My Daily Pause

Freedom doesn’t always look like we thought it would.

The world thinks that living outside of God’s boundaries provides some sort of freedom.

The Proverb writer did not think so:

Evil people are trapped by their own sin,
but good people can sing and be happy. – Proverbs 29:6 NCV

By looking at other versions we can see they used different words to try to get the point across:

• snare
• ensnared
• caught
• etc.

In the Greek, the literal word is a noose or a nose hook. Sin does not give us freedom – it places us in a noose!

Look at the things a careless lifestyle causes:

• bad reputations
• addictions
• health issues
• relationship problems

The list could keep going, but isn’t that enough?

Godly and faithful people have much cause for celebration. They have hope. (Hebrews 11:1) Those who will not or cannot turn from their sinful ways do not know hope. They also do not know the peace Paul describes in Philippians 4:4-8.

Choose to stay with God’s freedom.

Choose hope.

A happy heart is like good medicine,
but a broken spirit drains your strength. – Proverbs 17:22 NCV

There is enough medical evidence that shows that generally happy people are healthier people, and besides, Solomon told us that from the beginning. Why then, aren’t we all resolved to be happy? God gave us the tools to be:

But godliness with contentment is great gain. – 1 Timothy 6:6

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me – John 14:1

Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. – Philippians 4:4

The challenge to true happiness is to avoid confusing it with pleasure. Where pleasure is a momentary feeling from physical activity, happiness is a state of mind about one’s circumstances.

If you have not already, decide to be happy. Avoid attempting to purchase happiness through material things and worldly pleasures.

“It isn’t what you have, or who you are, or where you are, or what you are doing that makes you happy or unhappy. It is what you think about.” – Dale Carnegie

“If you want to live a happy life, tie it to a goal, not to people or things.” – Albert Einstein

“Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” – Abraham Lincoln

Daily Bible reading for June 19

Proverbs 17-18
Deuteronomy 21:1-22:12
Amos 5
Matthew 3