The True Pursuit of Happiness

Verse of the day: Psalm 119:2 Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, Who seek Him with the whole heart!

What are we doing to pursue a life of happiness? As a born again believer, a child of God, a follower of Jesus Christ, where are we seeking happiness? Too many are seeking it in the vain things of this world, and the things that are temporary and corrupt. For some, finally buying that new house is where we are seeking our happiness; or buying that new car. Maybe it is in finally landing that dream job or making more money (which only leads us to want more money). Some think that our arrival at happiness will be when we find the right person to marry or start that family we have always wanted once we start having children. Well, I can say, without any doubt in my mind and heart, that none of these things will bring us lasting happiness. All the earthly wealth and gain that we seek is temporary, and the happiness that they bring is also temporary. In many cases the very things that we sought for our happiness are the very things that later enslave us and become a burden and source of our miseries (Eccl 5:10-17). So what is it that brings the Christian true happiness? Simply put...a pursuit of God. This verse tells us that happy are those of us who keep God’s Word and pursue Him with everything that is in us. In other words, we are to desire a life that exemplifies what it means to live a life that is obedient to God’s truth; a life lived in faith and by faith. Psalm 1 tells us that happy are we if we seek not the counsel of the world and love the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. It is in God’s Word, and prayer, that we will find true joy and peace. A life filled with the joy of the Lord and the peace that only God can give is a truly happy life. It is a life that learns contentment with whatever the Lord chooses for us (Phil 4:11-13). Sadly, too many of us justify going after the earthly things by convincing ourselves that God wants us to be happy; however, happiness comes from being in the center of God’s will and living the life God already has planned for us to live. A life committed to God and seeking Him so that He becomes personal in our lives is a life that will remain happy regardless of what circumstances we face. Will we experience times of sadness or times when we will mourn because of loss or because of a wrong decision or someone else’s wrong decision? Yes, we will suffer those times. However, when we learn contentment, and hold on to our joy in Christ, those times will not shake our happiness, as we will still count our blessings; the blessing that we are reminded of in God’s Word. For this reason it is so important that we guard the Word or keep it hidden in our hearts, where the Holy Spirit can use it to bring to our remembrance in those times when we need the strength, joy, and peace. We are also reminded that it is not enough to just know the Word of God, but we must also live it in our pursuit of God. Our pursuit of God should not be half-hearted; it should be fervent and diligent. I have seen some who get more excited about their favorite sports team winning and more fanatical about following that team than seek and going after God and the things of God. If we truly want to know who God is and who He is in our lives, we can only find that answer in living out the truths of His Word. It is in those times that He will show each of us personally who He is in our lives. He promised that if we truly seek Him we will find Him (Deut 4:29; Pro 8:17; Jer 29:13; Heb 11:6). The bottom line and sad truth is that I have seen Christians, self included, that have sought after things that had no eternal value, with such fervency that it was to their own hurt and the hurt of their families. Many of us have made a mess of our lives and shipwrecked our faith because of our pursuit of things that were of no heavenly worth (to include some earthly relationships) or were not even in God’s will and plan for our lives. In 1 Timothy 6:9-11 the Apostle Paul tells us that those who pursue money and earthly riches do so to their own destruction and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows. Instead, we are to seek and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and gentleness. In other words, our ultimate and true happiness comes from a fervent pursuit of a close, intimate, relationship with Jesus; which we will find if we seek and pursue Him with all our heart (Lk 10:27).

God sought us by sending His Son to die for us. Will you seek Him today? He extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus in repentance, confessing their sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).