“I’m glad in God, far happier than you would ever guess—happy that you’re again showing such strong concern for me. Not that you ever quit praying and thinking about me. You just had no chance to show it. Actually, I don’t have a sense of needing anything personally. I’ve learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I’m just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I’ve found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am. I don’t mean that your help didn’t mean a lot to me—it did. It was a beautiful thing that you came alongside me in my troubles.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4:10-14‬ ‭MSG‬‬

 

Ok, can I be completely honest with you? I felt hypocritical to even post this passage this morning because this unfortunately does not always describe me but you know what?! We are in this together, locked arms, a happy sisterhood, pressing toward this goal, right? Let’s together make these verses a reality in our lives! How about we just meditate together on this passage this week and share in the comments below or on social media what the Lord shows us regarding this.  

 

The 2 big things that stood out to me from this devotion :

1- The recipe for happy is this ~  

“Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am.” 

Oh had I only remembered THAT verse last time snot was flying and tears were rolling! It’s IN HIM that I can make it through ANYTHING. When I fall off the happy wagon is when I try to derive my happiness from my standing with someone who doesn’t approve, won’t be who I “need” them to be to me, or expresses their lack of support in some way. You too? What is it that derails you? What if we both learn to whip up this happy recipe NO MATTER what happens like this verse says! Oh the happy days that are about to flood our future because of this one revelation of His amazing Word that is alive in our hearts and penetrating through the crud creating hearts of gold in you and me right now!! The joy that floods my heart just thinking about it.

 

2- “I don’t mean that your help didn’t mean a lot to me—it did. It was a beautiful thing that you came alongside me in my troubles.”

This jumped off the pages to me. I hope I can arriculate this because it was huge for me. I am truly so thankful for all the people who have done things for me and for those that have come alongside me in my troubles! But the more powerful thing to me about this passage since it followed the part just before it is this. It is not enough and it can no longer be the part that is necessary for my recipe for happy. Its just the icing on the cake if you are there for me. Yay! It’s great when you are but my happiness can no longer be based on you being who I need you to be. The bulk of the recipe, the cake, is who God is to me! That’s the main thing. That’s the recipe for being happy.  

 

When we take our eyes off of Him and gaze over to someone or something too long for our happiness, it’s going to slip away every time! My closest friends and husband are really glad for this post I’m sure. It’s not even fair for us to put that kind of pressure on our friends or family to hold the keys to our happiness in their hands. God is the only one with those keys. The minute I got my eyes back on my source of happy, all was well in the universe.  That’s when every jack leg we know can do whatever they want and it does not disturb our peace or joy. Girls, this is how we can have a feast, a party, a happy hour right in the midst of our ENEMIES knowing that IN HIM, darts can fly, words can be said, but our hearts are safely happy in Him!!  

I hope you are doing cart wheels this morning with me as excited as I am to finally realize we have the recipe and plan to use it! 🙂  

 

Will you you try this recipe with me? Will you let me know how it goes next time you find yourself in a situation where you would normally be a hot mess but because you went by the recipe, instead your happiness stayed in tact? Let me know next time you “enjoy the cake” and hardly even miss “the icing” because   He becomes what keeps you satisfied. 

 

I am so happy just thinking about this passage becoming the very anchor of our souls next time we are in battle. Let’s let eachother know how it’s going. I’ll be praying for you as you get better at this recipe 😍 Please pray for me, too! We are gonna become pro Happy cooks! Happy Monday ANYWAY!!!!

 

{ By the way, the photos of the cook book are of a cookbook that you can order this week on sale at happy anyway.org and the proceeds go my trip to Haiti with c3global to visit one of our orphanages 😍 Enjoy these yummy, beautiful recipes! }