Happiness

Last night I sat down to write in my journal and something told me to write what makes me truly happy. Well I KNOW it was not something, it was GOD. So, I proceeded. Here was my list. (No particular order, because obviously my friends and family would be first..not coffee.)

1. Coffee

2. The Beach

3. Family

4. Friends

5. Young Life

Then I got done. Didn't really feel much of anything. I was like, "Well there's my list God! That makes me happy. What else do you want me to do?"

PROBLEM. Some kind of siren went off in my head. And if you know me..me and sirens don't mix.I forgot to list God. What in this world? How could I forget my Creator, the One that LOVES me the most, the One who died for me? Well, I did. And this is the point of my story.

I feel like a lot of times I/we put all 5 (or what makes you happy) of these things BEFORE God. Maybe not ALL the time, but SOME of the time.

1. When I get up in the mornings the FIRST thing I do is get a cup of coffee. It makes me wake up and start my day off right.

2. I go to the beach about five times a year. It is my quiet place. The place I find comfort and rest.

3. My family is always there for me and can get me through anything. They are the ones that I come "home" to.

4. My friends are the people who pick me up when I am down and walk the same road I do with Jesus.

5. Young Life is the place where I share life with teenage girls, lay down beside them, and help them.

I quickly noticed that that was my list.

BUT if I add God as number ONE, that list quickly changes. Very, very quickly. See, God is the only one who can really MAKE us happy forever. All of these things will come and go. If we put Him first in our lives, all of these things won't really make us happy. And you will QUICKLY realize it.

1. I need Jesus to wake me up in the mornings. I need Jesus to start my day off right. Caffeine will wear off. Jesus won't. "This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24.

2. My Jesus needs to be my quiet place. In His lap, I find rest. He won't get washed away by Hurricanes. "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30.

3. I need to realize that I will be "coming home" to Jesus one day. It won't always be to my family. And I need to prepare for coming home to Him by seeking Him first. Always. "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Matthew 6:33.

4. Jesus is the ONLY one who can ALWAYS pick me up and assure me happiness. The Bible says that people WILL fail you, but God WILL NOT. "I will never fail you nor forsake you." Hebrews 13:5.

5. God blessed me with Young Life, but He gave it to me to teach these girls to NOT run to ME first, but to run to Him because I cannot provide for them what the really need. "And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” Phil. 4:19.

Now, I'm not saying all of these things CAN'T make us happy. Because they can. Write out your list. They all MADE that list because they provide you with some kind of happiness.

That kind of happiness is temporary.

Happiness from God is permanent.

"So we don't look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever." 2 Corin. 4:18.

For the THINGS we see now will SOON be gone. The THINGS that make me happy will SOON be gone. God will NEVER be gone, He is forever.

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Matthew 6:19-21.