Happy is the one who listens to me,
watching daily at my gates,
waiting beside my doors.
For whoever finds me finds life
and obtains favor from the Lord.
Proverbs 8:34-35
Observation: Several times it is said that the individual who seeks the ways of the Lord and therefore finds wisdom will be ... happy.
Happiness is the result of being filled with joy. It is an internal feeling and emotion, not a condition or state of one's life. Happiness is independent from any sort of worldly situation. Happiness is explicitly NOT ... comfortable, protected, healthy, loved, successful, well-liked, wealthy, intelligent, respected. While some of these conditions may provide a level of happiness - and certainly the opposite of them may detract from happiness - they are not themselves happiness. Instead, happiness is always our internal response to our understanding of our life, and our emotional attitude toward our circumstances.
The writer of Proverbs is clear: Someone who has sought wisdom by pursuing the ways of the Lord and finding him in their lives, receives a supernatural favor from the Lord, and thus will be happy. Again, favor is not any of the earthly conditions either, but is a spiritual relationship. That relationship produces joy and happiness. It is life-changing from the inside out.
Application: I have thought often that I do not laugh as much as I used to when I was young. However, I would add to that thought by saying that I believe I am much happier in my life than I used to be. I used to laugh all the time, but then be internally angry very often. I may 'joke' with others, but didn't care about them. I enjoyed moments, but despaired at thoughts of the future.
I desire even more happiness. I would like to find even more joy within the ways of the Lord, and through alignment with his precepts and purposes in my life. I would like to find more happiness in daily situations as a result of true love for others and joy in their happiness and success.
It is in the Lord that I have found life. It is by his word that I find meaning. It is through his Spirit that I find happiness. May I have more happiness.
Prayer: Lord, this is my prayer today, may I have more happiness by listening to you more, watching daily at your gates, and waiting beside your doors, so I may go on a daily walk with you. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment