Path to True Happiness

  HAPPY Thanksgiving … I pray it truly is happy.

 “And whoever trusts in the Lord, happy is he.”

Proverbs 16:20

How many genuinely happy faces do you see? Lives speaking of rest, peace, joy and blessing? Souls abiding in love, truth and right-mindedness?

There are two different paths we can travel in this life. These two paths manifest two different spirits within us. One of these paths leads to happiness, the other empty hopes. Whichever path we give our minds to determines the type of spirit we are.

One path, taken by many, is directed by this world’s wisdom and ways, and manifests a spirit of corruption within. This life is preached to us in every dimension. You can’t escape its messaging that penetrates the airwaves. When we trust and live by this wisdom, which we all start out doing, a spirit of corruption is fed and grows within us. James 3:15 This spirit manifests a life of sorrows.

The other path, traveled by few, is directed by God and true wisdom and manifests the spirit of God within. James 3:17-18 This life is taught to us by Christ. Matthew 11:29 Its instruction doesn’t come from the society and culture around us, but from the Holy Spirit. 1 John 2:27 When we learn of this wisdom, the spirit of God makes its home within us. John 14:23

These two spirits create different outcomes. The spirit of corruption is of fear and produces suffering, pain, anger, depression, afflictions and angst. When you give your mind to the messaging of the world, this spirit reigns in you. The spirit of God is of love and produces health, rest, joy, blessing, compassion, and peace, which you see very little of because very few truly seek instruction from the Holy Spirit, the source of truth.

The Creator of this world desires for you to live in a reality of truth, wisdom, love, rest, and peace, and yes happiness …to walk the less traveled path. Matt 7:13-14 Yet most don’t believe that God truly is this good or this powerful in their lives, therefore most don’t look to Him to manifest this life in their lives. Their unbelief keeps them from seeking God, because why bother? What difference would it really make?  For a lack of seeking, they remain bound to lies and on the path of destructive mindsets, generated by worldly wisdom, leading to sorrow.

God’s power is real, yet it has become futile to people. God’s power and promises have been contrived to empty shells of hypocrisy. People declare the peace of God, when there their soul is full of angst. They declare the love of God, when anger reigns in their souls. They declare the righteousness of God, when sin is ruling their spirit. These souls are still bounded by the spirit of corruption. They haven’t walked or failed to continue walking on the path leading to God’s spirit indwelling their soul.

2 Timothy 3:5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!

The fruit of our lives reveals the spirit within us. When we get honest with our spiritual state and stop calling it what it isn’t, then we are open to seek truth.

If you are 30 lbs overweight but tell yourself you’re not. What will you do? Nothing. If you think you are what you aren’t you are deceiving yourself and thus hurting yourself. If you are honest with your situation, then you can start to do something about it. As long as we think God’s power and promises aren’t really real and life is lacking this side of heaven, then we won’t seek. This self-deception is one of the greatest forms of bondage.

When we seek to be taught about life from the Holy Spirit and put our trust in what He teaches, He prepares our souls to receive God’s Spirit. Once we truly start seeking, our lives shift to the path of life. As we persist, we are sanctified by truth. John 17:17 Ephesians 1:4-5 As we are refined and purified, the spirit of God begins to fill us. What we experience is becoming a new creation; old things pass away, all things become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Many haven’t experience this transformation, because they haven’t walked the path governed by the Holy Spirit. It’s a completely different wisdom and way of life than that of the world. What you feed your mind, you are.

When God’s righteousness dwells within you, you are transformed, you can’t help but be. Not by your own accord, but because the spirit of corruption has been replaced by God’s Spirit. As you don’t effort to sin, you don’t effort to be righteous; truth and love simply flow from the fountain of life within you. When God starts to take up residence in your soul, you know it – EVERYTHING is transformed; your mind, desires, actions, words, heart … truly become new. You experience rest, peace, joy blessing, love, truth, soundness of mind, and yes happiness.

When you understand the reality of this blessed life with God occurs this side of heaven, you will seek and you will find. Matthew 7:7,11 God is powerful. When we trust Him, our lives change in very tangible ways that lead to an abundant life. The power that raised Christ from the dead moves in and through us affecting our lives even to the most specific details. Ephesians 1:19-20

When I pray that you truly will be happy it’s a significant prayer, and one that God desires to fulfill. Don’t be frustrated if you see the spirit of corruption in your life, this is where we all start, and awareness is the first step toward the right path. Get on the path of life and headed in the right direction, and you will find the happiness you seek and all you deeply desire.