Choose Joy Because Happiness Isn t Enough

Transcription

1 Chse Jy Because Happiness Isn t Enugh Day 18: Lk at Yur Busyness Many f us live lives cnstantly n the g with every hur f ur day planned ut. Often, with little pprtunity fr a change in plans r directin. We are a sciety that is busy. And, if we aren t busy, then the typical thught is that we are lazy. Of curse, this steretype is ften untrue. Either way, we need t lk at the busyness in ur lives and ask urselves if we re glrifying Gd thrugh it. We need t examine if we are making Gd a pririty. S, let s take a lk at ur busyness. Ecclesiastes 3 tells us that there is a seasn fr everything, including busyness. We are a driven sciety that wrks hard. Hwever, it is far t easy fr a seasn f busyness t becme a way f life. If we are in a seasn f busyness we need t glrify Gd thrugh it. First, realize that we were designed t wrk and prvide fr ne anther ( 1 Timthy 5:8 ). Summarize 1Timthy 5:8 : Als, there will be times in ur lives when we re busier than thers. Prverbs 31: 17 states, She sets abut her wrk ; her arms are strng fr her tasks. We shuld live ur lives like this wife f Gdly character wh had wrk t d and she eagerly accmplished her tasks. Hwever, let s glrify Gd thrugh it. Ecclesiastes 2:11 warns us, Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had dne and what I had tiled t achieve, everything was, a chasing after the wind; nthing was gained under the sun. In ur busyness when we d nt glrify Gd, the result is meaningless. Especially, when we are seeking ur jy and satisfactin in the busyness f ur tasks. When have yu sught jy thrugh yur busyness? What was the end f result f this? The answer t living in the busy seasns f life while still glrifying Gd is balance. Living a life f balance means we stay cnnected t Jesus thrugh ur seasns f busyness, making him a pririty. Psalm 127:2 exemplifies the idea that we need t live ur lives with balance, putting Gd first. In yu rise up early and stay up late, tiling fr fd t eat-fr he grants sleep t thse he lves. Early rising t pursue the busyness f yur day, withut putting Gd first, is fruitless labr. Therefre, we need t make time fr Gd while living a life f balance. The stry f Mary and Martha is a great prtrayal f the imprtance f making time fr Gd. Read Luke 10: Wh came t visit Mary and Martha?

2 Which sister was distracted by her busyness? Which sister made time fr Gd; chse what was right? In yur busyness, are yu mre f a Mary r Martha? Explain hw this affects yur relatinship with Christ. S, in rder t make Gd a pririty, we need t spend time with him. We shuld: 1. Read ur bibles. Psalm 119: 105 says, Yur is a lamp t my feet and a light fr my path. 2. Seek Gd thrugh prayer. Mark 1:35 states, Very early in the mrning, while it was still dark, Jesus gt up, left the huse and went ff t a slitary place, where he. 3. Fellwship with ther believers. Hebrews 10:25 instructs us, Let us nt give up tgether, as sme are in the habit f ding, but let us encurage ne anther-and all the mre as yu see the Day appraching. In what ther ways can yu make time fr Gd in the busyness f yur life? Lastly, we need t be mlded and changed by the Hly Spirit in rder t hnr Gd. Gd wants t change us. It s imprtant t use discernment with the activities and pririties that encmpass ur daily lives. Rmans 12:2 states, D nt cnfrm any lnger t the pattern f this wrld, but be by the renewing f yur mind. Then yu will be able t test and apprve what Gd s will is-his gd, pleasing and perfect will. Changing ur thinking t ne that aligns with Gd s value system and his wrd will enable us t discern what Gd wants us t d in each seasn f life. Als, 2 Crinthians 3:18 instructs us t cntinue being transfrmed int His likeness. And we, wh with unveiled faces all reflect the Lrd s glry, are being int his likeness with ever-increasing glry, which cmes frm the Lrd, wh is the Spirit. Finally, as believers ur gal shuld be t cnstantly grw in ur walk with Christ! 2 Peter 3:18 says, But in the grace and knwledge f ur Lrd and Savir Jesus Christ. T him be the glry bth nw and frever! Amen.

3 Evaluate yur life and what keeps yu busy. What changes d yu need t make t shw that Gd is yur ultimate pririty? Write a prayer, asking Gd t give yu guidance and wisdm cncerning these areas f yur life. S, when we re striving t pursue Gd, we need t lk at the busyness in ur lives and evaluate if we re glrifying Gd thrugh it. Making Gd ur first pririty, n matter the seasn, will fill ur lives with lasting jy.

4 Chse Jy Because Happiness Isn t Enugh Day 19: Seeking Perfectin S far in ur Jy study, we ve learned that living in this wrld requires an eternal perspective that aligns with Gd s value system. Gd is hly, righteus and perfect. We, n the ther hand, are nt. Our sin is what separates us frm Gd, and accepting Jesus Christ as ur savir, is the nly way t restre ur relatinship with Gd. He is the bridge t ur future heavenly life f perfectin. We need t realize that seeking an earthly life f perfectin is impssible and unattainable. Many f us struggle with this. We knw perfectin is unattainable but we still lng fr it and we put n a masks f perfectin fr thers t see. But, we need t put aside ur desire fr perfectin s we can have lives filled with jy. S, let s dig int the truth that perfectin is unattainable and realize that we were made fr perfectin, but nt here n this earth. Our earthly lives will never be perfect. Deep dwn we knw this, but we are still disappinted when the perfect situatin, scenari r result desn t happen in ur lives. We need t cnstantly remind urselves that perfectin in unattainable and that seeking this unattainable perfectin will nly lead us further away frm jy. Ecclesiastes 7:20 tells us that there will never be a perfect persn here n earth. There is nt a man n earth wh des what is right and never sins. Rmans 3:23 states, Fr all have and fall shrt f the glry f Gd. Furthermre, the Bible tells us that perfectin belngs t Gd alne. His will is perfect. Rmans 12:2 (b), Then yu will be able t test and apprve what Gd s will is-his gd, pleasing and will. His wrks are perfect. Deuternmy 32:4 (a), He is the Rck, his are perfect, and all his ways are just. Christ, Gd in the flesh was sinless here n earth. Jesus in Jhn 8:46 is asking unbelievers, Can any f yu prve me guilty f sin? If I am telling the truth, why dn t yu believe me? Even thugh we knw we aren t perfect peple, we still expect perfectin in peple, situatins, and utcmes. With that in mind, in what ways d yu seek perfectin in yur daily life? Hw des this hinder yu frm experiencing lasting jy? As fllwers f Christ, we were made fr perfectin, called t a life f perfectin but nt here n this earth. But, we shuld still strive t please Gd in ur daily lives. Matthew 5:48 states, Be perfect, therefre as yur heavenly father is. We are als called t be imitatrs f Gd. Ephesians 5:1-2 instructs us, Be f Gd, therefre, as dearly lved children and live a life f lve, just as Christ lved us and gave himself up fr us as fragrant ffering and sacrifice t Gd.

5 In what ways d yu need t imitate Gd mre in yur life? As Christians, we shuld reflect his perfectin in ur lives. We d this by placing Gd abve all ther things and humbling urselves befre him. Genuinely placing Gd first in yur heart shuld be reflected in yur life. Read Matthew 19:21, If yu want t be, g, sell yur pssessins and give t the pr, and yu will have treasure in heaven. Then cme, fllw me. Christ is telling us that in rder t fllw him, we must get rid f anything that we place befre Gd. In this scripture, Christ is addressing a rich yung man wh was valuing his pssessins ver Gd. In rder t grw in righteusness, we must place Gd first in ur hearts; befre ur children, husbands, careers and pssessins. Lk at the cntent f yur heart, if Gd isn t first, hw can yu change this? Lastly, we need t realize that the antidte t seeking a life f utter perfectin is acceptance f this imperfect wrld. We live in a fallen wrld, full f imperfect peple. If we place ur hpe in peple, situatins and pssessins, we wn t experience lasting jy. Instead, we need t place ur hpe in Christ alne. And when we admit ur weakness and lean n Gd, he will give us his strength t live in this imperfect wrld. Read 2 Crinthians 12:7-10. In what ways can yu relate t the apstle Paul s earthly struggles that he describes? Why shuld we delight in the imperfectins and struggles f this wrld? Verse 10 (b) states, Fr when I am weak, then I am strng. What des this mean t yu in yur life? Finally, find cmfrt in knwing that everything right nw is temprary, perfectin is waiting fr us!

6 Read Revelatin 21:1-4. Hw d these verses bring yu cmfrt and jy while living in an imperfect wrld? In the end, we must put aside ur desire fr perfectin in urselves and thers s that we can live lives filled with jy!

7 Chse Happiness Because Jy Isn t Enugh Day 20: Building Jy in Others It s cmmn knwledge that we live in a jaded sciety filled with peple wh lie, cheat, steal, and gssip n a daily basis. That s why Gd s wrd tells us t be in the wrld, but nt f it. ( 1 Jhn 2:15 ) Even thugh peple will disappint us, we need t learn hw t lve thers the way Gd has lved us. We need t speak life int the lives f thers t build them up, nt tear them dwn. And, building thers up will result in mre jy in ur wn lives. Hw d yu think building jy in thers will help yu t experience jy in yur wn life? In rder t build jy in thers, it starts with genuine lve. Read Matthew 22: What des Jesus tell us is the first and greatest cmmandment? What des Jesus tell us is the secnd greatest cmmandment? In rder t build up jy in smene else, yu have t extend the same lve and grace t them that Gd has shwn t us. Until we perfectly lve peple the way Gd lves us, we still have a lt t learn abut lve. 1 Jhn 4:7 tells us, Whever des nt lve des nt knw Gd, because Gd is. Jesus als tells us in Jhn 13:34, A new cmmand I give t yu: ne anther. As I have lved yu, s yu must lve ne anther. In what ways can yu lve Gd and shw lve t thers in yur daily life? Anther way t build jy in thers is t ffer encuragement t thse arund yu. Read Hebrews 10:24-25 What are we t encurage ne anther in? What habit shuld we encurage amngst each ther?

8 As believers, we are called t encurage ne anther. We are t build each ther up as we live t hnr Gd. When we d this, we are building up the bdy f Christ as we display humility, patience and frgiveness. These attributes, as well as encuragement and unity, will bring true lasting jy t ur lives. Ephesians 4:2-3 instructs us t, Be cmpletely humble and gentle, be patient, bearing with ne anther in lve. Make every effrt t keep the f the Spirit thrugh the bnd f peace. 1 Peter 3:8 als says, Finally, all f yu, live in harmny with ne anther; be sympathetic, lve as brthers, be and. List sme ways in which yu can encurage yur fellw believers. Hw will this unify the bdy f Christ? Lastly, when we are building jy in thers, we must ffer nnjudgmental lve, deliberately chsing t find the admirable qualities in smene else. Rmans 2:1 states, Yu, therefre have n excuse, yu wh pass n smene else, fr at whatever pint yu judge the ther, yu are cndemning yurself because yu wh pass judgement d the same things. It s imprtant t remember that we all struggle with sin. We need t address the sin in ur wn lives and truly repent befre addressing the sin in thers lives. We are called t be a light t thers, speaking Gd s truth in lve. This verse des nt instruct us t accept the blatant sin in smene else s life, but instead, t encurage them t hnr Gd as described in Hebrews 10: Read Luke 6:37. Hw can yu specifically apply this verse t yur wn life? Offering nnjudgmental lve can be difficult t accmplish, especially when it s hard t see the admirable qualities in thers. If yu struggle with this, ask Gd t help yu t learn hw t lve thers mre. Therefre, in rder t experience lasting jy in ur wn lives, we need t fcus n building jy in thers. We accmplish this by puring ut lve and encuragement t thse arund us as well as chsing t fcus n the admirable qualities in thers.

9 Chse Jy Because Happiness Isn t Enugh Day 21: Be an Encurager! Day 20 f ur Jy study fcused n the imprtance f building jy within thers and several ways t accmplish this. It is als necessary that we recgnize hw ur wrds and actins can steal jy frm thers. Prverbs 14:10 tells us, Each heart knws its wn bitterness, and n ne else can share its jy. We need recgnize hw we might prhibit thers frm finding jy and fight hard t avid thse things. We need t be peple wh validate thers feelings, shw cmpassin and understanding, and be an encuragement t the peple in ur lives. Validatin is smething all peple strive fr. As believers, we need t understand that ur validatin des nt cme frm the apprval f men, but frm Gd, and that we hnr Gd when we pint ut the gd in thers. Galatians 1:10 states, Am I nw trying t win the f men, r f Gd? Or am I trying t please men? If I were still trying t please men, I wuld nt be a servant f Christ. We shuld care mre abut Gd s apprval than any ther. Ephesians 4:29 says, D nt let any unwhlesme talk cme ut f yur muths, but nly what is helpful fr accrding t their needs, that it may benefit thse wh listen. We shuld strive t build ne anther up instead f tearing thers dwn. Hw can validating thers help yu t live a life full f jy? List ne way yu can validate smene in yur life this week. As fllwers f Christ we are als called t have hearts f cmpassin fr thse arund us. Gd shws us cmpassin, and as imitatrs f Christ, s shuld we. Read Ephesians 5:1-2 What are we called t be? Hw are we t live ur lives? Lve, cmpassin, and humility g hand in hand.. Ephesians 4:2 states, Be cmpletely and gentle; be patient, bearing with ne anther in lve. Humility als means we are frgiving. Ephesians 4:32 says, Be kind and cmpassinate t ne anther, each ther, just as in Christ Gd frgave yu. Gd has been cmpassinate tward us. Hw can yu be mre cmpassinate tward thers?_ Lastly, let s be an encuragement t thse arund us. We shuld lk fr ways t spur thers n in their faith. The Bible tells us in Hebrews 10:25, Let us nt give up meeting tgether, as sme are in the habit f ding, but let us ne anther- and all the mre as yu see the Day appraching.

10 1 Thessalnians 5:11 als states, Therefre, encurage ne anther ther and each ther up, just as in fact yu are ding. We shuld always be lking t encurage thers in their pursuit f Gd. We shuld never be a stumbling blck that derails smene frm that pursuit. Hw well d yu d at encuraging thers in their walk with Gd? When we seek t build jy in thers by intentinally validating them, shwing cmpassin, humility and encuragement, we are building up the bdy f Christ. And when we d this, we will be filled with lasting jy.