Journal Entry ~ 12/17/18

1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 

2 but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.  - Psalm 1:1-2

Here’s the truth we need to understand, my friends ~ when we choose to meditate on His Word, we will be blessed. And since we learned earlier this week that blessed means happy, we can rephrase: when we choose to meditate on His Word, we will be happy. It’s really that simple. What do you choose to meditate on?  What consumes your thoughts night and day? Are you struggling to find happiness?

We spend so much of our energy trying to create happiness for ourselves and the ones we love. So much of that energy we spend is for naught. You want to be happy? Get into His Word and meditate on it day and night. 

God loves us so much that He wants us to be happy, so He wrote a book telling us how to do just that. The problem is that so many of us don't believe it will bring us happiness - even those who have given their lives to Christ still don't yield and follow His direction. They do what they believe will make them happy. Why?  Because we live in a world that defines happiness for us and we chase after that dream instead of His Word. I've done it for years. 

As moms, so many of us want our kids to be happy, so we focus so much energy on what the world tells us will make them happy - enroll them in multiple activities, push them to do well in school, fill their Christmas boxes with all the latest trends, take them on vacations, etc. It's not that those things are bad in and of themselves, but when those activities are where we place our focus and our importance, we raise a generation of believers who place their value on the things of the world. 

I was one of those moms who placed importance on school and activities, and even though many of those activities included church, youth group, and many volunteering opportunities with my children...they were still activities that filled their schedule. My boys knew the gospel, we shared family dinners every night, and even had family devotions every night before bed. But I neglected this simple truth - happiness is found in Him and Him alone. I'm know I said it frequently enough to them, but I didn't live it out. What I lived out with them was that good grades and a full schedule will bring them happiness and success in life....because that's what the world teaches us. 

While I could let that reality sink me into the pit, I know I can also find my happiness in the fact that I am forgiven. I have confessed, and left it in the past, and know I continue to press on every day toward true happiness. I live out the truth that my happiness comes from Him and Him alone. I am so thankful to be so very blessed today, as I continue to grow in my understanding of Him and all that He has for me. 

Press on ~ you are loved 💗