Getting back into the loop

A new year. As usual, one of my goals is always to blog/write more. For sure I’ve neglected this devo blog for a while ;-;. And I really do want to keep using it (actually I’ve got quite a few drafts of things I wanted to post ahahaha). So keep me in prayer as I continue to walk with Him 🙂

On a more inspirational note, I came across this in my Twitter feed tweeted by Starfield:

http://www.redletterchristians.org/12-hopes-for-2012/

I hope I too can fulfill some (if not maybe all?) of these 12 hopes.

Cry

I cry to You,
for You, my Lord
My soul cries for You
to You, my Lord

I can no longer live without You
You are my everything
My reason for existence
My reason to try even if I fail
My reason to serve even if I gain nothing
My reason to smile in joy even when happiness fades
My reason to love even if it is never returned
My reason to hope even when they say there is none
My reason to follow even if it means sacrificing what is dear to me

You are my all in all
There aren’t enough words to describe how wonderful you are

But I still cry to You
for You, my Lord
My every being still cries for You
to You, my Lord

Because I live among the broken and lost
And I feel like I’m lost among them from time to time

Draw me close Lord
May I never lose sight of You

 

Happiness vs. Joy

I’m kinda in the midst or writing Spiritual/Life Epiphany #2, which is why I’ve been holding back on devo posts, but I wanted to post something else instead that I’ve been wanting to post about for a while.

The difference between happiness and joy.

I’m no psychology expert or anything btw. But this actually came up in an old devo book I had done previously.

The topic of the devo was “Radiant joyfulness” with a few verses from Psalm 34: 5,8:

Those who look to [the LORD] for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces… Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!
-Psalm 34:5, 8

And from the devo reading:

Throughout the Bible, God promises his people joy–not happiness, which is based on circumstances–but the ability to rejoice in his very nature and presence no matter what the circumstances are.

According to my general and limited knowledge of the English language. “joy” and “happiness” are synonyms (that is 2 words, spelt differently, with the same meaning). And that’s what I had known up until I read this devo. But the more I thought about the 2 words based on this devo. The more I thought about how true “joy” really comes from God.

So instead of looking for happiness based on circumstance, I look for joy in God and what He blesses me with. Because all happiness fades with circumstance, but joy in God will last forever.

Why?

Because God is always with us :]

Oh and off the top of my head though, I don’t think I’ve even seen the word “happy/happiness” used in the Bible. So….I guess in my head, that would mean, there has to be a difference between “happiness” and “joy” if the word isn’t being used.