Unhappy

<<sad, discontented

Allowing yourself to have self-centred, negative emotions because a desire or right is not being met results in unhappiness; these unmet expectations produce disappointments because self is not being pampered. Giving undue attention to personal affairs rather than ministering to the needs of others feeds such feelings. We are to follow the example of Jesus who “did not come to be served, but to

Self should not be the centre of our world

serve” (Mk 10:45). When Jesus challenged the rich young man to surrender his idol (money), the controlling power in his life that was preventing him following Christ, he went away sad as he was not prepared to give it up (Mk 10:17-22). We all have different obsessions that must be relinquished so we can love God will our whole being for nothing is to have a higher priority in our lives than Him (Ex 20:3; Eccl 12:13; Mk 12:30). Do I willingly yield to Jesus what is limiting my intimacy with Him, the source of abundant life (Jn 10:10). He wants us to give to Him what we consider of value that He might give us true lasting riches in eternity.

As Christians, we should always have a joy within, knowing we are God’s children, even in the painful experiences, for they are the best thing to prepare us for eternity, unless we miss their purpose, complain, and grumble. The Bible declares all things work for our good, if we love Jesus and are yielded to Him, so these situations are allowed as

To be encouraged look at Who is for you, not the things that are against

opportunities for our growth and blessing (Rom 8:28; 1 Thes 5:16,18). Try to grasp what God wants to achieve in and through you by having a positive mental attitude, looking for the good, counting your blessings and allowing the ‘old nature’ to die away.