*I'm sorry this post didn't go up earlier at 6am when my posts normally do. Yesterday I picked up Sean from the airport after he was in Illinois for 4 days and I wanted to hang out with him the rest of the day. I'm sure you understand :-) Also this past weekend was the last track meet, I am a track widow no more!
It is no secret we all want to be happy, if fact I think God wired us to be that way. We all seek happiness, we crave happiness and we search and search for the happiness. Whether it is this meal makes me happy or if only I could get that job then I will be happy.
Yesterday in church, we started a new series, we are in the book of Philippians and each week for the next 13 weeks until the end of the book we will take a section of verses and dig deep into the verses.
I wanted to share with you all why we can all be happy like genuinely happy and it has nothing to do with anything we can do or have done but it is all about who we are in God.
It is so important I will restate it, being genuinely happy has nothing to do is what we can do to achieve happiness, to be genuinely happy is about realizing who I am and who you are in God. In Philippians 1:1-2, there are four statements made by Paul of who we are in Christ. It is important to point that while Paul wrote the book of Philippians, he was in prison, with chains on and a year away from his death, yet he still wrote a book about how to be happy. If you think being happy has to do with your circumstances, look at Paul's circumstances, he was still happy. He realized that pure, genuine happiness comes from who he is in God.
1 You are a servant - we are a servant to a master who isn't cruel and who has died for me. He is a master who will continually provide for me. I have to tell you a few weeks ago I was asking God for confidence and encouragement during this tough time of unemployment and He brought two previous instances to my mind and He told me, Didn't I take care of you then and I will take care of you now. There is no way I could have thought of that, it was all God.
2. You are a saint - I'm not talking in the terms of a Catholic saint and being a saint in Christ has nothing to with what I have done, will do or because of the person I am. Being a saint of Christ also means that I am far more loved than I could ever image.
3. You are a citizen of heaven - In God, my citizenship is not here on the earth, because of Jesus' death on the cross and my decision to have a personal relationship with Him and make Him the center of my life, I longer belong to this earth, I know that when I pass away from this earth, I will be reunited with God and Jesus in heaven. Knowing that I am a citizen of heaven brings more happiness than any slice of cake, trip to Disneyland or any earthly thing or activity I could ever imagine. When you are away from home for a few days or an extended period of time, you might belong to long to go home where you feel comfortable and safe, that is the why it is for me and wanting to be in heaven. Philippians 3:20 tells us we are citizens of heaven
4. You are a child of God - Being a child of God brings peace, shalom, a wholeness, a wellness and a harmony that is only found at the deepest level. Only God can bring complete peace and happiness.
In reading, studying and remembering these four who am I in God statements, we begin on the path towards complete happiness but it starts with realizing we are a sinner, that Jesus died for us, in our place when He was completely innocent and accepting Jesus as our savior. After that decision has been made and those words have been said, then the path to complete happiness is possible.
I felt this sermon I heard yesterday at church was too important not to share with you. I realize some of you may reject what I have to say, while some of you may be questioning this and others will nod their head in agreement with this post. Wherever you are at, just think about it for a moment, what are you chasing to give you happiness and will it give you complete and full happiness that will last a lifetime?
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18 comments:
Wonderfully written, Meg! Love this :o)
Love this insight Meg!
I loved this, thanks for sharing!! I really need to read things like this today!!
Thanks Meg! I loved reading this and need to do it more often.
The next 12 weeks are going to be very different for me, but I am determined to remain happy. :)
Thanks for sharing Meg. I just got finished with an in depth study of Mark. Real eye opener. Our pastor just started a new series called Transitions. We are studying the book of Proverbs. I am loving that it came just after reading the book you recommended to me!
this is such a great post Meg! I honestly love it, thank you for sharing!!
xxS
Beautiful post! Thank so much for sharing. You've inspired me to read a bit from Philippians today :-)
I love Philippians. What a great series you have ahead of you at church! Thanks for sharing :)
beautiful. i couldn't agree more. :) philippians is one of my favorites!
I'm so glad you have found something that makes you so happy! I know religion brings joy to a lot of people's lives. :-)
Glad your hubs is back!
Loved this! Completely agree!
this was so wonderful to read! Thanks for sharing this Meg. I read it at just the right time!
I think "happiness" is kind of a misnomer...It's hard to always choose happiness in situations, but contentment, that is possible in all things and through Christ.
I am a citizen of heaven - AMEN ! I have struggled over the years but as the the world continues to spiral around in this pattern my heart can't help but ache for the pure and perfect paradise that we will have in heaven. proud to call you a sister in christ!
Glad track season is over! This is a wonderful reminder of God's goodness, thanks for sharing.
Wonderfully written!
I really need to read this today. Thank you so much!
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