Heartfelt Cry!

You ask a lot people what they want out life, they will tell you they want to be happy. Upon observation this would seem to be quite an elusive commodity. As a society and community there would not seem to be too many "happy people." The question then begs why is that?Especially in the western world when we have such material wealth.

I think for myself that we as a culture are looking in the wrong place and in fact looking for the wrong thing. We are seeking happiness and expecting happiness because that's what the movies and the media tell us is our right, so why isn't happening. The answer maybe that we are listening to the voice seeking the wrong answer. Happiness tends to be an externally driven process dependent on events, possessions and happenings that please us. Things that go our way giving us what we want which may in the end be inherently selfish. It comes with entitlement, we figure we should be happy everybody selling anything will tell us this is the answer if you have just one more thing.

I think this maybe the old story of I climbed to the top of the ladder and found it was on the wrong wall. I would humbly suggest that the commodity we are missing or looking for is Joy. Joy is driven from within not by circumstances and while they would appear to our culture to be similar, they fundamentally different. Joy to my understanding comes from within. It is a by-product of recognising the grace by which we are saved. It is the deep understanding of grace that brings joy even when as the Bible suggests our circumstances can be less than ideal. James suggests that we should count all joy when we are in trials. This does not match with our culture.

I have not mentioned our author this week because they simply did not resonate with me to any large extent with me. What did happen though is that God has brought the beginnings of revelation about how important grace is to us living a fulfilling joyful life. I am at the beginnings of working this out.  I am sure this is not about knowledge and learning, but about revelation of the Holy Spirit and the changing of our inner structure. So this will be a journey will be truly a spiritual journey and  will take the rest of my natural life. I will be seeking further revelation of God's grace on my life and I will see were it takes me. This is becoming a heartfelt cry of the my spirit!

Maybe a revelation of grace worth having for you as well. Like me you could ask "Father reveal your grace to me so I can begin to grasp a little of the joy you intend."