First of all, I need to know that true happiness is not dependent on my circumstances or on how my ministry works out but on Jesus. The evangelist George Mueller stated: “The first great and primary business to which I ought to attend every day is to have my soul happy in the Lord.” This is a principle I want to apply in my every-day-life. I have to deeply understand with my heart that true contentment is only found in Jesus. Only He can truly fulfill and satisfy my soul. Only Jesus completes me.
1.Know the source of your happiness.
No ministry and no person I serve can fulfill my souls deepest desire for fulfillment, satisfaction and contentment. Learning to have my soul happy in Jesus is a life-long process, I guess. I need to remind myself of this truth every day. But if I have my soul content and satisfied in Jesus, I will not yield my expectations towards the ministries or the people I serve. Cause I cannot expect any ministry or person to fill the place only Jesus can fill.
2. It’s no longer I who live but Christ who lives within me.
It’s not about me or about what I do. It’s about Jesus and about HIM living through me. He loves through me, speaks through me, smiles, hugs, listens, helps and lives through me. Therefore, I have to stop trying to make things happen and just allow Jesus to have His way through me.
3. Pray.
A simple but powerful act. Often we are so busy with our ministries that there’s no time left to pray for it. But God made clear to me that if I want to see something happen I have to pray for the ministry and the people I serve. Because it is Him doing the work. He needs to prepare the people, he needs to open the hearts.
“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.” -Matthew 7:7-
I believe God wants to do so much more. We just need to ask Him for it. Change and transformation is up to God. This is nothing we could do. Only HE can heal people’s hearts, restore broken lives and save lost souls.
4. Trust God for the result.
Don’t even try to measure what God is doing on the mission field, in the lives of people. 99% of it we will never recognize. We will never see it. We will never hear of. Be aware that this is not your job. Just let God be responsible for the outcome.
5. Stop stressing yourself.
Ministry work will never end. I could always do more. But God doesn’t require me to do everything. So relax. He never called us to live a stressful life, not having any more time for personal quiet time with him.
