to it, expecting it to flutter away, but it stayed. I bent down to take a closer look, thinking it must be dead. It looked like it was still breathing, so I put out my finger and immediately it hopped on.
I walked into the house with the finch still perched on my finger and said to my wife, 'Look what I just found in the yard.' We asked our son if any of his friends had bird cages, so he ran down the street to borrow a cage from a neighbor.
When he returned, I opened the cage and the bird hopped in. It began chirping as it went from perch to perch. This was the happiest bird I’d ever seen. Obviously it was someone’s pet. Obviously it felt comfortable in a cage. That little bird enjoyed captivity.
The bars of that cage could be seen some by some as restrictive, but for that little bird, they represented protection.
In the same way, some see God’s law as restrictive, as something that stops them from really enjoying life. No, it’s protection from the things that can harm us. It’s the way to live life to its fullest.
There are two ways we can live: the right way and the wrong way. There are two paths we can take: the narrow road that leads to life or the broad way that leads to destruction. There are two foundations we can build on: solid rock or sinking sand. The result is that we can either live the happy and holy way or the miserable and unholy way. Which will you choose?" Thanks Greg Laurie.
Choose life in the Son today -- that'll mean true happiness for you.
Don't put in off as so many do. Heaven or hell, Christ's way or our own way. We've all got to respond.. to RSVP.. to God's free offer of forgiveness and life everlasting. We've got to make our reservations for lasting happiness in advance, or it's no good for us.
Listen, right here and now is good. Go for him. Choose to know the Lord and God will use you to make him well known. Facebook.com/shareJesus .. Fish4souls.org
