I find reading the Bible is essential for all believers because it serves as a mirror for us. Otherwise, we could easily think we’re on the right path while in reality wandering aimlessly in the wrong direction. It’s scarily easy to wander away. Best intentions do not help when we follow our own whims instead of God’s plan for us. It’s time to check your idols. Without the Bible, we’d be lost faster than we can imagine. We might think…
How are you feeling about the ending of one year and the beginning of the new one? Sometimes we are a bit resentful. Other times we can’t quite get rid of the old one soon enough. No matter how you possibly feel now, know that you’re safe in God’s arms. All the promises of God are valid any year, so you’re good, all the time because God is good, all the time. So let’s anchor ourselves in God and let…
I presume every person on earth would like to be blessed or favored or happy. Too often we look for happiness in the wrong places. We don’t realize happy are those whose strength is in God (and not even those who seem to be strong or successful on their own). I can attest to that. As long as I am looking for strength in myself, I am not happy. There’s not much to build on in me, you know. But…
Have you had enough of shallow experiences, ready to look for something deeper, more substantial? Do you have a deep yearning for God? Good for you. It is a universal experience of emptiness that often drives people finally to God. Nothing but God satisfies our hearts but he truly does. Only Jesus can fill our emptiness but he does it beautifully. First, he cleanses our inner being from webs of harmful substitutes and then he fills us with his peace…
Do you enjoy God? Is it an odd question? Maybe. But enjoyment of God is what faith is supposed to be all about. What? Yes. God longs to spend time with you and get to know you. He also wants to be known and enjoyed. If you don’t think God is delightful, you have yet not gotten to know him. Do not worry. You just have lots of joyful discoveries ahead of you. Take delight in the Lord, and he will…
Sometimes Christians seek God for the gifts and blessings God gives to his children. But God is so much more than his lavish gifts. Sometimes we get way more excited about doing things for God than being with God. Yet only by being in God’s presence, we are at our best. Only by being in God’s presence, we bloom. And only by being in God’s presence, we are truly happy. In Your presence is fullness of joy. (Psalm 16:11, AMP)…
Do you want to be happy? I think we all do. Too often people think that God would not want them to be happy. Like God’s goal would be to make you unhappy. That doesn’t ring true, does it? Quite the opposite is true in fact. God wants you to be happy with him. You grant him blessings forever; you make him happy with the joy of your presence. (Psalm 21:6, CEB) With the words of Charles Spurgeon “Man was…
If we insist we are the makers of our own happiness, we fool ourselves. It might take decades for us to discover the truth: our happiness depends on God. As long as we deny the fact that our well-being depends on God, we are sidetracked. Often we get frustrated and stressed out when nothing makes sense and there’s no purpose to live for. But it all changes when we get to know God. Because our happiness does not depend on…
God has promised to never abandoned us. Quite a promise! Hallelujah! If God is this good to us, why then do we abandon him? We might think we are fond of God but our everyday choices speak otherwise. Somehow, God is far from our mind when we decide how we spend our days. In the western world Christians can live freely. But the enemy knows how to tempt us in this freedom. Too much of wanton pleasure shreds our integrity….
What’s your take on happiness? Is it overrated or is it something you expect to be? Sometimes Christians think it’s not something we should be. But how could we not if we’ve been right with God? What if happiness is holy? But may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful. (Psalm 68:3, NIV,*) Happiness is an outward expression of an inner joy. Nothing but Jesus can make us truly joy-filled. Nothing but Jesus…
