Strangely Happy

Try building spiritual muscles with these groups of "threes": Faith, Hope and Love (1 Corinthians 13) - Faith is having the confidence of Jesus, to sleep in a storm. Hope is expecting good things because God promises to work all things together for good. Love is seeking the good of others, including God, whom we are to love with all of our being. Righteousness, Peace and Joy (Romans 14) - These are "in the Holy Spirit," but so are all the "virtues" in this post. That is the most important point - we are seeking the Spirit, and with the Spirit come the virtues; that's how we "make them our own." Righteousness is "justice" (it seems that's how Jews think of it). To be "just" (righteous) is to deal fairly and generously with others. Peace is to "rest" in the goodness of God. Joy is to be pervaded with a sense of well-being, and can live alongside sorrow (Paul refers to his own experience of being "sorrowful...

Thoughts from Psalm 32 Psalm 32 NASB vv 1-2 " How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered! How blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit !" God is with those he forgives. Forgiveness is free for us but was costly for Jesus. We don't have to be perfect, thank God! But we do have to be honest. vv 3-5 " When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away Through my groaning all day long. For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; My vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of summer . Selah. I acknowledged my sin to You, And my iniquity I did not hide; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord”; And You forgave the guilt of my sin . Selah." Sin (as well as worry, fear) spill over from mind and heart into our bodies, in which we feel their effects. Listen to your body. It isn't designed to sin (or worry). vv 6-7 " Therefore, let everyo...