Happiness is…
May 28, 2007 by Sarah
Filed under Read These!, Uncategorized
… not a bad word.
When Bible teacher Beth Moore said this last Friday night, I was taken aback, because since I began following Jesus, I was never taught that there was much use for happiness. JOY is the virtue you want! Unwavering, in the midst of circumstance. How un-spiritual to be affected by our circumstance or to desire to be simply happy.
Well, as Beth taught about the Blessing of Asher (Asher means “happy”) in Deuteronomy 33, something inside me awakened. She defined happiness (asher) as “the psychological (soul) awakening to a work of God.” A specific work of God that your soul realizes, and emotionally reacts to. While Biblical happiness is circumstantial, she said, it is not bound by any circumstance. Confused? Simply put, there is no circumstance in which God cannot work! It is not dependent upon how we feel, but how we feel is affected by what God does!
Nothing was more true for me than this weekend, and it was brought to me by my favorite thing: worshiping God in song. Friday night, led by Travis Cottrell, we sang the song “Give Thanks” an old praise chorus. My favorite part goes like this:
Let the poor say I am rich
Because of what the Lord has done for us
Give thanks
1 I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. 2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. 3 He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD. Psalm 40:1-3
As I sang it again in the arena, I was filled with joy for what God had done for me. I was overcome by God’s love and yes, I felt happy. I had just been telling my husband the night before that I thought I was giving way to some depression, and God met me right there and blasted it away with His goodness!
Sunday morning as I was singing on the worship team at church, God overwhelmed me again with His goodness and faithfulness. The laundry awaits, so I must also wait till tomorrow to write the rest. Oooh, I can’t wait!!
May you be blessed (asher) today.
Ps. 144:15
PRAISES!! How awesome is it that God met your need RIGHT when you needed it! I so wish I could have been there. Praise God for his promises and his love for us that He would reach down to where we are and pull us up, AGAIN and AGAIN!
[Reply]
Sarah, I think a word on happiness was just what a lot of us needed this weekend. (Gee, I thought it was just for me… ) I agree, the teaching & worship time was just incredible. Can’t wait to hear what you say next!
Kristi
[Reply]
Happiness is such a big part of my life decisions (along with much prayer, of course).
“there is no circumstance in which God cannot work…” SO TRUE!
Thanks, Sarah.
XO,
Jill
[Reply]
Hello! I found your blog through Beth Moore’s blog. And I love your place over here! I will definitely be back
. Your post was great! I wish I could have been there to experience what you ladies got to experience. It sounds like it was a very blessed time with the Lord.
God Bless~
Karen
[Reply]