Happy Followers of Jesus

I read an article recently, which detailed the Top 10 characteristics of happy Christians.  I enjoyed the article a great deal and it caused me to think.  Of course I enjoy thinking about abstract concepts so I spent some time boiling down the 10 points into my own version.  I then used the student development theory from Chickering to visualize how the points work together.  I envisioned a vector system, just like Chickering’s model with three main areas.

Of course the core or center from which all things come is God.  From there I believe the things essential to make a happy follower of Jesus are:  a) Silence, b) Prayer, and c) Happiness/Gratitude.

First, a follower of Jesus should choose happiness.  I’ve said before that happiness is a choice.  We can choose to wallow in our pity and negativity or we can choose to see hope and renewed energy in Jesus.  In order to choose happiness, we should choose gratitude, focus on thankfulness, take every thought captive, and minimize negativity (both input and output). 

A second vector is that we must be still.  We cannot keep ourselves in constant chaos and find God’s peace.  God’s voice is still small and faint.  Rarely does he boom at us but prefers to speak to us in the quiet and stillness.  If we keep ourselves so busy that we fail to sit silently, I ask, what are you keeping yourself from?  What are you trying to insulate yourself from?

The third vector I believe in, is prayer.  I believe in small and imperfect prayers.  I recently did an interview with a college student from Mexico City.  During the interview, the student indicated that he’d recently been instructed that he was praying “incorrectly.”  The student went on to express his sadness for all the people he’d prayed for through the years but now he realized his prayers went unheard.  I firmly disapprove of this perspective.  I do not believe our loving God turns away from imperfect prayers.  I believe God cherishes our bumbling and our imperfections.  I believe God is so thrilled that we are spending time with him that he hears our heart and not our bumbling.

So, ultimately I believe our goal is a relationship with the real Lord of the Universe. Seek to share intimate time with God where He can share his heart with us and we can live His desires out!  Be blessed!