How to Enjoy Life

Read This: Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting: to eat, to drink, and enjoy oneself in all one’s labor in which he toils under the sun during the few years of his life which God has given him; for this is his reward. – Ecclesiastes 5:18

Think: You ever have this happen to you? You’re driving along quietly through intersection after intersection only to suddenly snap out of a daze and realize you can’t remember consciously any of what you have done the past five minutes. You were just on autopilot the whole time. Please tell me I’m not the only one!

We can easily go through life on autopilot. Life can become routine. We can go through the day to day grind just to wake up and do it all over. And never along the way do we pause to smell the proverbial roses. King Solomon reminds us that one of God’s gifts is to enjoy what He has provided. If enjoying life is good, then not enjoying it is out of line with God’s will. It is sinful.

And like Paul, we need to learn the art of contentment (Philippians 4:11-13). Whether we have a lot or whether we have a little, we need to be thankful for what we have and enjoy it as a gift from the Lord.

Sometimes we think that as Christians we have to be miserable. We don’t! But we also need to realize that life isn’t simply about seeking to fulfill our desires. Within the boundaries of God’s sovereign will we can find the greatest enjoyment this life has to offer.

So today, I encourage you to find a new way to enjoy the ride. Maybe it will be as simple as focusing on that cup of coffee and enjoying the taste of every sip. Maybe it will be in taking a walk after dinner to purposefully smell the roses. Be creative. Be purposeful. Go for a joy ride today.

Ask: Have I been finding enjoyment in this journey I’m on? Have I been in a rut? Have I been discontent, always focused on what I don’t have? Have I stopped to enjoy the little things in life?

Pray: Lord, You are the Father of lights and every good gift comes from You. Thank You for what I have and help me to be content with what You bring. I am sorry for not appreciating and enjoying my life. Help me to find enjoyment today in a new way. Amen.