Happy in God

When Christian heroes write phrases like "this one thing I do," or "I make it my ambition," or "the most important thing I've learned," or "the key to my life," or "the meaning of life is," I sit up and take notice.

Well, in preparing for a lecture I'm about to give on George Mueller I came across this:

“I saw more clearly than ever, that the first great and primary business to which I ought to attend every day was, to have my soul happy in the Lord. The first thing to be concerned about was not, how much I might serve the Lord, how I might glorify the Lord; but how I might get my soul into a happy state, and how my inner man might be nourished” (George Mueller, A Narrative of Some of the Lord's Dealing with George Muller, Written by Himself, Jehovah Magnified. Addresses by George Muller Complete and Unabridged, 1:271).

...and...

“According to my judgment the most important point to be attended to is this: above all things see to it that your souls are happy in the Lord. Other things may press upon you, the Lord's work may even have urgent claims upon your attention, but I deliberately repeat, it is of supreme and paramount importance that you should seek above all things to have your souls truly happy in God Himself! Day by day seek to make this the most important business of your life. This has been my firm and settled condition for the last five and thirty years. For the first four years after my conversion I knew not its vast importance, but now after much experience I specially commend this point to the notice of my younger brethren and sisters in Christ: the secret of all true effectual service is joy in God, having experimental acquaintance and fellowship with God Himself" (Ibid., 2:730-731).

I need this. God, how I need to do this daily. I need to read the Bible with this goal in mind, taking what I read and making myself happy in God by it.

Thank God for encouragements and rebukes from dead friends.