It saddens me to see so many people apparently not enjoying life these days. Yes, we’ve all seen better times earlier in this 21st century. Still, life is meant to be enjoyed — not disparaged.
Living a devoted full life has become my chosen creed over the past four decades. I refuse to let this world take me down!
My next office neighbors are a young husband and wife team both practicing psychiatric medicine. Simply based on the flow of clients entering the office, their business certainly appears to be flourishing.
I imagine many of their patients benefit somewhat from their treatment methods, yet I doubt many are completely cured of their health issues.
Through medication and other therapies, their maladies may be masked, but healing of mental disorders can be quite illusive.
There was a time in my life when happiness would come and go. It was superficial happiness based upon how I perceived everything around me.
After all, in my 20s and 30s, I actually sensed the world revolving around me. Like many you’ve probably witnessed, I was disgustingly self-centered and motivated by what was best for me.
We all, to some extent, have a self-centered tendency. The Bible correctly calls that natural tendency sin.
If we are truly honest with ourselves, we all have things in our past that we wish we could change.
But the best we can possibly do is strive to make changes in who we become moving forward.
That’s exactly where we need to take this discussion. Living a devoted full life has to start with a decision to seek the necessary assistance to change directions.
No psychiatric clinic can help you reach that worthy goal. Here’s what has worked well for me.
It all started when I realized just how pathetic life had become. I did not sense any deep purpose to my existence.
Having left corporate life and turning 40 the previous year, I knew there had to be more to life. Fortunately, the Holy Spirit had started impressing me through some new acquaintances who demonstrated a joyful spirit I had never experienced.
Yes, it all came down to going back to church after being away from organized religion for more than 15 years.
Just a few months later I was not only singing in the choir, but cast in the role of Jesus in an Easter musical. The experience of hanging on a cross for nearly 15 minutes changed my whole outlook on life.
Just a few months later God introduced me to my life partner. Janet and I recently celebrated our 38th anniversary and we’ve experienced the Joy of the Lord through it all.
Perhaps you are seeking that devoted full life experience.
Let me share a few words from Psalm 51:1-4, a Psalm of King David: “Have mercy on me O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned. and done evil in your sight, so you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge.”
Your life can be filled with the Joy of the Lord. He wants you to experience a devoted full life.