What makes you happy, what really brings joy to your life? Those are two valuable questions because if we don't have good answers we could be lost in a continual dead end search for it.
Many years ago my answers would be totally different than those of today. But I know for sure that one major thing has changed and that is understanding how much joy is in the little things of life, the every day interactions, rather than experiencing that major boom of an event. A simple phone call from a friend, a smile of a grandchild, a compliment of how someone sees the God in us, the little things that build our joy bank. Jesus had joy in the little children that came to him, Paul learned how to be content no matter what the situation and David danced for joy as the Ark of the Lord came to town. But what of that addicted and conflicted soul that cut himself to find relief in the Bible, or that heroin addict that experiences just a few short moments of glee from that needle? What do they have to be happy about? Truth is that if we can't answer those original questions we will keep searching for something we may never find unless we find the true source of joy. In the Bible joy or a derivative of the word shows up 430 times while happiness or something like that only shows up ten times. Happiness is fickle, and requires happy circumstances. Joy, on the other hand, sticks around. It doesn't get chased off by trouble. A key is in this scripture rarely quoted: You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound. Psalm 4:7. The source of our joy makes our heart happy or brings us emptiness. For many years my joy bank was empty because my life was filled with chasing the fantasies of an alcoholic lifestyle. Today the You who fills me with joy is Him, and he helps me see the joy in everything!
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Glenn YankowskiGlenn is an ex-Marine Viet Nam vet who is also a recovering alcoholic, clean and sober for 30 years. He has been involved in start up and ongoing recovery ministry at North Atlanta Church and Campus for the last two decades. He has a passion for outreach and to spread the message that the answer to lasting and fulfilling recovery from addiction is in a relationship with Jesus Christ. He and the ATB team are available to assist in your questions or needs on an individual basis and will do so maintaining complete confidentiality. You may e-mail him at [email protected]. Archives
October 2024
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