• Praying our confessions (Psalm 32).• Praying our fears (Psalm 3).• Praying our anger (Psalm 137).• Praying our doubts (Psalm 73).• Praying our guilt (Psalm 130).

• Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!

Psalm 32:11, Praying our confession.

• But you, Lord, are my shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high.

Psalm 3:3, Praying our fears .

• May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth if I fail to remember you, if I don’t make Jerusalem my greatest joy. Psalm 137:6, Praying our anger.

• Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.

Psalm 73:25, Praying our doubts.

• Israel, put your hope in the Lord, for with him is unfailing love. Psalm 130:7, Praying our guilt.

• Praying our confessions (Psalm 32).• Praying our fears (Psalm 3).• Praying our anger (Psalm 137).• Praying our doubts (Psalm 73).• Praying our guilt (Psalm 130).• Praying our fullness of joy (Psalm 27).

Psalm 27:4

Praying for our fullness of joy

(or: finding enduring and lasting happiness in a broken world)

Proposition: Everyone searches for happiness.

(Because I’m happy)Clap along if you know that happiness is the truth

(Because I’m happy)Clap along if you know what happiness is to you

Pharell Williams, “Happy”

Proposition: Christians should not pursue happiness, they should pursue God instead.

• “Is it not the contention of morality that we should do the good because it is good?...We should do the good and perform virtuously, I suggest, because it is good and virtuous, that God will bless it and cause us to be happy is a consequence of it, but not the motive for doing it.”

• “For the Christian, happiness is never a goal to be pursued. It is always the unexpected surprise of a life of service.”

I regard these quotes as contrary to Scripture and contrary to love, and in the end (though unintentionally) dishonoring to God. (John Piper, pages 97-98, Desiring God).

In some sense the most benevolent, generous person in the world seeks his own happiness in doing good to others, because he places his happiness in their good. His mind is so enlarged as take them, as it were, into himself. Thus when they are happy, he feels it; he partakes with them, and is happy in their happiness.

Jonathan Edwards

Happiness as a by product of being benevolent, morally upright and sacrificial doesn’t just happen to Christians.

All men seek happiness. This is without exception. Whatever different means they employ, they all tend to this end. The cause of some going to war, and of others avoiding it, is the same desire in both, attended with different views. The will never takes the least step but to this object. This is the motive of every action of every man, even of those who hang themselves.

Blaise Pascal

Proposition : My happiness is found in God.

“Happiness isn’t found by pursuing it; it is a by-product of pursuing God.” Chapter intro.

“How can we cultivate greater capacity for happiness? -By being grateful for the things God has given us.” Page 6.

“If you allow yourself to be happy over little things, happiness becomes a much more frequent visitor.” Page 9.

“Happiness is a gift to those who follow God’s truth.” Page 9.

Max Anders, Chapter 1, 21 Unbreakable Laws of Life.

One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple. Psalm 27:4

The secret to genuine happiness is to fall deeply in love with God.

• LOVE is the key motivation to any form of happiness.• Are we in love with God or in love with what we get

from being in FBC?

One thing and everything to David

4One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.

You’re my everythingThe sun that shines above youMakes the bluebirds singThe stars that twinkle way up in the skyTell me I’m in loveSanta Esmeralda, “You’re my everything”

Happiness that conquers anxiety 1The Lord is my light and my salvation- whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life- of whom shall I be afraid? 2When evil men advance against me to devour my flesh, when my enemies and my foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. 3Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident.

Happiness that causes anxiety

• Falling in love with a girl/boy.• Social acceptance by your peers.• Self actualization.• Happy family.• Health and wealth.• Success in your kids.• Guilty pleasures.• Etc, etc.

A joy that cannot be taken away

My flesh and my heart may fail but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 73:26

Though my mother and father forsake me, The Lord will receive me Psalm 27:10

Learning from King David

• Dwell in the house of the Lord (v4a).• Gaze upon the beauty of the Lord (v4b).• Seek him in his temple (v4c).

4One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.

Dwell

4One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.

God is sacramentally in the temple

God is experientially in his everyday life

Dwell

To dwell in the house of the Lord

• Means “to live permanently in God’s presence.”

• In your presence there is fullness of joy. Psalm 16:11b (ESV).

• How often do you desire God’s presence in your everyday life?

•Temple•Sacrifice•High Priest

Jesus in our hearts, but not in our everyday lives.

4One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.

gaze

The beauty of the Lord is reflected in how we glorify God with our lives.

To gaze upon the beauty of the Lord Psalm 27:4

May the favor of the Lord rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us- yes, establish the works of our hands. Psalm 90:17 (NIV)

And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us: and establish thou the works of our hands upon us; yea, the works of our hands establish thou it. Psalm 90:17(KJV)

7Hear my voice when I call, O Lord; be merciful to me and answer me. 8My heart says of you, “Seek his face!” Your face, Lord, I will seek.

11Teach me your way, O Lord; Lead me in a straight path.

Desires to experience God

Desires to honor God

To gaze upon the beauty of the Lord is to walk daily with Jesus.

If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.

John 15:10-11

• Happiness is glorifying God in our every day lives.• Happiness is incomplete unless expressed.

6 Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy I will sing and make music to the Lord

4One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.

seek

David begins to pray

Augustine

Anicia Faltonia Proba

In saying these things to you…rich and noble, and the mother of an illustrious family, have asked from me a discourse on prayer…you are desolate so long as you have not attained to that life in which is the true and abiding consolation.

Pray for a happy life…. Why, then, are our desires scattered over many things, and

why, through fear of not praying as we ought, do we ask what we should pray for, and not rather say with the Psalmist: “One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in His temple”?

Augutine’s letter to Anicia Proba (letter 130)

Desolation is to have everything but actually to have nothing

Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

John 16:24

But if God is our greatest love, and if knowing and pleasing him is our highest pleasure, then it transforms both what and how we pray for a happy life.

Timothy Keller

Happiest people in the world

• Let us fix our eyes upon Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him ensured the cross

Hebrews 12:2

• Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you Col 1:24

• Praying for love: Eph 3:18-19

• Praying for peace: Phil 4:6-7

• Praying for joy: Psalm 27:4

Praying to the God of the how much more (Luke 11:13)

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.

Luke 10: 38-42

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.

Luke 10: 38-42

Fullness of joy

One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.