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Die wetenskap van geluk

Die wetenskap van geluk

Die Bybel sê:

Die wette van die HERE is reg, en diegene wat dit gehoorsaam, is gelukkig (Psalm 19:8 GNT).

Gelukkig is diegene wie se lewens onberispelik is, wat volgens die wet van die HERE leef (Psalm 119:1 GNT).

God se wette is die protokolle waarop ons Skepper lewe en gesondheid gebou het om te werk, insluitende die wette van fisika, die wette van gesondheid en die sedewette. Die Bybel sê vir ons dat geluk slegs moontlik is as ons leef in ooreenstemming met hoe ons Skepper ons gebou het om te funksioneer, as ons leef in ooreenstemming met die wette van gesondheid.

Geluk is die neweproduk van gesondheid op alle terreine – fisies, geestelik, emosioneel, verhoudingsgebonde en geestelik. Wanneer ons fisies siek is, is ons nie gelukkig nie; verstandelike- of emosionele siekte – nie gelukkig nie; verhoudingskonflik – nie gelukkig nie; geestelike siekte (skuldgevoelens, skaamte, veroordeling) – nie gelukkig nie.

Viktor Frankl – Oostenrykse neuroloog, psigiater en Holocaust-oorlewende – het geskryf:

Moenie na sukses mik nie – hoe meer jy daarna mik en dit ‘n teiken maak, hoe meer gaan jy dit mis. Want sukses, soos geluk, kan nie nagestreef word nie; dit moet volg, en dit doen dit slegs as die onbedoelde newe-effek van ‘n mens se persoonlike toewyding aan ‘n saak groter as jouself of as die neweproduk van ‘n mens se oorgawe aan ‘n ander persoon behalwe jouself. Geluk moet gebeur, en dieselfde geld vir sukses: jy moet dit laat gebeur deur nie daaroor om te gee nie. Ek wil hê jy moet luister na wat jou gewete jou beveel om te doen en voortgaan om dit na die beste van jou wete uit te voer. Dan sal jy lewe om te sien dat sukses jou op die lange duur sal volg juis omdat jy vergeet het om daaraan te dink (Man’s Search for Meaning, bll. 16, 17, my beklemtoning).

Baie mense is ongelukkig omdat hulle fisies, sielkundig, verhoudingsgewys of geestelik ongesond is, en ongelukkig sal hulle plesiersoek vervang vir geluk in ‘n poging om beter te “voel”, maar byna al sulke plesiersoeke oortree die wette van gesondheid op een of ander manier (trooseet, alkohol, dwelms, inkopies, dobbel, pornografie, troos in vlugtige verhoudings, ens.)

Weereens, geluk is die byproduk van gesondheid op alle gebiede, en gesondheid word slegs ervaar wanneer ons in harmonie is met God se ontwerpwette vir die lewe – die protokolle waarop die Skepper God die werklikheid gebou het om te werk. Wanneer ons die wette van gesondheid oortree, sal die gevolglike siekte, siektetoestand en lyding wat voorkom ons geluk ondermyn. Dit is waarom die Bybel herhaaldelik vir ons sê, “Gelukkig is dié wat God se wet onderhou!” (Spreuke 29:18 GNT).

Hoewel ons nie kan kies om “gelukkig te wees” of direk geluk te verkry nie, kan ons kies om gesond te wees en te kies om in ooreenstemming met alle aspekte van God se ontwerpwette vir lewe te leef. Ons kan kies om ons harte aan Jesus oor te gee en wedergebore te word met nuwe motiewe van liefde – liefde vir God, vir die waarheid en vir ander. Ons kan kies om ‘n lewe van waarheid na te streef wat geleef word met motiewe om te seën en lief te hê – want die waarheid is altyd die gesonde keuse. Soos ons gesondheid kies, is die byproduk steeds toenemende geluk. En die wetenskap dokumenteer die positiewe uitkomste en verband tussen God se ontwerpwette en ons gesondheid en geluk.

  • In ‘n studie van ses weke het navorsers deelnemers lukraak in ‘n kontrolegroep en twee aktiewe groepe verdeel. Een aktiewe groep moes ‘jou seëninge een keer per week op Sondae tel’, terwyl die ander aktiewe groep drie keer per week ‘jou seëninge moes tel’ – op Sondae, Dinsdae en Donderdae. Dit is gedoen deur lyste te maak van dinge waarvoor hulle dankbaar was. Die navorsers het bevind dat:
    • Diegene wat hul seëninge een keer per week getel het, het verbetering in dankbaarheid en geluk gehad, terwyl beide die kontroles en diegene wat hul seëninge drie keer per week getel het, vermindering in beide dankbaarheid en geluk gehad het.
    • Een keer per week se tel van seëninge het ‘n werklike dankbaarheid en waardering veroorsaak, terwyl dit drie keer per week ‘n desensitisering veroorsaak het waarin die lys opstel sleurwerk, ‘n taak, roetine en miskien selfs ‘n las geword het, en sodoende geluk verminder het (Lyubomirsky, S et al, “Pursuit happiness, the architecture of sustainable change.” Hersiening van Algemene Sielkunde. 2005; 9(2)111–131).
  • In ‘n studie van vier weke het navorsers deelnemers in ‘n kontrolegroep en twee aktiewe bemiddelingsgroepe geskei. Een aktiewe groep moes dade van goedhartigheid vir ander doen, terwyl die ander aktiewe groep dade van goedhartigheid vir hulself moes doen. Aan die einde van die studie, en ook op ‘n latere opvolgpunt, het navorsers bevind:
    • Diegene wat dade van vriendelikheid vir ander gedoen het, was gelukkiger as die kontrolegroep, maar diegene wat dade van vriendelikheid vir hulself gedoen het, was nie anders as die kontrolegroep nie (Nelson, SK et al., Emosies. 2016; 16(6):850–861).
    • Dade van vriendelikheid teenoor ander aktiveer breinbane wat die liggaam se streskaskade kalmeer en lei tot beter fisiese en geestelike gesondheid. Dade van vriendelikheid teenoor self het nie dieselfde voordeel nie.
  • In ‘n ander studie van vier weke wou navorsers sien of dade van vriendelikheid meer doen as om net ‘n emosionele toestand van geluk te bring. Is daar fisiese voordele aan dade van goedhartigheid? Die navorsers het deelnemers in vier groepe verdeel – ‘n kontrole groep, diegene wat dade van vriendelikheid vir ander moes doen, diegene wat dade van vriendelikheid vir die wêreld moes doen (soos om vullis langs die pad op te tel), en diegene wat dade van vriendelikheid vir hulself gedoen het. Hulle het toe geen (gene) reaksie in witbloedselle ondersoek om te meet of daar verskille in immuniteit was. Die navorsers het bevind dat:
    • In vergelyking met die kontrole groep het diegene wat dade van vriendelikheid vir ander verrig het, minder inflammasie ervaar en die vermoë om virusse te beveg het verbeter. Met ander woorde, geenuitdrukking het epigeneties verander om gesondheid te verbeter as gevolg van hierdie dade.
    • Maar diegene wat dade van vriendelikheid teenoor die wêreld of vir hulself gedoen het, het nie van die kontrole groep verskil nie (Nelson-Coffey, SK, et al., Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2017; 81:8-13).
  • Navorsers het ook bevind dat dade van vriendelikheid of geluk ingrypings (happiness interventions) in sommige situasies ‘n terugslag reaksie kan hê en ‘n persoon minder gelukkig kan maak. Soos:
    • Wanneer die motivering om dit te doen selfgefokus is, soos om dade van vriendelikheid te doen sodat ander meer van jou sal hou of jy bevordering of lof sal kry, ens. dus geen verbetering in geluk nie. Om die voordeel te verkry, moet die aksie voortspruit uit ‘n hartsmotief wat van plan is om ‘n ander te bevoordeel, dit wil sê uit liefde; dit is nie die daad self nie!
    • Wanneer hierdie dade ‘n las word, roetine, werk, eerder as werklike liefde.
    • Wanneer hulle ‘n mens se hart, oortuigings of huidige ingesteldheid weerspreek:
      • Soos ‘n persoon wat in kliniese depressie is en ‘n dankbaarheidslys maak; Dit kan eintlik veroorsaak dat die persoon skuldig voel of soos ‘n las vir ander voel terwyl hulle dink aan hoeveel ander vir hulle gedoen het.
      • Kulturele teenstrydighede – in sommige Oosterse kulture word die daad om ‘n mens se ouers te bedank vir ‘n goeie werk in die grootmaak van hul kinders as ‘n belediging beskou, dit wil sê asof hulle nie hul plig teenoor hul gesin sou nagekom het nie.
      • Aksies wat in stryd is met ‘n persoon se basiese persoonlikheid, soos ‘n introverte persoon wat opdrag gegee word om voor ‘n groep dankie te sê.

Geluk is slegs moontlik in harmonie met God se ontwerpwette vir die lewe, en navorsing het tot dusver getoon dat die grootste aksie wat ‘n mens kan neem wat konsekwent groter geluk meebring, is om onselfsugtig te leef, ander lief te hê en goedhartige dade teenoor ander te doen.

 

 

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Testimony 39

[This ministry is the] biggest blessing I have ever received! Your DVDs and lessons could not have come at a better time in my life. I have experienced in the past year many difficulties that, if it wasn’t for this wonderful view of God that I have discovered through this ministry, I would not have been able to respond in love and forgiveness. My heart is being transformed everyday by the Calvary-looking God you teach. Hallelujah!! I have tears in my eyes as I write, because my life has taken a complete turn from where I was heading.

I am from Central America. Most of my family is scattered in different parts of the world and all have the same view of God that I had growing up; a distant, exacting, and ready-to-punish-us-with-tragedy type of God. So, I have been translating lessons for my family and, to my surprise, they have also been sharing them with others! I can already see the difference. My brother has often said, “Thank you for sharing, I have never heard it this way!” My other family members are taking an amazing turn from a message of “repent or burn” towards a loving God, pleading to us that we won’t reject him because he loves us eternally.

Bless you for all you do.

Sofia S., Ashfield, MA, USA

 

Testimony 65

I have been tuning into your weekly study classes for a while now and wanted express my appreciation for the teachings that ha been a huge blessing in opening up the true message of the word. Viewing scripture under an imposed law theory always, without fail, raised more questions, concerns, and conflicting scripture interpretations that were discouraging at the very least. Looking at scripture through the design law lens has brought more truth to light for me personally and an understanding of our Heavenly Father that places Him “above all others,” where I am now more than thrilled to witness and serve Him.  I “stumbled” across this ministry a year or so ago and would only watch a few minutes at a time. But the more I listened and the longer I paid attention, the more my spiritual eyes were opened to the ever present truths of scripture. The comprehension of the great controversy and it’s origin by the lies perpetrated and perpetuated throughout the Bible on the attack of God’s character and government is truly priceless. Keep up the Good Work! Your servanthood is desperately needed in such a time as this!

Jeff D., Reading, MA, USA

 

Testimony 42

I am just writing to say that I have been so blessed by the teachings of Come And Reason Minitries recently. I watched last week’s bible study lesson on Youtube and am thankful that the error in the printed lesson guide you use was pointed out and this week’s study was of equal benefit, if not more so. My understanding of God’s nature has been very confused of late and I am so grateful for clarity in this matter. I have never really fully understood previously how a good God can cause bad things to happen and now I realise that He doesn’t, it’s a natural consequence of sin. May the almighty Father and His Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ, continue to bless your ministry.

Laura P., United Kingdom

 

Testimony 29

Thank you for all of your work to correct misconceptions about God’s character. So many people that my husband and I have talked to seem to be against the natural law construct and view it as “errant” and “dangerous.” Having learned more about it through your blogs and lessons, I don’t really understand why they view it that way, except that it means they have to relearn theology they have known for their entire lives. But I’m so excited to relearn this. For the past few years I have been questioning how I could trust a God who punishes arbitrarily and is full of wrath for those who don’t obey His commands. That view made me afraid to “mess up” or “not be good enough,” even within my relationship with God. I really appreciated the point you bring out about God not wanting us to serve Him because we are afraid, but because we love Him.

Melissa H., IN, USA

 

Testimony 38

Since November 2015, when I started studying Gods word from this God Is Love point of view, my life has been transformed. My troubled marriage of 15 years has been healed and my husband and I are truly happy for the first time in 15 years. Now When I read the word of God I understand it so much better and I can’t help but see Gods love radiating through the pages to humanity. Gods word is living and active and I am blessed beyond measure to be having this amazing experience. God has given me a beautiful understanding of Jn 3:16 that amazes me more and more each day. Thank you again for your ministry.

Helen D., London, England

 

Testimony 6

I got the book “Could It Be This Simple?” a few months ago and the reading was wonderful and I was fascinated. I lent the book to a friend at work. She is having a difficult time and the book is helping her to find Jesus and I found this very exciting. She has asked me questions and I can see her life changing.

H. S., Australia

 

Testimony 14

We really appreciate your views on the judgment and they make good sense considering our free choice.

Anonymous

 

Testimony 9

I really enjoy with you the view of a gracious God. Thank you for sharing the work you are allowing the Lord to do in you.

L., Queensland, Australia

 

Testimony 69

After reading your book, ‘Could It Be This Simple,’ someone was explaining Christianity in a way that made sense to me for the first time in my life. One morning, I simply prayed “I’m sorry and I love you.” As soon as I silently said that, I could literally feel God’s presence and light flood down on me from above and fill me up with love and joy. I sat there crying my eyes out, because I was so overpowered with this feeling of love and joy. It was just so incredible. I hope that more people can read this book and get a blessing from it. It’s really amazing.

Rachael H.

Testimony 22

I have found your Bible study class lectures to be very inspiring and useful as I prepare to teach class every other week. I subscribe to the podcast and download your notes on the weeks I teach. The audio and notes are such a great help in preparing. My own understanding of God’s character has grown as I teach the class. Commendations on the thought-provoking and well-prepared material Come and Reason provides. Personally, I get excited by the tie you make between the spiritual and mental/physical domains.

A.A. Corrales, NM, USA

 

Testimony 66

I am incredibly grateful for the transformative impact you’ve had on my life, and words cannot fully express my appreciation. Over the years, I have been an avid listener and follower of C&R and extend my heartfelt thanks for creating the C&R mobile app. It has allowed me to immerse myself in your lessons repeatedly, enabling me to grasp the profound significance about the Character of God, Design Law, the protocols for life, the reasons behind the current chaos, and Christ’s mission to restore everything. They have deeply touched me. Having studied with various churches, I came away with the perception that God is no different from the deities of ancient Greek or Roman mythology—demanding sacrifices and taking pleasure in bloodshed. Thanks to your transformative teachings, I have experienced a profound awakening to the true nature of God and the immense power of His love. It is truly a remarkable and liberating sensation to finally grasp the truth and embrace the empowering nature of God’s laws. My self-perception has become brighter and more infused with love. My journey of growth continues on a daily basis.

Chris P., Lake Mary, FL, USA

 

Testimony 61

I grew up in a prominent protestant church and had what I like to call religious anxiety. I’ve always had questions about God and Salvation that no one could seem to answer.  I didn’t know how to find resolution. During 2020, at the height of my anxiety, I fell to my knees and begged God to show me truth and light and to give me the hope that I’ve been longing for. Days later, I stumbled upon your online videos and it was like a veil was lifted and EVERYTHING made sense! For the first time in my almost 39 years of life, my religious/spiritual anxiety has lessened. I feel a sense of freedom and peace I’ve NEVER had before… and it’s all because my view of God has changed. Thank you!

Ashleighn C.

 

Testimony 1

Thank you! I love listening to the Come And Reason Ministries Bible study classes and am using some of your notes to get the lessons together that I will be teaching. You always have such good quotes and Bible texts and pull things together to make good sense.

T. C., IN, USA

 

Testimony 30

God lead me to your book “The God-Shaped Brain” while I was searching for another book about the brain and then to your interview about your book on HeartWise Ministries [where] I found out about [Come And Reason Ministries]. I’m now devouring the webcasts of your Bible studies. I have been so greatly blessed and I thank God so much for your courage to speak the Truth in love no matter what. Listening to you contrast the two opposing systems (laws) and digging deep to unearth the hidden treasures in the Bible makes me so incredibly happy and I feel very blessed to be part of your Bible Study Group although I live far away. I am just so excited that there is a group of people that is spreading the Truth about the character of God and it saddens me how few realize what our Father in Heaven is really like.

Kessy B., Australia

 

Testimony 55

I was born [into the church], then I left it for many years. 10 years ago, I came back, but I could not take the hypocrisy and the lack of answers to the missing pieces. I struggled, but I did not abandon my commitment to know the truth. God is leading me to the simple understanding of his relevance and I am relearning what the church taught me as a youth… that he loves me, that he has led me to a knowledge of him such as I have never known. He is using Dr. Jennings to connect the dots that are now so apparent and hiding in plain sight!

Dean P., Arlington, TX, USA