Beyond Happy: Discovering Joy In Unexpected PlacesSample

Conclusion: Living Beyond Happiness 

If you’ve ever moved homes or apartments, you know that moving is a process. It’s painful but necessary.

You discard old things or junk and pack up the stuff you want to take with you. You close the boxes and, hopefully, your friends and family show up to load them (and your ridiculously heavy furniture) into a truck. Then you drive from your old home to your new one.

Just like relocating from one physical location to another, living beyond happiness is a process of discarding the things that weigh you down, moving away from searching for self-fulfillment, and dwelling in a new place of joy.

There are some practices that can help you as you learn to move beyond happiness:

• Spend time in God’s Word. God’s Word is a love letter but it’s also a blueprint for our lives. That’s why reading, studying, and memorizing Scripture is crucial to combat the lies and temptations we all face and to see the world from God’s perspective. 
• Seek God through prayer. Prayer is your connection with God. It’s a chance to share your heart with Him, but it’s also critical to learning more about God and listening to His heart.
• Get into community. God designed you for community with other believers. With honesty and openness in community, you’ll find encouragement, truth and accountability as you pursue God’s will for your life.

The world might tell you to pursue happiness. But when you move beyond happy, you can finally move into joy.

It’s a wonderful place to live.

Things to Ponder: 

• How would you define “joy”?
• We outlined three ways to help move into joy (reading Scripture, praying, and finding community with believers). Which is easiest for you? Which is most difficult?
• What’s one practical way you can pursue joy today?

We hope this Plan encouraged you!
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