What stops you being happy?

Are you?

Happy?

Or is life a bit off?

Have you lost interest in things you used to love doing?

Does everything seem too much effort?

Do you resent going to work?

Dislike your family?

Hate your neighbours and your friends get on your nerves?

Can't even be bothered to eat a giant pizza and a tub of Ben and Jerry's and you have seen everything on Netflix?

Is life just not worth living anymore?

Bored?

Sad?

Distracted?

Angry?

Lost?

Alone?

Lonely?

Hate everybody?

Hate yourself?

Too low to even cry?

Where is God when you need him?

The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
² He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
³ He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
⁶ Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
Forever.

PSALM 23

God is always with us.

He is there even when we ignore him. He is ready to extend the hand of mercy and forgiveness. The cup of love and the gift of eternal life. 

We just need to turn to him.

Don't know how to ask God for help?

Just say the words.

In your head or out loud.

Dear Lord, help me.

Show me how to pray.

Or lean into Jesus.

What would Jesus do?

He would pray, and pray, and fast and pray.

How to pray like Jesus

Luckily, he made it easy for us and gave us these profound and beautiful words:

OUR FATHER WHO ART IN HEVEN

HALLOWED BY THY NAME

THY KINGDOM COME

THY WILL BE DONE

ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN.

GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD

AND FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES.

AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO TRESPASS AGAINST US.

AND LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION.

BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL.

FOR THINE IS THE KINGDOM.

THE POWER AND THE GLORY,

FOR EVER AND EVER.

AMEN

MATTHEW 6:9-13

Let's end with the classic Jesus prayer, which goes all the way back to the sixth century. Repetition of prayer brings inner stillness. Meditation is powerful. Meditate to reflect on the Holy Spirit of the Lord our God and your own spirit will find peace in God's love.

LORD JESUS CHRIST, SON OF GOD

HAVE MERCY ON ME, A SINNER

AMEN