Daily Huddle - Sun Jan 12, 2020 Be Happy

Love you all, praying for you. 
 
Are you happy?  Many spend their life seeking it.  We even write songs about it.  “Don’t Worry – Be Happy.” The life advice and career advice and marriage advice the world gives - you need to do what makes you happy.  Duude – that’s soo deeep…  yeah… but… so’s the dog park.  It doesn’t mean it’s true.  Praying that God will open your eyes – to eternal truth – not cultural norms.  Even people who want to please God with their life – can fall prey to cultural norms.  What is your life philosophy?  What do you say most – that's the reasoning behind what you do, what your pursuit or focus is?  You can tell by a few words that reveal it.  I just want to ____.  What?   Where did that philosophy come from?  Did Jesus live it?  Did Jesus say it – or did He live and teach something different, maybe even the opposite?  Only truly humble people – will pause long enough to honestly consider this.  But back to happy...  If you were to pursue something in life, would you rather be happy or holy?  Oops already lost you - because we don’t know what holy is.  We think holy is something that it’s not. And we think happiness and holiness are incompatible.  God is holy – and we can’t be like Him – so why try?  Besides holy is kinda stiff, churchy, definitely not the fun that I want to have.  But that’s not what holy is – that’s what religion is.  Holy simply means set apart – unusual – not like everyone else around you – a fish going the other way.  Holy means – set apart for a different purpose – a different plan - marching to a different drumbeat – serving a different master – walking according to a different Spirit, getting a different result.  God gives us many things to be happy in - it's just that happy is not the goal.  Would you rather have happiness or joy?  Happy is temporary – Joy is not.  Happy depends on circumstance, Joy does not.  Chocolate makes me happy – but too happy and I get a stomach ache.  Football makes me happy.  But only if my team wins – if they don’t football makes me grumpy.  Actually,  happy – really is a lot like football – the NFL – not for long.  Happiness doesn’t last – Joy is eternal.  I hope you’re not trying to be happy – I hope you’re trying to be holy.  Holy – set apart – means He’s driving, not you.  Holy doesn’t mean perfect – Holy means humble – deferring to His will and His plans for you.  Holiness – is demonstrated by obedience, just like love for God is.  He set you apart for His plans for you – and they are so good!  You couldn’t even imagine anything better, more successful, more significant or satisfying – than the life He has already planned for you.  He loves you – He made you unique – there’s no one like you.  And no one could fulfill His purpose – the way you can – He created you for it!  And He longs to show you what He can do for you, through you, and through you for others by just walking in the plans He has for you!  Praying that you will review the PRISM Topic – Joy.  How do you get joy?  Sometimes you are just overcome by it.  In His presence sometimes God just buckets you with it.  It springs up from within you, unexplainable.  But most of the time, Joy is taken.  It’s there for the taking.  Rejoice – means to take joy again.   How do you get joy?  Three primary ways.  #1) In His Presence -  Get in that place of Worship – Pray in the Spirit – soak in Him – there’s always joy there.  Jesus, full of joy in the Holy Spirit… His presence always brings joy.  You see Him, and it leads you to think about what He's done for you - it brings joy - no matter what circumstance you are presently in.  #2)  Obey – PiVAT will give you His plans for you for today – PRISM will show you how to do them His way.  Praying that these are your lifelong daily habit.  Obedience always brings joy.  When you are faithful in the little things – you enter into the joy of the LORD.  And #3) Walking with Someone -  Paul said hearing that those he walked with are continuing in the obedience of Christ – it just brought him joy.  No different than when a parent is filled with joy seeing their children succeed.  Praying that you'll never get fooled into making happiness your pursuit.  Praying that the Joy of the LORD from His presence, and obedience, and from overcoming daily with one other – is your strength.  His presence, obedience, and overcoming with another every day– always brings joy – and that joy of the LORD is your strength.  Praying that you will always choose joy – always choose to take joy again.  If you’re short on joy – you can always get in His presence – turn the game off (just hit the pause button and come back to it)  Get in His presence and see what He has waiting for you there!  Ask Him again what He has for you in this hour – and do it right now!  Some people forfeit the joy that could be theirs because the let an hour, afternoon, evening or day – slip back into their ways – instead of His will for them.  Or just pray for your Daily Call Partner – you know what God told them to do today – from your Daily Call this morning.  Pray for them – text them an encouraging word – so in the morning when their testimony is filled with the joy of what God did – as they just obeyed – God will share their joy with you.  Praying that you'll be holy first - set apart in His plans - so that whether you're happy right now or not - you will always choose the joy of the LORD. 
 
Love you all,
dad