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Why aren't Christians more happy? - 7/9/2008 6:23:24 PM
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contentment16
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You know I wonder why more Christians aren't happier/at peace? Why are we allowing the devil and our flesh to kill our joy?
< Message edited by contentment16 -- 7/9/2008 7:17:56 PM >
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RE: Happiness - 7/9/2008 6:36:44 PM
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SavedByGraceMD
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quote:
ORIGINAL: contentment16
You know I wonder why more Christians aren't happier/at peace? Why are we allowing the devil and our flesh to kill our joy?
This is a good question, with no easy answer.
But...
Satan has a purpose also, which he has more time to master than we have ours. What he throws in our face is usually our biggest weakness, as I am sure you know. I think we tend to beat ourselves up more than he does though. It is our own guilt, and feelings of failure that I feel rob our joy. I am reading a great book called Bondage Breaker by Neil T Anderson, which makes some great points about this topic. He says that some if not most Christians don't realize the authority we have in Christ. We don't realize our place, nor do we realize satan has already been defeated. I know I have suffered from this.
As to the flesh, until we die, we are still in it. We develop habits which are hard to break. We desire instant gratification, especially now in this time in history, and especially here in America. They are all bonds that can be broken, and chains we can cast aside, but it still remains difficult to do so.
Jesus came to free the captives, and He did, we just fail to realize it has already been done.
_____________________________
Romans 5:8
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
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RE: Happiness - 7/9/2008 6:39:44 PM
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contentment16
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You know I am working towards defeating Satan more. I basically realize he has no authority over my life; not without God's okay.
My next step is maintaining this stance and my own flesh. I think we blame the devil for too much since he does not have autonomy over our lives.
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RE: Happiness - 7/9/2008 6:44:20 PM
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naomigo
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quote:
ORIGINAL: contentment16
You know I wonder why more Christians aren't happier/at peace? Why are we allowing the devil and our flesh to kill our joy?
becaues the media is in our face 24/7 with temptation..
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RE: Happiness - 7/9/2008 6:52:44 PM
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SavedByGraceMD
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quote:
ORIGINAL: contentment16
You know I am working towards defeating Satan more. I basically realize he has no authority over my life; not without God's okay.
My next step is maintaining this stance and my own flesh. I think we blame the devil for too much since he does not have autonomy over our lives.
This is exactly the point, he has no authority, yet we still let him beat us down. If it is not him, it is the world, or the flesh. But like I said, I think it is mostly ourselves who beat us up. Guilt, perceived failures, giving into our fleshy desires. I agree, we do blame satan way too much for our own downfalls, but he does have a part in it. But this is a very pertinent question, and I look forward to reading the replies to come.
Thanks for the great topic contentment16.
_____________________________
Romans 5:8
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
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RE: Happiness - 7/9/2008 6:53:46 PM
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SavedByGraceMD
Posts: 666
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From: the poconos
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quote:
ORIGINAL: naomigo
quote:
ORIGINAL: contentment16
You know I wonder why more Christians aren't happier/at peace? Why are we allowing the devil and our flesh to kill our joy?
becaues the media is in our face 24/7 with temptation..
This is true, but do we blame the media? Or do we blame ourselves for buying into what they are selling?
_____________________________
Romans 5:8
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
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RE: Happiness - 7/9/2008 7:05:15 PM
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contentment16
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I just want us to be happier. I want to be more at peace. I am angry that we aren't more happy. What are we doing wrong? How can we procelytize when we can't show them the beauty of our faith? We need more of God.
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RE: Happiness - 7/9/2008 8:48:08 PM
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SonInMe1
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The standard for christianity is high..higher than any other.
Jesus Christ.
Dieing to self.
Having no rules, but doing right not because we will lose something we could never gain in the first place but because we love God more than we love our flesh...our pleasures....our plans.
If your eyes are not on Jesus, then the promises of Matthew 6:25-33 cannot be fulfilled...
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?
6:26
Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
6:27
Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
6:28
"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.
6:29
Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.
6:30
If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
6:31
So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'
6:32
For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
6:33
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
_____________________________
You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.
James 4:4
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RE: Happiness - 7/9/2008 11:06:21 PM
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Walker311
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Who says a Christian must be happy?
Happiness is a goal for everyone but just because someone is a Christian does not guarantee happiness. Christians make mistakes that can cause them to be unhappy.
However, if we strive to follow the teachings of Christ, we can attain the kind of joy that leads to a happiness that the world cannot grasp.
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RE: Why aren't Christians more happy? - 7/9/2008 11:37:51 PM
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Anamchara
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In my opinion:
Joy cant be taken from you, it is a gift of the Holy Spirit. Perhalps I think rather than people proclaiming that the devil came to steal kill and destroy their joy, they should think what have I done to allow my joy to be supressed. When you relook at the way your outlook is things, it changes your focus back to Heaven... your joy is in the fact of knowing where your soul is going when you die. That when you get to heaven you will see Jesus and the very Word of God fullfilled in your life..that you will no longer break your saviors heart, you will have the honor to bow before him and lay your crown..that you will see many loved ones who have gone on before you again...what a day glorious day that will be. Just to think about it and type this automatically brings a smile to my face. When we look at the things of God rather than our circumstances around us, its lifts our spirit. I find that many people I know allow their joy to be supressed cause they pick up the burdens that surround them and carry them along this temporary placement called earth. When the bible says to cast your burdens on Him cause He cares for you. HIs yoke is easy, His burden is light. Hope this helps.... :)
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RE: Happiness - 7/10/2008 2:06:41 AM
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BibleL7
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quote:
ORIGINAL: contentment16
I just want us to be happier. I want to be more at peace. I am angry that we aren't more happy. What are we doing wrong? How can we procelytize when we can't show them the beauty of our faith? We need more of God.
The beauty of our faith is not relyant of us being happy. We are promised trials and tribulations in this life and the beauty of our faith is relying on Him to help us get through these trials and tribulations. It is the peace we have while in the trials. It is the love we show others without expecting anything from them, and loving them because He helps us love them that we would not otherwise love. And by showing our love and caring for the brothers and sisters in faith.
Happiness is a mood based on what happens to you, if it is good then you are happy I would rather have joy and peace which the Lord gives. Many things in life can make people happy, people even get happiness in drugs and alcohol or sins of sex. This is not what I look for. When I came to know the Lord it was part of witnessing by people who were in a house for mentally ill people who were not happy that much, yet they had a peace of mind with the Lord that I did not have. And of course is up to the Lord to convert people.
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RE: Why aren't Christians more happy? - 7/10/2008 4:48:01 AM
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Liveloved
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quote:
You know I wonder why more Christians aren't happier/at peace? Why are we allowing the devil and our flesh to kill our joy?
Because many have not come into that rest that Jesus talks about and that Hebrews expands on. There is a continual striving that leads to alot of restlessness and lack of peace. If the Prince of Peace is on the throne, we will be at rest, be found in peace and yes, we will be happy/blessed. That does not mean we will be smiling 24/7. That is not our goal. But He will be on the throne of our hearts and all shall be well and all manner of things shall be well. MHO 
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RE: Why aren't Christians more happy? - 7/10/2008 7:21:06 AM
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makarizo
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many reasons!!
when a Christian tries to keep the law, tries to 'look good' fills their life with unfair regulations about what their idea of how they are supposed to look like as a Christian, setting grace aside, putting logic and mental power ahead of grace and the Spirit...... if that happens, happiness will be based on personal accomplishment.
the fruit of the Spirit is love joy peace patience kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
those come by surrendering, and do not come by some logical, mental, rigid formulation of how one is supposed to handle their own life.
happiness has something to do with that!!
_____________________________
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RE: Happiness - 7/10/2008 8:48:47 AM
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drussell52
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Hi. This can be answered simply, because we are sinful, or it can be answerecd more complex with reasons stated here plus entitlement, messages we got growing up, lack of understanding the contrast between abundant life vs the wages of sin, etc etc. Also the popular beleif that we are "social animals" "works in progres" "either moving forward or stymied or failing." I like the phrase in the prayer of our Lord, give us today our daily bread, places the focus on the here, now, moment, hour, season in which we are. Great topic, and great replies! There was a question similar to this on this forum yesterday only the subject was stated from a different angle.
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RE: Happiness - 7/10/2008 9:08:10 AM
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timf
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Why aren't Christians more happy?
The lack of happiness is usually a result of walking by the flesh instead of walking by the Spirit. This is what happened to the church at Galatia. Our attachment to denomination often makes this situation worse.
Being right vs. following truth
I think I have mentioned before an event that occurred in the work place several years ago. Two people were discussing another employee who was known as a "Christian". This person had a reputation for being a hypocrite and irritating many fellow workers. One of the two men asked me as I was passing by, "Hey you're a Christian, what's the story about ____."
I had to think fast about trying to explain the behavior of this other employee who claimed to follow Christ. I said that there were many churches that had lists of rules to follow. As a person focused on the rules, he sometimes started to feel pretty good about how well he was following the all rules. I moved my hand upwards against the door post as to indicate the height of a tall man. Then I said that Christians were supposed to measure themselves against Jesus. Then I moved my hand downward to the floor. If we measure ourselves against Jesus, we can only know humility. If we measure ourselves against rules, we will often find pride.
"Being right" sounds almost like "following truth", but they can take you in very different directions. Consider the Pharisee and the tax collector in Luke 18.
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RE: Happiness - 7/10/2008 11:40:42 AM
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contentment16
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BibleL7 and Walker311
I think you are arguing semantics with me. My questions pertains to peace, joy, whatever you want to call it; because even though we sin and have trials it should not take away our joy/peace.
Why do we allow that? How can we stop that? This is my question.
Bless~
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RE: Happiness - 7/10/2008 11:54:33 AM
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JimboFletch
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quote:
ORIGINAL: contentment16
BibleL7 and Walker311
I think you are arguing semantics with me. My questions pertains to peace, joy, whatever you want to call it; because even though we sin and have trials it should not take away our joy/peace.
Why do we allow that? How can we stop that? This is my question.
Bless~
I disagree that semantics is the difference between happiness and joy. Happiness is an American ideal, not a scriptural one. THINGS and SITUATIONS make you happy. Joy is an unshakeable reality based on certain expectations from a deep, abiding trust in Jesus. That joy is not shaken by things or circumtstances. And biblical peace is also based on our new, solid relationship with God by grace through faith in Jesus.
Happiness is fine, as far as it goes. But it is fleeting, temporal, and a byproduct of externals.
Joy and Peace are permanent conditions based on internal and eternal realities in our reliable, constant God.
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RE: Why aren't Christians more happy? - 7/10/2008 12:03:36 PM
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Kerrlaw
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quote:
ORIGINAL: contentment16
You know I wonder why more Christians aren't happier/at peace? Why are we allowing the devil and our flesh to kill our joy?
Christians are the happiest group of people I know.
_____________________________
That which does not kill us makes us fatter. ~ crankius
<<< Rent-a-Coot
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RE: Why aren't Christians more happy? - 7/10/2008 12:21:27 PM
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Clarity888
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*disclaimer, this is my opinion only*
Honestly, I believe its lack of Faith.
I know that the christian walk is a walk of growth and progress, but I think a lot of us who read, preach and teach The Word...don't necessarily LIVE the word.
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RE: Happiness - 7/10/2008 1:19:46 PM
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contentment16
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quote:
ORIGINAL: JimboFletch
quote:
ORIGINAL: contentment16
BibleL7 and Walker311
I think you are arguing semantics with me. My questions pertains to peace, joy, whatever you want to call it; because even though we sin and have trials it should not take away our joy/peace.
Why do we allow that? How can we stop that? This is my question.
Bless~
I disagree that semantics is the difference between happiness and joy. Happiness is an American ideal, not a scriptural one. THINGS and SITUATIONS make you happy. Joy is an unshakeable reality based on certain expectations from a deep, abiding trust in Jesus. That joy is not shaken by things or circumtstances. And biblical peace is also based on our new, solid relationship with God by grace through faith in Jesus.
Happiness is fine, as far as it goes. But it is fleeting, temporal, and a byproduct of externals.
Joy and Peace are permanent conditions based on internal and eternal realities in our reliable, constant God.
if it makes you feel better I can change the word to peace/joy. (I am attempting to refer to those things.) I wonder why more of us don't have that abounding peace 
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RE: Why aren't Christians more happy? - 7/10/2008 1:22:13 PM
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contentment16
Posts: 39
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Clarity888
*disclaimer, this is my opinion only*
Honestly, I believe its lack of Faith.
I know that the christian walk is a walk of growth and progress, but I think a lot of us who read, preach and teach The Word...don't necessarily LIVE the word.
That may be apart of it..... On Joyce Meyer (no matter what you think of her) she has a good point about the subject
http://www.joycemeyer.org/OurMinistries/EverydayAnswers/StartingYourDayRight/20080710.htm
She notes it may be the lack of indwelling of the holy spirit. I was thinking maybe sometimes we lack that bc we don't spend enough time in His presence.
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RE: Why aren't Christians more happy? - 7/10/2008 1:22:23 PM
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DaveW
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What about the brother who rebuked me for singing a happy song almost 40 years ago? I replied that the "Joy of the Lord is our strength." He responded it is HIS joy, not ours; and had I not read in the bible that it is "better to mourn than rejoice?"
I am still trying to find that verse........
I don't think he suffered from a lack of faith. He was a strong believer, loved the Lord with all he had.
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RE: Why aren't Christians more happy? - 7/10/2008 1:24:43 PM
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GroupW
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Clarity888
*disclaimer, this is my opinion only*
Honestly, I believe its lack of Faith.
I don't know. Sometimes I think Christians are a bit more insecure, unhappy, worried etc than the rest of the population. Then I realize that Christ came to heal the sick rather than those that think they're healthy.
Maybe we're just that segment of the population that's recognized the need for Him most acutely. Maybe it's just to be expected? In some ways, maybe we're supposed to be the most in need?
As a body, I think we're predisposed to be the most confused ;)
_____________________________
“For every problem, there is a solution that is simple, elegant and wrong.” -H.L. Mencken
"Most people would rather die than think; in fact, they do so." -Bertrand Russell
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