Choose To Be Happy
“Be happy in your faith at all times.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16 (J. B. Phillips)
According to the American Declaration of Independence, the pursuit of happiness is one of our rights. Everyone wants to be happy, but how do we find happiness?
It is only natural to want to be happy – God has built it into us. He is the expert on life, and real happiness depends on obedience to Him. He is the only one who can make us truly happy.
Happiness is not something that just happens to you. It isn’t money or status or success or looks. True happiness is found only in a relationship with Jesus and doing what He says. He said, “If you know these things, happy are you if you do them.” (John 13:17). What things? The main thing is our need for God. “How happy are those who know their need for God.” (Matthew 5:3 J. B. Phillips).
David said, “Give me happiness, O Lord, for I give myself to you.” (Psalm 86:4 NLT). Instead of striving for happiness, we must strive to become more and more like Christ because if we abide in Him we’ll be on the road to happiness.
Matthews 5:6 tells us “Happy are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.” To experience happiness we must pursue righteousness, and that means happiness can be a reality only when based on God and not possessions. We must get as close to Him as we can.
Willing obedience to God’s laws is the only way to achieve true happiness. “Make me walk along the path of Your Commands, for that is where my happiness is found.” (Psalm 119:35 NLT).
Our main goal must be to please God and behave as He tells us. If we make our goal to become more and more like Jesus, then we will be filled with happiness.
“Are any of you happy?” (James 5:13 NLT). Can we sing like Ken Dodd’s song, “I thank the Lord that I possess more than my share of happiness”?
Prayer
Thank you Father for calling me and showing me the way to true happiness. Please help me to do the things you tell me and always walk with you, for I know that only then will I be truly happy.
Amen
Study by Jill Newman