10 simple formulas of the Word of God to change your life
A few years ago I was reading Gretchen Rubin's New York Times bestseller, The Happiness Project, in which he tells a year of attempts to become a happier person by implementing the results of the search for positive psychologists ("happy scientists" as they come sometimes called).
As I read this fascinating and useful book, I couldn't help thinking: "Surely Christians can do better than that!" Although these science-based techniques can be helpful, Christians certainly have truths that can produce much more joy. Having written that Christians also got depressed, I thought, because I don't write the flip side, "Christians can be happy too!" (With the bonus that I could be better known as Mr. Happy rather than Mr. Depression!)
The result is The Happy Christian which I based on 10 biblical formulas, summarized in graphic form by Eric Chimenti. (Here is the full version in pdf and jpg for printing). To give you a general idea, here is a brief summary of each life-changing formula. (You can also get the first two chapters for free on the website here.)
Daily calculations
Like all formulas, these require work to work! Just as the answers to math questions don't just fall into our laps, so we have to work on these formulas to get the benefit of the biblical truths in them in our lives.
Furthermore, none of these sums is a one-off which we calculate once and then pass on. They must be practiced every day of our lives. Hopefully the infographic will make it easier to keep the formulas ahead of us and keep calculating them until they become instinctive and healthy habits.
Ten biblical formulas
1. Facts> Feelings: This chapter explains how to gather the right facts, how to think better about these facts and how to enjoy their beneficial impact on our emotions and moods. Having identified a number of harmful thought patterns that are wrecking our emotions, a six-step plan to retrain thoughts, eliminate destructive emotions, and build a shield of protective positive feelings such as peace, joy and trust. .
2. Good News> Bad News: Philippians 4: 8 is applied to our media and ministry diets to ensure that we are consuming and digesting more good news than bad news, and thus enjoy God's peace more in our hearts.
3. Fact> Do: While we need to ask the imperatives of God's law to reveal where we have gone wrong, we need to hear even more of the indicators of God's redeeming actions to reveal His grace and disposition.
4. Christ> Christians: one of the greatest obstacles to evangelism is the inconsistency and hypocrisy of many Christians. It is also the reason that many leave the church or are unhappy in the church. But by focusing more on Christ than on Christians, we stop adding up the countless faults of Christians and begin to calculate the priceless value of Christ.
5. Future> Past: This chapter helps Christians get the most out of looking to the past without falling into nostalgia or guilt. However, the main emphasis of this chapter is to encourage Christians to have a far more future-oriented faith than is usually the case.
6. Grace everywhere> Sin everywhere: without denying the deep and ugly sinfulness that affects and infects everyone and everything, this formula calls Christians to pay much more attention to the beautiful work of God in the world and in all his creatures, resulting in a more positive worldview, more joy in our hearts and more praise for our merciful God.
7. Praise> Criticism: While it is often good to criticize rather than praise, a critical spirit and a habit are extremely harmful to both critics and critics. This chapter presents ten persuasive arguments as to why praise and encouragement should predominate.
8. Giving> Getting: Perhaps the most amazing bliss in the Bible is, "It is more fortunate to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35). Looking at charitable giving, giving in marriage, giving thanks, and giving in command, this chapter presents biblical and scientific evidence to persuade that bliss is true.
9. Work> Play: Since work plays such an important role in our lives, it is difficult to be happy Christians unless we are happy at work. This chapter explains Biblical teaching on vocation and proposes a number of God-centered ways in which we can increase our joy at work.
10. Diversity> Uniformity: While staying in our cultures and communities is safe and easy, a more biblical commitment from other races, classes and cultures enriches and increases our lives. This chapter suggests ten ways we can increase diversity in our lives, families, and churches, and lists ten benefits of those choices.
Conclusion: in
in the midst of the reality of sin and suffering, Christians can find joy in repentance and joyful submission to God's providence. The book ends with a glance towards paradise, a world of happiness, where we can put our calculators away and enjoy God's providence of perfect happiness.