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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Joy (05/18/06)
A friend of mine was seeing a psychologist for her depression. She was told to make a list of all the things that might give her life joy and happiness. Her list looked something like this:

1. A new job. I hate the job I’m in. I want something that pays better and gives me a sense of accomplishment.
2. I want someone who values me and appreciates me for who I am.
3. I want security
4. I want a new car.
5. I want to get out debt
6. I want to enjoy life and travel.
7. I want my life to have meaning and purpose.

That night as I thought about the things she had placed on her list I realized that she had omitted the only person who could bring her life happiness. If joy in this life is to be found we should start to live our life as if there was nothing, absolutely nothing but Jesus. Her priorities were wrong. She was looking for something in this world to satisfy her soul but even if she were to get everything on her list I’m afraid her life would still prove disappointing. Until our deepest desire is know Christ we will not care about anything but pleasing ourselves.

When Jesus called his disciples. They all left jobs, family, friends, everything, to follow Jesus. Their innermost desire was not for a better life down here; their deepest desire was to follow and obey Christ. How much time and effort did the disciples devote to Christ? They spent every day watching and learning from Jesus. They watched every miracle, they listened as He taught, They cringed as He debated the religious leaders of His day and they were eye witnesses to His death and resurrection. If we want joy in our life we must spend time with Christ. Until we put as much effort into knowing Christ as we do into our hobbies and other activities we will struggle in our relationship with God.

When it comes right down to it everything in this world we thought would bring happiness will be stripped away from us. When we come to the end of our lives there is only one thing we can present to God and that is our life. Our destiny is marching toward another world. Nothing is safe outside of Christ. Is there any greater joy than knowing that you have eternal life. Jesus knows our name. He loves us personally, He gave all so that our joy might be complete in Him.

“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord.” Jeremiah 29:13-14. May God open our eyes to the realization that our only reason for existence on this planet is to establish a relationship with the person who placed us here. Until that relationship is established all our attempts to attain happiness and joy will always fall short.
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Member Comments
Member
Date
Virginia Gorg
05/27/06
A good devotional piece. You get the point across well. Nicely done. :)
Dana Cooper
05/28/06
Good point about setting priorities.
Steve Uppendahl
05/29/06
Excellent lesson here on setting your priorities. I'm curious why the list was based on what might bring her happiness. What about listing what does bring her happiness?

I hope you mentioned your thoughts to your friend.

Good work.