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I think I'll just be happy today!


Is it enough to just want to be happy?  I think it takes more than that.  Resolve is good, don't get me wrong, but the condition of the heart HAS to have something to do with it, along with the journeys life takes you on.

I'm on a new journey.  I retired January 3rd of this year.  And its August and I'm still getting used to it.  Am I happy I'm retired?  Oh yes!  But am I happy?

Maybe.

I think its time I RESOLVED to open up my heart to all this journey is.  I'm feeling pretty vulnerable right now.  Hang on, this might not be pretty.

In the last eight months, I have realized a few things about myself that has made me feel truly UNhappy.  I could blame this on my mother.  It's tempting to lay the blame on someone else and not own up. Fortunately, I'm not that person anymore (or at least I don't want to be).  I'm owning it and I'm releasing it.  Tootaloo!  (Now that felt good!)

So, what is the root of my unhappiness?  Me.  My pride, my selfishness.  My heart.  Jeremiah 17:9 says, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?"  That's my heart in a nutshell.  And its really irritating!  I mean, no one understands me.  I can't even understand myself!

Sorry to be such a Debi-downer, but it's true!  If ANYONE out there knows what I'm talking about, raise your hand!  I don't think I'm alone in this . . . .  this "heart" ailment.

Being the Type-A fixer of all things that I am, I have come up with a few "solutions" to help my heart and my retired life BE what I know God wants me to be - HIS.  Resolved?  No, surrendered.


  • Every morning I wake up, say "good morning" to Jesus and give Him my day.  I then make my bed and wash my face.  This may seem silly, but believe me, it helps.
  • Next, I eat breakfast and do my devotions.  In doing my devotions, I try and note what stands out, or seems important for that day.  Hence, my journal.  It's been a life-saver, to say the least.  Let me just recite some recent "tidbits": Keep my mind fixed on Him; Follow hard after God;I want to simply do Your will, Lord; and my favorite this month (so far): Thank you for claiming me as Your own.
  • I always pray.  Every day.  And when I pray, I adore, confess, give thanks and ask.  In that order.  I don't know which is more important so I do all of them (just to cover all my bases).
  • Lastly, I put on my armor.  My spiritual armor (Ephesians 6) - Sometimes that's the most important part of my day.  

I have to say that greeting my Lord, every morning, has put a "new attitude" that I've never had before.  So what do you think, shall we be happy today?   Only in You, dear Lord, only in YOU!

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