WATCHWORD:
I’ve told you these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature. This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you. This is the very best way to love. Put your life on the line for your friends. You are my friends when you do the things I command you. I’m no longer calling you servants because servants don’t understand what their master is thinking and planning. No, I’ve named you friends because I’ve let you in on everything I’ve heard from the Father. John 15:11-15
Happy are the people whose God is the LORD! Psalm 144:15
Meditation:
Time to Clarify
Time to clarify. The Bible isn’t interested in making people happy. Instead, the Bible focuses on joy. Happiness is something we feel because of our situation or circumstances; i.e. we won the lottery, my friend still loves me, we found our lost ‘sheep’. We are happy because something made us happy, but we are joyful because of our Spirit within.
Somehow, happiness never seems to cross our minds when adversity knocks on our door, and yet…Have you ever thought about this: Can adversity breed joy? How about mistakes? Errors? No? Let me ask this then, who is your worse critic? Who berates you for things you have done, are doing, and did even years ago? Who sticks its ugly head into the present moment of joy, and sours it? We do it to ourselves! Isn’t that the truth?
I once observed that there are some people who can’t ruin their lives fast enough! You could be the greatest hero in town, and hours later you hear the little guy with horns inside your head saying, ‘You could have done that better, or sooner, gentler.’ We can manufacture guilt and regret out of the best of situations, or nothing at all. We are hard on ourselves, aren’t we? What a waste of time to sputter around with regrets. That can only lead to frustration, and all the related negative emotions, and there goes happiness, right out the window. They are all spoilers, spoilers of our happiness.
So, in a fit of fear or rightness, you come to your Lord and Savior with all of this smelly, seeping, disgusting baggage, and He says to you, ‘don’t be so hard on yourself’. You’re human, you’re going to mess up. That’s a byproduct of free choice, didn’t you know that? I told you that right there in My Book. You’ve read My Book, haven’t you? Did you see that place where your failures can be a source of blessing? You know, your scars can be lessons that give you one of the great graces that a human being can have, that of empathy, that of understanding and compassion.
You know that silly saying, ‘I feel your pain’? Well, once through adversity, you can! You’ve been there. You are that friend that jumps into the pit with you because he knows the way out. That’s empathy, My Child.
Can’t you just hear your Holy Spirit saying, “Oh, one other thing, I hate to mention this part but I understand how thickheaded you are. Your failures, your goofs, and all those sources of your regrets, they all highlight your dependence on me, your Lord and Savior. You know that smelly, seeping, disgusting baggage you brought to me? There is beauty there if you trust me and have the patience to watch and see what I will do with all of it.
One of your brothers, Paul, made a pretty good statement when he said that we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love me. Keep that in mind, my child. God is ‘good’, and He is the path to what we call happiness. So be it.
Closing Prayer:
Good morning, Lord! Thank You for a new day. Thank You that Your compassion is renewed every morning. Great is Your faithfulness and Your steadfast love, O Lord!
I don’t know what all is going to happen today, and how much I’ll get done, but You do. You have planned it just for me and because I know that you have prepared me for all that it holds, I will rejoice and be happy in your presence. So, fill me with Your Holy Spirit, Father. Energize me for Your work, because You know how tired these bones can be. Awaken me to the wonder of Your salvation, and quicken my spirit to the reality of Your work in my life.
Lord, my mind is filled with creative ideas, but they’re all jumbled. Holy Spirit, come and hover over my mind like You hovered over the waters at creation and speak order out of my chaos! Help me to cease striving and trust that You will give me all I need today to do the work You’ve given me to do. You will be faithful to complete the good work You’ve started, and as I step out into my day, I declare Your sovereignty over every area of my life.
I entrust myself to You and ask that You use me however You see fit. This day is Yours. My body is Yours. My mind is Yours. Everything I am is Yours. May You be pleased with me today. Amen.
