I've been preparing the study guide to accompany one of our Pure Gold Classics, all of which have study guides, a timeline, an audio-excerpts download, illustrations, biographies, detailed indexes, and many other helpful features. Each one has been updated so that modern-English readers will find their reading of these classics to be user-friendly.
As you know, language changes over the years in all its systems, including morphology, semantics, phonology, and syntax. Sometimes the meanings of words and idioms broaden and sometimes they narrow. Our editors endeavor to be sensitive to these changes and make revisions accordingly.
Currently I'm working on the study guide for Experiencing Union With God Through Inner Prayer and The Way and Results of Union With God by Madame Jeanne Guyon, which was revised in modern English by our Senior Editor, Harold J. Chadwick. In this case the book had to be translated into English from its orginal French, so it is a book that has undergone several changes through the years.
Nonetheless, its profound spiritual impact continues to minister deeply to people around the world. Madame Guyon was known as "the woman who loved Christ too much," and her deep love of Him caused her to be severely persecuted. She even had to spend time in the Bastille, where she developed a serious illness. Nevertheless, she persevered in her faith and continued to write and teach on prayer, the inner life, the Law of Central Tendency, and knowing God intimately.
Here is one of the things she said about the Lord's Prayer: "Now they should repeat the Lord's prayer [slowly] in their native language. [As they do], they should think a little while about the meaning of the words, ['Our Father, who art in heaven'], and the infinite willingenss of God, who dwells within them, to become truly "their Father." In this state, let them pour out their wants before Him. When they [softly] speak the name of Father, they should remain a few moments in a reverential silence, wating to have the will of their heavenly Father made known to them."
Her teaching on meditative and contemplative prayer has never been surpassed, in my opinion. Madame Guyon's teachings have influenced so many, including John Wesley, Count Zinzendorf, George Fox, Jesse Penn-Lewis, Hudson Taylor, Watchman Nee, Paul Billheimer, and me. I highly recommend that you read this book and begin the adventure of inner prayer and experiencing God.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
The Most Fundamental of All Human Motives
The Study of Values, a personality inventory I used to administer at the Career and Personal Counseling Center of Mary Baldwin College in Staunton, Virginia, suggests that the love of power is the most fundamental of all human motives. The longer I live, the more I believe this may be true.
People who are high in political values love power, and the power they have can be used in beneficial or detrimental ways. It has been aptly stated that absolute power corrupts absolutely, and we see evidence of this all over the world, particularly in dictatorships and other political venues.
The power that we should be seeking is God's power--the Bible calls it dunamis, which is the Greek word for words like "dynamo," "dynamic," and "dynamite." There is dynamite power available to all who will avail themselves of it.
At least three of our Pure Gold Classics teach us about this kind of spiritual power. The paragraphs that follow give some insights about power from Moody, Finney, and Wesley.
"May the Spirit of Elijah, beloved reader, be upon us. If we seek for it we will have it. Oh, may the God of Elijah answer by fire, and consume the spirit of worldliness in the churches, burn up the dross, and make us whole-hearted Christians. May that Spirit come upon us' let that be our prayer in our family altars and in our closets. Let us cry mightily to God that we may have double portion of the Holy Spirit, and that we may not rest satisfied with this worldly state of living, but let us, like Sampson, shake ourselves and come out from the world, that we may have the POWER OF GOD" ( From Secret Power by Dwight L. Moody).
"If any one secret of Mr. Finney's power be emphatic, it is this: he gave his whole soul to God. . . . Give yourself, with such supblime simplicity of aim, to God and His service; empty yourself as completely of worldly and selfish ambition; seek as devoutly to be filled and moved by the Spirit; and God will be as willing to use you as a chosen vessel for His glory!" (From Power, Passion and Prayer by Charles G. Finney).
"The expression 'by the grace of God' is sometimes understood to be the love of God, the free unmerited mercy by which any sinner, throught the merits of Jesus, is reconciled to God. Here it means that the power of God, the Holy Spirit, who works in us, both to will and to do His pleasure. As soon as God's grace in the former sense of pardoning love is manifested to us, His grace in the latter sense is given. The power of the Holy Spirit makes it possible for us to perform, through grace, what was impossible to man. Now we can order our conversation correctly. We can do all things in the light and power of that love through Christ who strengthens us. We now have the testimony of our conscience which we could never have by fleshly wisdom. Now 'in simplicity and godly sincerity we have our conversation in the world'" (From The Holy Spirit and Power by John Wesley).
Remember this: All power [authority] in Heaven and Earth was given to Jesus Christ, and He lives within you!
People who are high in political values love power, and the power they have can be used in beneficial or detrimental ways. It has been aptly stated that absolute power corrupts absolutely, and we see evidence of this all over the world, particularly in dictatorships and other political venues.
The power that we should be seeking is God's power--the Bible calls it dunamis, which is the Greek word for words like "dynamo," "dynamic," and "dynamite." There is dynamite power available to all who will avail themselves of it.
At least three of our Pure Gold Classics teach us about this kind of spiritual power. The paragraphs that follow give some insights about power from Moody, Finney, and Wesley.
"May the Spirit of Elijah, beloved reader, be upon us. If we seek for it we will have it. Oh, may the God of Elijah answer by fire, and consume the spirit of worldliness in the churches, burn up the dross, and make us whole-hearted Christians. May that Spirit come upon us' let that be our prayer in our family altars and in our closets. Let us cry mightily to God that we may have double portion of the Holy Spirit, and that we may not rest satisfied with this worldly state of living, but let us, like Sampson, shake ourselves and come out from the world, that we may have the POWER OF GOD" ( From Secret Power by Dwight L. Moody).
"If any one secret of Mr. Finney's power be emphatic, it is this: he gave his whole soul to God. . . . Give yourself, with such supblime simplicity of aim, to God and His service; empty yourself as completely of worldly and selfish ambition; seek as devoutly to be filled and moved by the Spirit; and God will be as willing to use you as a chosen vessel for His glory!" (From Power, Passion and Prayer by Charles G. Finney).
"The expression 'by the grace of God' is sometimes understood to be the love of God, the free unmerited mercy by which any sinner, throught the merits of Jesus, is reconciled to God. Here it means that the power of God, the Holy Spirit, who works in us, both to will and to do His pleasure. As soon as God's grace in the former sense of pardoning love is manifested to us, His grace in the latter sense is given. The power of the Holy Spirit makes it possible for us to perform, through grace, what was impossible to man. Now we can order our conversation correctly. We can do all things in the light and power of that love through Christ who strengthens us. We now have the testimony of our conscience which we could never have by fleshly wisdom. Now 'in simplicity and godly sincerity we have our conversation in the world'" (From The Holy Spirit and Power by John Wesley).
Remember this: All power [authority] in Heaven and Earth was given to Jesus Christ, and He lives within you!
Friday, February 26, 2010
Practicing the Presence of God
God is present everywhere, and it's in Him that we live and move and have our being. (See Acts 17:28.) In God's presence there is fullness of joy and there are pleasures forevermore. (See Psalm 16:11.)
Have you ever been in a worship service where you experienced the power of the presence of God?
Have you ever experienced the power of His presence while taking a walk?
Have you ever experienced the power of His presence in the solitude of your prayer closet?
The challenge, of course, is to remain in His presence in light of all the distractions that come to us in our modern society. Is it possible to walk in God's presence all the time? To live in His presence?
Brother Lawrence, who wrote The Practice of the Presence of God (one of our Pure Gold Classics) believed that it was possible. He wrote, "The practice of the presence of God strengthens us in hope. Our hope grows in poroportion as our knowledge grows, and in the measure of our faith--by this holy practice--penetrates into the hidden mysteries of God."
Psalm 31:20 promises, "Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues."
The secret of God's presence is wonderful, indeed, and it seems that so few no about it or how to experience it. The Bible tells us, "Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms" (Psalm 95:2). Thanksgiving and rejoicing enable us to enter God's presence.
Here's another wonderful promise about the presence of the Lord: "You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence" (Acts 2:28). The Bible frequently associates joy with being in God's presence.
There is great power and joy in the Lord's presence, and we should make every effort to get into His presence and stay there. Brother Lawrence writes, "We must always think carefully how to consider God and His glory in all that we do, and say, and undertake. This is the goal that we should set before ourselves, to offer to God a sacrifice of perfect worship in this life, as we hope to do through all eternity. . . . The presence of God is thus the life and nourishment of the soul."
Have you ever been in a worship service where you experienced the power of the presence of God?
Have you ever experienced the power of His presence while taking a walk?
Have you ever experienced the power of His presence in the solitude of your prayer closet?
The challenge, of course, is to remain in His presence in light of all the distractions that come to us in our modern society. Is it possible to walk in God's presence all the time? To live in His presence?
Brother Lawrence, who wrote The Practice of the Presence of God (one of our Pure Gold Classics) believed that it was possible. He wrote, "The practice of the presence of God strengthens us in hope. Our hope grows in poroportion as our knowledge grows, and in the measure of our faith--by this holy practice--penetrates into the hidden mysteries of God."
Psalm 31:20 promises, "Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues."
The secret of God's presence is wonderful, indeed, and it seems that so few no about it or how to experience it. The Bible tells us, "Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms" (Psalm 95:2). Thanksgiving and rejoicing enable us to enter God's presence.
Here's another wonderful promise about the presence of the Lord: "You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence" (Acts 2:28). The Bible frequently associates joy with being in God's presence.
There is great power and joy in the Lord's presence, and we should make every effort to get into His presence and stay there. Brother Lawrence writes, "We must always think carefully how to consider God and His glory in all that we do, and say, and undertake. This is the goal that we should set before ourselves, to offer to God a sacrifice of perfect worship in this life, as we hope to do through all eternity. . . . The presence of God is thus the life and nourishment of the soul."
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
This Is the Day--This Is the Hour--This Is the Moment
We must capture each present moment of our lives, and learn how to live in the now, as Oral Roberts used to say. Actually, the present moment is all we have. It has been accurately stated, "Every day is a gift; that's why they call it the present."
One of my favorite Scriptures is this one: "This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it" (Psalms 118:24). This verse sounds a note of optimism and faith that helps us launch each day in the right direction.
In the Serenity Prayer by Niebuhr we read these words: "Living one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time." There is great wisdom in these words, for we all know how short life is. The Bible says, "So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom" (Psalms 90:12).
Wisdom, in my opinion, leads us to number our days and live in the present moment, to learn to smell the roses instead of just passing them by, and to realize what is important in life. A friend of mine, who learned that she would soon be dying of cancer, was asked, "What would you do if you knew this was the last day of your life?"
She said, "I'd sit on my couch and hold my two sons close to me."
What would you do if you knew this was the last day of your life? Would it make you more positive or less so? Would it cause you to reach out for the things that really count?
Jesus said, "Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his lifre shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's the same shall save it. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Mark 8:34-36).
Og Mandino wrote, "Live this day as if it will by your last. Remember that you will only find 'tomorrow' on the calendars of fools. Forget yesterday's defeats and ignore the problems of tomorrow. This is it. Doomsday. All you have. Make it the best day of your year."
One of my favorite Scriptures is this one: "This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it" (Psalms 118:24). This verse sounds a note of optimism and faith that helps us launch each day in the right direction.
In the Serenity Prayer by Niebuhr we read these words: "Living one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time." There is great wisdom in these words, for we all know how short life is. The Bible says, "So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom" (Psalms 90:12).
Wisdom, in my opinion, leads us to number our days and live in the present moment, to learn to smell the roses instead of just passing them by, and to realize what is important in life. A friend of mine, who learned that she would soon be dying of cancer, was asked, "What would you do if you knew this was the last day of your life?"
She said, "I'd sit on my couch and hold my two sons close to me."
What would you do if you knew this was the last day of your life? Would it make you more positive or less so? Would it cause you to reach out for the things that really count?
Jesus said, "Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his lifre shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's the same shall save it. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Mark 8:34-36).
Og Mandino wrote, "Live this day as if it will by your last. Remember that you will only find 'tomorrow' on the calendars of fools. Forget yesterday's defeats and ignore the problems of tomorrow. This is it. Doomsday. All you have. Make it the best day of your year."
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Run Baby Run
When I was a junior high school teacher in Scotch Plains, New Jersey, my students and I read Run Baby Run by Nicky Cruz in our Social Studies class. The students loved the story of Nicky Cruz, and it would appear that students still love to read this excellent book that was written by a friend of mine, Jamie Buckingham.
John and Elizabeth Sherrill, who had written the best-selling The Cross and the Switchblade, introduced Jamie to Dan Malachuk, the publisher of Logos International Fellowship, because they knew Dan was looking for a writer for Nicky's story. I believe that meeting took place at the Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship International Convention at the Washington Hilton. I had the privilege of being there, and I will never forget the ministry of Kathryn Kuhlman, Merlin Carothers, and so many others.
Jamie, who has now gone to Heaven, was a Southern Baptist pastor at the time. As time went on, though, he became ardently charismatic. He was such an excellent writer, as is demonstrated in several of the books he wrote, including Run Baby Run, Daughter of Destiny, Glimpse Into Glory, Risky Living, and several others. I remember several things Jamie said, such as, "Our job is not to see through people, but to see people through." That positive attitude of faith and love was demonstrated in his ministry, his writing, and his daily life.
Here at Bridge-Logos Foundation we continue to sell many of these books, and they continue to do well for us. Why? I believe it's because the anointing of the Holy Spirit is upon them and within them. That same anointing reaches into the hearts of their readers, who are inspired by what Jamie wrote.
This, of course, was in the heyday of the Charismatic Renewal, and it was our privilege at Logos International to work with several well-known leaders, including Harold Bredesen, Harold Hill, Kathryn Kuhlman, Art Katz, David duPlessis, Judson Cornwall, and Dennis and Rita Bennett. As you may know, Dennis Bennett wrote Nine O'Clock in the Morning--an account of how he, an Episcopal priest, received the baptism in the Holy Spirit and brought the Charismatic Renewal to his denomination.
In many ways, though, it was Run Baby Run that put our company on the map. I'm happy to report that Nicky Cruz still ministers around the world, and a movie about his life may be coming out in the near future. The exciting story of how a New York City gang leader became a Pentecostal evangelist is one of the most inspiring stories ever told. Much thanks to Dan, Nicky, and Jamie for hearing from God about producing this classic Christian autobiography. It has changed the lives of countless young people and adults.
John and Elizabeth Sherrill, who had written the best-selling The Cross and the Switchblade, introduced Jamie to Dan Malachuk, the publisher of Logos International Fellowship, because they knew Dan was looking for a writer for Nicky's story. I believe that meeting took place at the Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship International Convention at the Washington Hilton. I had the privilege of being there, and I will never forget the ministry of Kathryn Kuhlman, Merlin Carothers, and so many others.
Jamie, who has now gone to Heaven, was a Southern Baptist pastor at the time. As time went on, though, he became ardently charismatic. He was such an excellent writer, as is demonstrated in several of the books he wrote, including Run Baby Run, Daughter of Destiny, Glimpse Into Glory, Risky Living, and several others. I remember several things Jamie said, such as, "Our job is not to see through people, but to see people through." That positive attitude of faith and love was demonstrated in his ministry, his writing, and his daily life.
Here at Bridge-Logos Foundation we continue to sell many of these books, and they continue to do well for us. Why? I believe it's because the anointing of the Holy Spirit is upon them and within them. That same anointing reaches into the hearts of their readers, who are inspired by what Jamie wrote.
This, of course, was in the heyday of the Charismatic Renewal, and it was our privilege at Logos International to work with several well-known leaders, including Harold Bredesen, Harold Hill, Kathryn Kuhlman, Art Katz, David duPlessis, Judson Cornwall, and Dennis and Rita Bennett. As you may know, Dennis Bennett wrote Nine O'Clock in the Morning--an account of how he, an Episcopal priest, received the baptism in the Holy Spirit and brought the Charismatic Renewal to his denomination.
In many ways, though, it was Run Baby Run that put our company on the map. I'm happy to report that Nicky Cruz still ministers around the world, and a movie about his life may be coming out in the near future. The exciting story of how a New York City gang leader became a Pentecostal evangelist is one of the most inspiring stories ever told. Much thanks to Dan, Nicky, and Jamie for hearing from God about producing this classic Christian autobiography. It has changed the lives of countless young people and adults.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Camp Shadowbrook
When I was thirteen years old I attended summer camp at Camp Shadowbrook in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania. This camp was founded by a youth evangelist named Percy B. Crawford, who also founded Pinebrook, Mountainbrook, and had a foundational role in Youth for Christ, Youtharama in Philadelphia, and King's College.
While I was there, as we were sitting around a campfire after dark, our counselor (Mr. Dave) read a passage from John that hit me straight in the heart: "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name" (John 1:12).
To think that I could experience God's power to become his son by believing on His name was a total revelation to my young spirit. I gave my heart to Jesus that night, and He has been with me ever since. Like John Wesley in his Aldersgate experience, my "heart was strangely warmed." Our Pure Gold Classic, The Holy Spirit and Power by John Wesley, we read: "In a word, the new birth is that change whereby the earthly, sensual, devilish mind is turned into the mind which was in Christ Jesus. That is the nature of the new birth."
We need to have our minds renewed, and that process began for me at Camp Shadowbrook back in 1956. Wesley wrote, "If you have not already expereinced this inward work of God, the new birth, add one thing more. Pray the prayer immediately: 'Lord, add this to all my blessings, let me be born again. Deny me whatever you please, but let me be born again. Take away from me whatever is necessary, only give me this. Take away my reputation, fortune, friends, and health, but let me be born again of the Holy Spirit. Let me be received among the children of God. Let me be born incorruptible by the Word of God, which lives and abides forever. Amen."
While I was there, as we were sitting around a campfire after dark, our counselor (Mr. Dave) read a passage from John that hit me straight in the heart: "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name" (John 1:12).
To think that I could experience God's power to become his son by believing on His name was a total revelation to my young spirit. I gave my heart to Jesus that night, and He has been with me ever since. Like John Wesley in his Aldersgate experience, my "heart was strangely warmed." Our Pure Gold Classic, The Holy Spirit and Power by John Wesley, we read: "In a word, the new birth is that change whereby the earthly, sensual, devilish mind is turned into the mind which was in Christ Jesus. That is the nature of the new birth."
We need to have our minds renewed, and that process began for me at Camp Shadowbrook back in 1956. Wesley wrote, "If you have not already expereinced this inward work of God, the new birth, add one thing more. Pray the prayer immediately: 'Lord, add this to all my blessings, let me be born again. Deny me whatever you please, but let me be born again. Take away from me whatever is necessary, only give me this. Take away my reputation, fortune, friends, and health, but let me be born again of the Holy Spirit. Let me be received among the children of God. Let me be born incorruptible by the Word of God, which lives and abides forever. Amen."
Friday, February 19, 2010
Reinhold Niebuhr's Serenity Prayer
In 1944, the year after I was born, theologian Reinhold Niebuhr wrote these important words:
"God, grant me the serentiy to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and the wisdom to know the difference."
What can we change? It is certain that we cannot change other people, the past, or certain circumstances. However, we are able to change our responses to others, past experiences, and circumstances. This really is a choice we have to make each day. We can also change ourselves through prayer and "the washing of water by the Word" (Ephesians 5:26).
Most people are familiar with the line I've quoted from Niebuhr above, but some may not know that there is much more to the "Serenity Prayer." It goes on:
"Living one day at a time; enjoying one moment at a time; accepting hardship as the pathway to peace; taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; trusting that He will make all things right, if I surrender to His will; that I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him forever in the next. Amen."
One day at a time, one moment at a time. There is no better way, for the only time we can be sure of is the present moment. What sound advice this is. Then he goes on to pray, ". . . accepting hardship as the pathway to peace." Wouldn't our lives be different if we were truly able to face hardship in this way, viewing it as the pathway to peace? Some choose to take a different pathway in the face of negative circumstances, and this leads them into greater aggravation, anger, and despair. There is a much better way.
We do not live in a perfect world that is inhabited by perfect people. Unless we accept this fact (with serenity) we cannot find happiness. This world is not our home, after all; it is simply a preparation for a much-better place. In this world we will have tribulation, but we need to be cheerful in the face of it, for Jesus has overcome the world (John 16:33).
Niebuhr continues, "Trusting that He will make all things right . . . ." Ah, now there's the key: TRUST. One of my favorite verses of Scripture says, "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding . In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths" (Proverbs 3:5-6). As the hymn tells us, "Trust and obey, for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey."
This trusting is conditional, however, for the next line of the Serenity Prayer says, ". . . if I surrender to His will." Have you surrendered everything to the will of the Lord? Have I? This surrender must include our finances, our families, our future, our health, our career, our job, our time, our everything. The old hymn points us in the right direction: "I surrender all; I surrender all. All to Jesus I surrender; I surrender all."
When all these aspects are in place in our lives, we will truly experience happiness, as Niebuhr points out: "That I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him forever in the next. Amen."
This is my prayer for you. Let go and let God. Know Him and enjoy Him forever. This is why we were created. This is the key to happiness. One day at a time.
"God, grant me the serentiy to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and the wisdom to know the difference."
What can we change? It is certain that we cannot change other people, the past, or certain circumstances. However, we are able to change our responses to others, past experiences, and circumstances. This really is a choice we have to make each day. We can also change ourselves through prayer and "the washing of water by the Word" (Ephesians 5:26).
Most people are familiar with the line I've quoted from Niebuhr above, but some may not know that there is much more to the "Serenity Prayer." It goes on:
"Living one day at a time; enjoying one moment at a time; accepting hardship as the pathway to peace; taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; trusting that He will make all things right, if I surrender to His will; that I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him forever in the next. Amen."
One day at a time, one moment at a time. There is no better way, for the only time we can be sure of is the present moment. What sound advice this is. Then he goes on to pray, ". . . accepting hardship as the pathway to peace." Wouldn't our lives be different if we were truly able to face hardship in this way, viewing it as the pathway to peace? Some choose to take a different pathway in the face of negative circumstances, and this leads them into greater aggravation, anger, and despair. There is a much better way.
We do not live in a perfect world that is inhabited by perfect people. Unless we accept this fact (with serenity) we cannot find happiness. This world is not our home, after all; it is simply a preparation for a much-better place. In this world we will have tribulation, but we need to be cheerful in the face of it, for Jesus has overcome the world (John 16:33).
Niebuhr continues, "Trusting that He will make all things right . . . ." Ah, now there's the key: TRUST. One of my favorite verses of Scripture says, "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding . In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths" (Proverbs 3:5-6). As the hymn tells us, "Trust and obey, for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey."
This trusting is conditional, however, for the next line of the Serenity Prayer says, ". . . if I surrender to His will." Have you surrendered everything to the will of the Lord? Have I? This surrender must include our finances, our families, our future, our health, our career, our job, our time, our everything. The old hymn points us in the right direction: "I surrender all; I surrender all. All to Jesus I surrender; I surrender all."
When all these aspects are in place in our lives, we will truly experience happiness, as Niebuhr points out: "That I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him forever in the next. Amen."
This is my prayer for you. Let go and let God. Know Him and enjoy Him forever. This is why we were created. This is the key to happiness. One day at a time.
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