The three simplest ways to a happier life

There's a situation in the bible that always struck me as kinda weird. Jesus came across a fig tree and checked to see if there might be any figs, because he was hungry. It wasn't even the right season for figs, and lo and behold, no figs. He curses that fig tree and later on when they pass it again, the disciples are shocked to discover that the tree is dried up by the roots.

I do not know the socio-economical ramifications or the theological debates about what that situation means,  neither am I going to talk about it. I'm sure there is a great significance, and I hope it will come to me through some awesome sermon sometime, but it's only the attention grabber right now. It got attention, and life changing things were awarded to those who would have the guts to pay attention and apply them to their lives.

Here it is, the shortest, most effective life strategy, to successfully live a real deal God-honoring, (dare I say it) happy life. Happy. Content. Fulfilled.

And here they are, the 3 ways, as outlined by Mark 11:22-25

1. Have faith in the Lord. What does that mean? For assuredly, I say to you, , whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and cast into the sea, and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. 
2. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray believe that you receive them, and you will have them.
3. And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. Buf if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.

Now for a bit of concordance fun. The word ask (I looked up) was aitew- to ask (in genitive case):--ask, beg, call for, crave, desire, require. This is the word that stands in the place of ask. The King James Version uses the word desire. Those words are a heckuva lot more evocative than merely asking. You can casually ask a person for a bite of their food, (Okay, maybe that's a bad example.) you can ask for some money from your parents. I've heard many people do this. You can ask for extra toppings on your pizza. But when you desire something, when you beg, crave, require something, you don't let it go without a fight, you are prepared to wake up at 6:00 in the morning to see it done. You are all wound up in it.

prayer, aka, sup·pli·cate

  

to pray humbly; make humble and earnest entreaty or petition.

I'm going to do the list thing again, because it's fun, and I want to make it even more simple.

1. Have faith, read- do not doubt.
2. Ask and pray
3. Forgive. 

Forgive. I saved the best for last. He didn't say, "If you feel like it."  or "If that person deserves it." or "If they were actually wrong." Guess what? The Lord of the universe doesn't care who was wrong or right. He gave a command. Forgive. Maybe we are in danger of being dried out like that fig tree if we don't follow these orders. Don't doubt. Do ask. Do pray. Humbly, even.

for·give

  verb, for·gave, for·giv·en, for·giv·ing.

verb (used with object)

1.

to grant pardon for or remission of (an offense, debt, etc.); absolve.

2.

to give up all claim on account of; remit (a debt, obligation, etc.).

3.

to grant pardon to (a person).

4.

to cease to feel resentment against: to forgive one's enemies.

5.

to cancel an indebtedness or liability of: to forgive the interest owed on a loan.

Forgive. Not too long ago, I tried it. I forgave people that hurt/disappointed/ me. I wrote rambeling messages. I am free. It doesn't hurt to see their pictures show up on my laptop picture slideshow. I set myself free and let them go with blessings.

I hope this has been a profitable time!

Be blessed!



Oh yeah, credit where it is due, since I have not learned greek myself. This is my source, also thanks to this wonderful site, that we would all be lost without, amiright?