Friday, March 3, 2023

Reflection - Richard DeHaan - Are You Happy?

Source (book): "Classic Gem: Timeless Devotions from Our Daily Bread Authors", Chapter 40, "Are You Happy?", Page 47.
By Richard DeHaan, Our Daily Bread Author


 We write this to make our joy complete. - 1 John 1:4
PHOTO: We write this to make our joy complete. - 1 John 1:4
Read: 1 John 1

An elderly woman was once asked by a friend about the spiritual welfare of a mutual acquaintance. She replied: "Well, she's in a very bad state of mind. She's got just enough Christianity to make her miserable when she's doing wrong, but not enough to make her happy in a prayer meeting."

The most unhappy people, it seems to me, are not the unsaved, but Christians who are disobedient to Christ. When they continue to sin, they are inviting God's loving chastening and are asking for much sorrow and loss. Because they have the benefit of the indwelling Holy Spirit and a knowledge of God's will through the Scriptures, they feel more wretched in their backslidden state than those who have not accepted the Savior. Every Christian who has lived for a time with unconfessed sin knows what I'm talking about.

To avoid such heartache and to be a happy Christian, we must seek to know God's will through Bible study and prayer. Then, in the power of the Holy Spirit we must strive to do God's will, walking in the light as He is in the light (1 John 1:7). We are not without sin (1 John 1:8), but we must be honest and open with God about our sin (1 John 1:9) and strive to overcome it.

Sin causes the cup of joy to spring a leak.
 

We write this to make our joy complete. - 1 John 1:4
Read: 1 John 1
 
 


An elderly woman was once asked by a friend about the spiritual welfare of a mutual acquaintance. She replied: "Well, she's in a very bad state of mind. She's got just enough Christianity to make her miserable when she's doing wrong, but not enough to make her happy in a prayer meeting."
 

 An elderly woman was once asked by a friend about the spiritual welfare of a mutual acquaintance.
PHOTO: An elderly woman was once asked by a friend about the spiritual welfare of a mutual acquaintance. She replied: "Well, she's in a very bad state of mind. She's got just enough Christianity to make her miserable when she's doing wrong, but not enough to make her happy in a prayer meeting."


The most unhappy people, it seems to me, are not the unsaved, but Christians who are disobedient to Christ. When they continue to sin, they are inviting God's loving chastening and are asking for much sorrow and loss. Because they have the benefit of the indwelling Holy Spirit and a knowledge of God's will through the Scriptures, they feel more wretched in their backslidden state than those who have not accepted the Savior. Every Christian who has lived for a time with unconfessed sin knows what I'm talking about.
 

 The most unhappy people, it seems to me, are not the unsaved, but Christians who are disobedient to Christ.
PHOTO: The most unhappy people, it seems to me, are not the unsaved, but Christians who are disobedient to Christ. When they continue to sin, they are inviting God's loving chastening and are asking for much sorrow and loss. Because they have the benefit of the indwelling Holy Spirit and a knowledge of God's will through the Scriptures, they feel more wretched in their backslidden state than those who have not accepted the Savior. Every Christian who has lived for a time with unconfessed sin knows what I'm talking about.
Picture posted by Artofkleyn.co.za
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXAphA4bVmQ7c-hkf7uJdnclxqfE5QSg2YrWHKZmOz91SjzSw2TQi2Ry12CkunApyxi4GptHrm-dUYjGeyWZCmFLiTIYydoNAxPJznvvNNifqs8wBw39XmvhQdvjL34ZwcmS8tkWGaWd5N5pjfwsDbrt0IOqofbkoPQtwG4yUQpi3y-51vI3lsyjXM/s700/37_09g.jpg
http://www.artofkleyn.co.za/images/37_09g.jpg
http://www.artofkleyn.co.za/pop%2037_09.html


To avoid such heartache and to be a happy Christian, we must seek to know God's will through Bible study and prayer. Then, in the power of the Holy Spirit we must strive to do God's will, walking in the light as He is in the light (1 John 1:7). We are not without sin (1 John 1:8), but we must be honest and open with God about our sin (1 John 1:9) and strive to overcome it.

 
To avoid such heartache and to be a happy Christian, we must seek to know God's will through Bible study and prayer.
PHOTO: To avoid such heartache and to be a happy Christian, we must seek to know God's will through Bible study and prayer. Then, in the power of the Holy Spirit we must strive to do God's will, walking in the light as He is in the light (1 John 1:7). We are not without sin (1 John 1:8), but we must be honest and open with God about our sin (1 John 1:9) and strive to overcome it.
Picture posted by Deborah Scotka
 
Sin causes the cup of joy to spring a leak. 
 
Sin causes the cup of joy to spring a leak.
PHOTO: Sin causes the cup of joy to spring a leak. 
Picture posted by voltuzaidi
https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/f/b00da3a0-dfe7-4780-a716-572b37f22105/d6xnjry-087934d8-e1d4-4f08-add1-0ac2ee10a42d.jpg/v1/fill/w_900,h_1125,q_75,strp/poca_hontas_by_voltuzaidi_d6xnjry-fullview.jpg?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.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.XuL6gMdJrPjHYGBpO8CrjMUgEN1enn9Zht8aA2KuBTA 
 
 

Source (book): "Classic Gem: Timeless Devotions from Our Daily Bread Authors", Chapter 40, "Are You Happy?", Page 47.
By Richard DeHaan, Our Daily Bread Author

"Faithful to the end", A Preacher's Exposition of 2 Timothy, @ 2014 by Robert M. Solomon

'Faithful to the end', A Preacher's Exposition of 2 Timothy, @ 2014 by Robert M. Solomon<br>
Reflection - Faithful to the end (Links)
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2017/06/reflection-faithful-to-end-links.html


"Finding rest for the soul" Responding to Jesus' Invitation in Matthew 11:28-29, © 2016 by Robert M. Solomon

Reflection - Finding rest for the soul (Links)
Reflection - Finding rest for the soul (Links)
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2018/10/reflection-finding-rest-for-soul-links.html


"God in Pursuit" Lessons from the Book of Jonah, © 2016 by Robert M. Solomon

'Reflection - God in Pursuit (Links) - PART I-III, posted on Saturday, 10 August 2019
Reflection - God in Pursuit (Links) - PART I-III, posted on Saturday, 10 August 2019
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2019/08/reflection-god-in-pursuit-links-part-i.html


"God in Pursuit" Lessons from the Book of Jonah, © 2016 by Robert M. Solomon

'Reflection - God in Pursuit (Links) - PART IV, posted on Saturday, 10 August 2019
Reflection - God in Pursuit (Links) - PART IV, posted on Saturday, 10 August 2019
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2019/08/reflection-god-in-pursuit-links-part-iv.html 


"Songs of Christmas", The Stories and Significance of 20 Well-Loved Carols, © 2018 by Robert M. Solomon

Reflection - Songs of Christmas (Links), posted on Friday, 24 April 2020
Reflection - Songs of Christmas (Links), posted on Friday, 24 April 2020
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/04/reflection-songs-of-christmas-links.html
 

"Growing Old Gracefully", Following Jesus to the End, © 2019 by Robert M. Solomon

Reflection - Growing Old Gracefully, Part I - III (Links), posted on Wednesday, 09 December 2020
Reflection - Growing Old Gracefully, Part I - III (Links), posted on Wednesday, 09 December 2020
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/12/reflection-growing-old-gracefully-part.html
 

Reflection - Growing Old Gracefully, Part IV - V (Links), posted on Thursday, 22 April 2021
Reflection - Growing Old Gracefully, Part IV - V (Links), posted on Thursday, 22 April 2021
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/12/reflection-growing-old-gracefully-part_9.html
 

"Teach Us to Number Our Days", © 2008 by David Roper

Reflection - Number Our Days, Chapter 1 - 40 (Links), posted on Tuesday, 16 November 2021
Reflection - Number Our Days, Chapter 1 - 40 (Links), posted on Tuesday, 16 November 2021
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2021/11/reflection-number-our-days-chapter-1-40.html
 
 
Reflection - Number Our Days, Chapter 41 - 64 (Links), posted on Wednesday, 16 March 2022
Reflection - Number Our Days, Chapter 41 - 64 (Links), posted on Wednesday, 16 March 2022
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2022/03/reflection-number-our-days-chapter-41.html
 
 
"He Walks with Me - Devotions for Your Caregiving Journey with God",  © 2018 by Our Daily Bread Ministries, Shelly Beach

 Reflection - He Walks with Me (Links), posted on Tuesday, 16 August 2022Reflection - He Walks with Me (Links), posted on Tuesday, 16 August 2022
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2022/08/reflection-he-walks-with-me-links.html
 


Reference
[1] From "Classic Gem: Timeless Devotions from Our Daily Bread Authors", Copyright © 2021 by Our Daily Bread Ministries, Chapter 40, "Are You Happy?", Page 47.
 

Links


New International Version (NIV), Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.


Posted by at
Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,