happiness

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
For they shall be filled. (Matthew 5:6)
It amazes me how many people are hungering and thirsting after happiness. There whole aim in life revolves how can I be happy. Yet, I have found whenever your whole aim is directed on how to be happy you end up miserable. We find here that according to Jesus if you hunger and thirst after righteousness then you will be filled. A person who has pain wants one thing and that is to get rid of the pain. His attention is consumed on this one thought. When he goes to the doctor and the doctor is more interested in getting rid of the pain then the cause of the pain the doctor lacks judgment. Seeking after righteousness allows us to realize why we are lacking happiness, never the other way around. To hunger and thirst after something means you are diligent and intent on the object. So what is righteousness? Living and walking with God according to Christ example is a good start. I have found that true happiness comes when I less expect it, but when I seek after it expecting it, I am more times than not let down. Righteousness on the other hand I have found makes me fell good about myself. It fills me and satisfies me without costing me anything. Don't follow what is popular follow what works. The opposite of being filled is being empty. Don't live your whole life seeking happiness only to be empty on the inside when the answer to your search is as close as talking to God in prayer!

Back in 1991 when I went to my first Church as Pastor I would have never imagined God allowing me to minister in places like this in Ghana West Africa. The call to service must be one of complete surrender to God's will. I never placed conditions on God. Like the song says, "Trust and obey there is no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey!" God will take you as far as you are willing to allow Him your life.

The man pictured here is a King of a region in Ghana. To give his life to Jesus meant to deny many of the traditions of his culture. Yet, the message of God's love and forgiveness touched his heart and he received the Word of God gladly.