Happiness and Depression

Happiness from the flesh point of view or from the spiritual point of view. I have studied this issue for years. I went through depression and similar situations. Its not easy but once you put yourself to where God wants you to be, you will be fine. Even though I was saved at the time, I still need to keep repenting. God wants you to understand that He is there for you and He will help you through His GRACE. As a Christian, this is a CONTINUIOUS sanctification process of repenting throughout our Christian life. Depression comes in when we read in Romans 7:18 I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. Galatians 5:17 For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. We are sanctified by faith and God is always sanctifying us every minute. 1 Thessalonians 4:3 It is God's will that you should be sanctified (spiritual). God does not desire to destroy our wills, but to sanctify them. The primary work of Christ in redemption is to justify and sanctify believers. During the sanctification process, Christians need spiritual training which is forming spiritual fruits that we need to arm themselves spiritually to wrestle against the world, the devil and the flesh. One of the biggest problems in the Christian life in their sanctification process is lack of motivation to enjoy real intimate communion with a holy God in an eternal sense rather than temporal sense. Temporal time does not change us but God does when He changes us from within as we walk in Spirit. Our glory lies in withdrawal from all that builds on dust (temporal). If God had wanted us completely out of the temporal world He could have taken us home at the time of our spiritual birth (salvation). Christ's definition of Beatitudes (Matthew 5) contradicts Flesh's definition of happiness. True happiness begins in our hearts, mourning over sin which leads to meekness. From the attitude of meekness, we hunger and thirst for righteousness. Through Jesus Christ, we can receive God's mercy and righteousness that our hearts will be pure. When we accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, the Holy Spirit came into our hearts and cleansed our sins and purified our hearts. Only God can provide happiness when we have Jesus Christ in our hearts and only Jesus Christ can give us true happiness. "A selfish desire for happiness is as sinful as any other selfish desire. Its root is in the flesh which can never have any standing before God." A.W. Tozer (The Price of Neglect) Page 36 I got this a long time ago and I love it. This might help.

Recall Notice (This is like a parable to those who understand computer. I thought this is interesting) The maker of all human beings is recalling all units manufactured, regardless of make or year, due to the serious defect in the primary and central component of the heart. This is due to a malfunction in the original prototype units code named Adam and Eve, resulting in the reproduction of the same defect in all subsequent units. This defect has been technically termed, 'Subsequential Internal Non Morality,' or more commonly known as S-I-N, as it is primarily symptomized by loss of moral judgment. Some other symptoms: (a) Loss of direction (b) Foul vocal emissions (c) Amnesia of origin (d) Lack of peace and joy (e) Selfish, or violent, behavior (f) Depression or confusion in the mental component (g) Fearful (h) Idolatry The manufacturer, who is neither liable or at fault for this defect, providing factory authorized repair and service, free charge to correct this SIN defect. The number to call for the recall station in your area is: P-R-A-Y-E-R. Once connected, please upload your burden of SIN by Pressing R-E-P-E-N-T-A-N-C-E. Next, download J-E-S-U-S into the heart. No matter how big or small the SIN defect is, JESUS repair will replace it with: (a) Love (b) Joy (c) Peace (d) Longsuffering (e) Gentleness (f) Goodness (g) Faith (h) Meekness (i) Temperance Please see operating manual, HOLY BIBLE, for further details on the use of these fixes. WARNING: Continuing to operate the human unit without correction, voids the manufacturer's warranty, exposing owner to dangers and problems too numerous to list and will result in the human unit being permanently impounded. For free emergency service, call on J-E-S-U-S. DANGER: The human units not receiving this recall action will have to be scraped in the furnace. The SIN defect must not enter heaven or else heaven will be infected. Authorized by: The Creator.

The "normal" life of a disciple can never become a life of sadness and pessimism because we are relying on the Holy Spirit who keeps us from giving up with His Sufficient Grace. Its not about whether I am happy or sad (in the flesh) but rather, its about whether I am spiritually happy by being faithful to God regardless my situation. We all to apply our faith through the Holy Spirit in our own life in order to live in a Christian life.