Good day beautiful people
I hope that this message meets you well? Today I want to remind us that God desires for us to have genuine happiness (true happiness can only be found in Christ). God is not a killjoy and doesn’t want us to live miserable lives and the whole reason He came was to destroy the grip of sin over our lives, we’re no longer slaves to sin when we accept Christ as our Saviour. The good news (gospel) brings hope, joy, love, peace, healing, restoration and SO much more.
John 3:16 ~ “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”
John 10:9-10 ~ Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures. The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.
Sometimes we can be soooooo busy chasing ‘things’ and focusing on reaching our next goal that we forget to enjoy the moment we’re in. We forget to thank God for how far He has brought us in life and our focus shifts from the One who blesses to the blessing. Take time to breathe and give thanks for life, don’t be too hard on yourself by measuring your success according to the worlds standards as doing so will lead to disappointment and emptiness.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 ~ “Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”
It’s normal to feel unhappy when things don’t seem to be going your way, or when life gets messy. Feeling unhappy is a normal human emotion that most people have experienced in their lifetime, but I want us to remember that God doesn’t want us to live unhappy lives, and if you do feel unhappy it’s ok (scriptural) to pray to God to give you happiness. What is not healthy is to live a life wallowing in self-pity.
When reading through the story of the prodigal son one thing stood out to me that I never noticed before. The older son didn’t seem to understand the loving nature of his father, he did not recognise how loved he was, and it appears that he viewed his relationship with his father as a master servant relationship rather than father son. He complained that his father never gave him a goat, but I wonder if he ever asked for one? God loves us beyond measure even when we mess up it doesn’t change God’s love for us (as Christians we’re not to engage in habitual sin, but when we do sin and confess our wrongdoings God is faithful and just to forgive). When the prodigal son came back a MASSIVE party was thrown for him. God knows how to throw a great party and heaven is going to be a fun place not a boring environment. So have fun now, don’t miss opportunities to celebrate what God has done in your life or the lives of others. Stop putting your enjoyment on hold because of fear, or because you ‘feel’ you don’t deserve enjoyment because you’ve failed to reach a target. Remember you’re loved by God, loved so much that He came and died for your sins so that you may live a life of freedom from sin and enjoy eternal life.
Luke 15:11-32 (The prodigal son)
Some verses to remember
Psalm 86:4 ~ “Give me happiness, O Lord, for I give myself to you.”
^^^ You can pray to God to fill your heart with happiness!
Proverbs 13:9 ~ “The life of the godly is full of light and joy, but the light of the wicked will be snuffed out.”
^^^God fills lives with light and joy!
So PLEASE enjoy life, pray to God to restore your happiness, stop putting joyous occasions on hold. Pray always and thank God for what you have and remember God wants you to enjoy life. What are you chasing after that is making you miserable and stealing your joy? Is it that job promotion, wealth, status, popularity, or a romantic relationship? Don’t let your desire for a particular blessing cause you to turn your back on The Lord resulting in living a life that is empty, ask God to fill your heart with His love. Also don’t let the negative words of others cause you to lose hope instead trust in The Lord for He always keeps His promises.
Ecclesiastes 8:15 ~ So I recommend having fun, because there is nothing better for people in this world than to eat, drink, and enjoy life. That way they will experience some happiness along with all the hard work God gives them under the sun.
Love from
Christian Lady After God’s Own Heart 💜