FINDING DIRECTION, PURPOSE, PEACE AND HAPPINESS

SCRIPTURE:
The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, 
in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, 
my stronghold. 
(Psalm 18:2)

MEDITATION:
Why are there so many people in the world 
who seem to be living their lives with no direction?
They bounce from one thing to another 
in their efforts to find happiness and meaning for their lives.

The world is filled with self-help instructions 
that might provide some brief relief for those searching for fulfillment.
However many of them fail to include God 
as the glue that holds everything together. 
There are countless seminars available 
designed to encourage people to go in a particular direction.
However, a person may be driven in a direction that does not fit them.

We can fill our minds with so much information 
that it becomes difficult to determine what will benefit us the most.
Consequently, we flounder around 
trying bits and pieces of what we have learned.
We can become a person who ‘knows more than we are doing’.
Does that make sense?
We can accumulate a lot of information 
but it is useless until we apply it to our lives.

And what happens when we get frustrated?
Some turn to the things of the world 
to numb their feelings of exasperation (alcohol, drugs, sex, etc.).
As long as we allow the things of this world to dictate our happiness 
and direction, we will miss out on finding real meaning for our lives.

So, how do we find true peace, happiness and meaning for our lives?
We go to the ultimate instruction book for living – the Bible.
And when we do, we discover that people during biblical times 
faced some of the same trials we do.
We can learn a lot from reading about how they handled their challenges.

We can see how the psalmist 
created a foundation for living his life with meaning and purpose.
He established the Lord as his guide.
He depended on the Lord to protect him 
and give him strength to deal with the challenges he faced.
Now this I know: The Lord gives victory to his anointed. He answers him 
from his heavenly sanctuary with the victorious power of his right hand. 
(Psalm 20:6)

Whenever problems began to crush his spirit, he took refuge in the Lord.
He knew that whatever he faced, the Lord is the One who could rescue him.
How did the Lord become his foundation for living?
He developed a daily fellowship with Him 
and not just a relationship that existed for one day each week, or less.

ACTION:
What kind of relationship do you have with the Lord?
Do you seek Him on a daily basis?
Do you cherish your fellowship with Him,
or have you allowed the things of the world to replace Him in your life?

Do you depend on the opinions and advice from others 
instead of seeking the Lord?
When you are frustrated, disappointed, or seeking happiness and direction 
for your life, do you turn to the numbing solutions the world has to offer?

God created you to fellowship with Him.
Don’t miss out on the opportunity to have a daily fellowship 
with the One who loves you to the extent that He died for you 
in the most humiliating and painful way.
He created you and He loves you!
Love Him back, and depend on Him as your Rock, your Fortress, 
your Deliverer, your Shield, and your Stronghold.

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, forgive me for not valuing You as I should. I confess 
that I have excluded You in too many areas of my life. Forgive me for 
allowing the things of the world to take Your place in my life. I realize 
that You hold the answers to peace, happiness and meaning in my life. 
Help me to seek a relationship with You that creates a desire in me to 
fellowship with You every day of my life.”