Do you believe living a happy life is a matter of luck or a blessing from God? Living a happy life is a result of how we live. Life can be a struggle but becoming spiritually mature helps. Christians can have an advantage in life if they pursue becoming more spiritual. Spiritual maturity is explained in a number of Scriptures. The author of Hebrews wrote, “Let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity (6:1). This makes a clear distinction between a person who has accepted Christ (at the starting gate) and a Christian who is on the road to maturity. Paul writes in Philippians 1:9–10 “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ.”

Paul goes on to describe maturity as a progression that reaches toward eternity rather than settling into retirement on a plateau. Of course, maturity is subjective. It means different things to different people. One definition is growing toward a goal instead of actually reaching it. Another is that maturity is a process similar to sanctification. Maturity encompasses many stages of growth in a Christian’s life, but for all practical purposes, the person who has left the elementary teachings about Christ and is growing falls within the range of maturity. It isn’t uncommon for men and women who have been Christians for years, to find themselves frozen in place. They have made a solid beginning by accepting Christ, but they stop there. They are not running, walking or even crawling. They are the embodiment of the Christians Paul criticized in his letter to the Corinthians: “Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly—mere infants in Christ”. (I Cor. 3:1) Scripture make a powerful case for Christians to become spiritually mature. It is unnatural to stand still and be addressed as infants in Christ.

However, the older we become some of us realize that our time on earth is limited. For example in 1984 I had a major heart attack and bypass surgery. In 1997 I was told I had prostate cancer and needed radiation treatments. In 2005 I had a massive heart attack and my family was told I had about a ten percent chance of making it through another bypass surgery.

Problems often get our attention as to how we are living. Prior to these events reading the Bible, being a serious prayer and worshiping God did not get the attention it should have. It just seemed there was never enough time to do everything. Since 1984 I have had a very regimented schedule that allows time for each of the above plus an exercise program daily. I continued to work up to 50 hour weeks but other things changed. My goal was to read the Bible from beginning to end each year.

April 2009 I approached a publisher to see if they would publish a book I had helped write. I was told I needed to write Christians blogs. They set me up with a company and assisted in helping write the first few and then I was on my own. Twice each week a blog is written and submitted. Thousands have read these blogs from over 100 countries.

Every day I thank God for what He has done in my life and the blessings He has provided. Blogging has increased my time in the Bible and prayer time. During these five years, God has met all of our needs. As I do research, read God’s promises and become more aware of Biblical prophecies, it has allowed me to grow more spiritually. Blogging has taught me to listen to the Holy Spirit. There are times I actually feel the blogs were Holy Spirit inspired and it did not come from my talent in writing. I often feel led to write concerning Bible prophecies and the end times. When I do, an average of 250 or more, in a week, will read them. For example, I wrote a blog on ObamaCare and 5,708 people have read it to date. Other topics may not get even 50 readers. Of course, it also depends on where Goggle and others place my blog.

What I have learned is from time to time it is important to check our spiritual maturity. You may believe that a Christian who experiences no serious difficulties in their lives is generally spiritually mature and able to deal with life. Or the opposite could be true, you may face numerous difficulties and set back and still be mature spiritually. Those who do nothing never fail. Satan doesn’t expend any effort at holding these people back—they hold themselves back. Those who desire to grow step out and do something are the people that Satan goes after.

Christians must realize that peace and satisfaction comes from accepting Christ and learning to live by the teachings of the Bible. Becoming a mature Christian is when we realize the love God has for us and we find that same unconditional love toward others. One thing I found was a willingness to share with others. The greatest thing we can all share is the gospel. What would most people give to have a life that is full, prosperous to the point that their needs are met and no matter what happens there is always peace and happiness in their lives? So how is that obtained?

Many Christians have never learned the rules or put into practice what the Bible teaches. You may have attended church all of your life but even if you know some of the rules you have never really put them into practice. You may wonder why you are not prosperous or why isn’t there peace in your life? If you know the rules and put them into practice you realize there are a lot of things you really do not need. As a good steward you would always earn more money than you spend. How much money do you need to feel prosperous? Could it depend on how much you trust God to meet your needs?

If you have a purpose in life and know the direction you are going, you feel loved and accepted by God, you sense that people realize that you are an achiever; that can make your life full, satisfied and peaceful. Allow God to fill that void that we often feel and understand it doesn’t take the things of the world to make a person feel complete.

God wants every one of us to live by His rules and Commandments because they are able to provide what is missing in every non-believer’s heart. He also knows that if we reach a spiritual understanding and spread it to others everywhere, it will make life as He has always wanted for everyone He has created and with it comes a peaceful and a happy life.