We all have this desire deep down in our soul for something outside of ourselves, we can’t quite put our finger on it but it’s there tugging away at our heart strings.

It’s a lurking desire that longs to be discovered and sought after. 

Some seek to attain this ‘something’ through outward things, for instance, in what they can accomplish, how much money they can acquire or how many degrees or titles they can receive.

There are some who search within themselves; they search for a moment of enlightenment and self-love. They seek a higher spiritual state in hopes of discovering that certain ‘something’.

And then there are some who temporarily fill that desire with drugs, alcohol and other ‘feel-good’ formulas or addictions. 

No matter who you are, everyone is searching for this ‘something’.

The world even has a phrase for it, it’s known as ‘The Pursuit of Happiness.’

It’s part of our Declaration of Independence, there’s even a movie with that title (which by the way is a great inspirational movie) and although, I agree that we should not sit idle and we should pursue happiness, the problem is – we have a misconception of what ‘happiness’ really means.

Happiness is fabricated – man-made; happiness equals me, me, me…more, more, more.

No matter how many drugs you take or how much alcohol you drink; no matter how much money’s in the bank or plaques, trophies, awards are hanging on your wall or how deep you dive into your inner-self, you’re still a sinner in need of saving!

“For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” Matthew 16:26

The Pursuit of Holiness

It’s true, God doesn’t want us happy…He wants us HOLY. (Holy: saintly; devoted to the service of God.)

He wants us dedicated and devoted to the service of HIM not to the service of ME.

I have spent a huge part of my life trying to fill that desire within, searching outward things to bring inward comfort but never to be satisfied. This blog came to fruition as part of this quest. It began as a motivational place for women, I shared quotes of ‘famous’ people and posted inspiring messages to encourage all who read it to be all that they could be…but something was not right.

As I delved deeper into my faith and drew nearer to God, I realized people didn’t need inspiration they needed sanctification.

(Sanctification; free somebody from sin.)

God wanted to use my gifts to bring glory to Him, not glory to others.  I certainly wasn’t devoting my service to God by sharing worldly views and so I completely changed the focus from Me to HE; doing so has caused me to pursue Him daily, to seek His guidance, wisdom and will for my life.

You see when you are in continual pursuit of God and His Holiness it causes you to become in close fellowship with Him and with that comes a presence that is all-consuming; it’s a warmth, a radiance, a peaceful still, a quiet whisper.

God doesn’t want you to settle for the fictional happiness this world has to offer; instead, if you pursue Holiness, it’s not happiness that you’ll find at all – it’s something much more wondrous and delightful; something this world cannot offer and man cannot make.

If it could be bottled up in pill format, it’d be the number one prescribing drug; if it could be purified into liquid format, it’d be the number one selling drink and if I could give you even a glimpse of it through the writings in this blog, then this would be one sought after post because after all, it’s what everyone is searching for.

Maybe you’ve been searching?

If this post speaks to you, if you can relate, if you feel that certain ‘something’ tugging at your heart – know that it’s God.

He will not come into your heart until you allow Him to, so invite Him in and ask Him to stay.

This New Year, trade the pursuit of happiness in for the pursuit of holiness and you will never have to search again.

“Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord.” ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭12:14‬ ‭NLT‬‬