THE FRUITS OF HAPPINESS

This topic can help any one; it has certainly helped me when I decided to apply it in my own life.

God (Yahweh)

The biggest fruit of all is to love God, Honour Him, and obey his word, for there is nothing better than that.  Once you get that, you unlock the key to the Kingdom.  For without the Creator everything else is nothing.  If you look around your house, everything has been created by someone or something, and there is a reason behind it.

God created man with body parts which function to serve a purpose.  Without the head, which is synonymous to God as the head of all, everything falls apart.  So from the biggest fruits of all, we get the nutrients to sustain us (wisdom).  For, there is no way a man can survive in this world without wisdom, which is connected to love.  Happiest is a man (woman) who takes wisdom to heart and applies it.

Fruit of love

The second most important fruit of a human being is loving others, which is connected to the heart as a centre of living.  With out love everything falls apart.  There is no human being on earth who has ever emphasised on love as Jesus did.  He was the kindest and most loving human being the world has ever seen.  For He portrayed the character of God in perfection.  Even when people were nasty towards him he responded with love and kindness, and sometimes got angry at their stubborn hearts, for he wanted to help them.

The main enemy of love is Satan, for he has a way of poisoning it. Jesus said, Love God with all your heart and your neighbour – which also means, to ‘protect your heart, your inner love’.  So, we get rid of hatred, because it damages our heart and inner being.  For it is good to hate the sin not the sinner.  Jesus said, love God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind. And love your neighbour as your self. You may say, hang on a minute, this is perfection here.  But, God doesn’t ask us to do things which are impossible for us to do; whatever he tells us to do, he knows we can do it.  And when we do it, we become very happy and secure.

You may walk down the street or go shopping in the market, everyone you set your eyes on is your neighbour. In most cases, you leave people alone in peace; that’s love. In other cases, you direct someone who is lost, that’s love. Sometimes you say something nice to someone, that’s love. And other times, you buy something from a trader, that’s love.  And when you help some one in a desperate need, or forgive someone; that’s love. And when someone shares their faith with you, or vice versa; that’s love.

Once I was having an evening stroll, I saw a man who seemed to be drunk and was falling over in the bush.  I thought I needed to do something, so I went over to him, thinking he was probably hurt.  I felt a bit sorry for him, because he was lying flat on his face, looking a bit helpless.  Anyway, I said, ‘I think you need some help. I’ll call the police’.  The moment he heard the word, police, his voice became louder.  No, no! Raising his head quickly, he found the energy he thought he had lost. He staggered on his feet, and went on his way half falling, half walking.  That’s love.

For as we get on with our busy schedules, our focus goes more to other people than any other creature.  We study each other, our skin colour, hair styles, fashion sense, and we realise we are all in the same boat. The more we leave each other alone the more peaceful we become.  But the moment you have a negative attitude towards somebody else, you poison your love and lose a sense of peace. Satan is the master planner of poisonous arrows which  aims at your heart – a connection to your mind.

As I mentioned from the beginning, I have to tell it as it is…the truth which benefits mankind. For that’s what our loving Almighty Father in heaven wants us to do, and it pleases him.

 

THE BEST COUNCELLING

The best counselling a human being could ever have is God’s counselling through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. There are three ways to that counselling, the first one is through the Holy Bible, and when it comes to the New Testament which is mainly about Jesus, it goes even further.  The Bible has a way of touching every dimension of our lives.

The second one is when you have that quiet time, and the Holy Spirit touches the issues in your life, especially if you are a genuine Christian. I remember a fellow Christian saying, you should always ask yourself, ‘what would Jesus do in this situation?’.  The third one is a human counselling, but you should always compare it with the scriptures.

There are three dimensions when it comes to ‘seeing’, not in a physical sense but spiritually.

–         How God sees you.

–         How you see/ or see yourself.

–         How others see you.

The first one is crucial because God sees every thought you put in your mind, every motive and action.

Secondly, how you see your situations and yourself. There are times when we see ourselves, things or other people the wrong way.  And there are times when it is just the opposite.  During some of my quiet times, I ask God for counselling or guidance on a certain issue, especially if it is bothering me.  It is interesting because, you get question like, ‘what do you see?’  In my mind, I end up stating what I see, for instance, I state how I feel about an issue, or any insecurity. So I go into details, with the knowledge that God knows everything.

Doing this enables us to open up, to see what God wants us to see or change.  He reveals things or a sin you need to see, for example, it could be character flaws in some one, or a friend you thought is a friend turns out to be the opposite or something in your marriage, or your children, or a character issue in yourself, etc.

There are times when we have an issue God wants us to get rid of, because it is not beneficial, or sometimes when we have an attitude towards somebody.  The truth is in every situation God will show us something we need to work on. Some people may ask, is God involved in every area of our lives, and the answer is no.  God is more interested in our inner/spiritual development than financial growth. He normally blesses us with what we need. God doesn’t want us to be greedy; when you have more than others, think about helping those who are struggling.  Note, Jesus was not interested in money, nor did he have his own house.

When it comes to how others see you, it is better to get an idea from someone close, some one who cares, and has got your best interest at heart. They will mention something in you, which you need to see or change, for your own benefit. You may not like it sometimes, but you need to hear it. But on the other hand, is when they get it wrong! Nevertheless, you have to examine yourself with sincerity.

Many people use human counselling, but only to some extent. But the best counsellor is God and Jesus on his side. If you want to get it right listen to the Holy Spirit, this is what God uses to get you on the right track, and the finger will always be pointing to the Bible. He knows every detail of your life. He knows all your fears and insecurities.

Let’s face it, none of us shares all their thoughts to another human being, but you can share all anxieties, and weaknesses to God, for no thought escapes him.  With any bad thought you have to ask God for forgiveness.  Normally, I say I’m sorry Father God, for that bad thought or sin; but I have a responsibility to get rid of it.

And when it comes to counselling, sometimes you need to talk to Almighty God in your heart or Jesus.  It is good to say, Father God I feel this way, what do you think? Pour it out – everything. Sometimes, you can pray in your heart wherever you are, without using your voice.  And when you get his counselling, you feel his kindness and love.