SEVEN WAYS TO BE HAPPY


John Gurtler

    Often people make their own lives miserable and other people help them to find misery.  Abraham Lincoln said, “Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.”

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HAPPINESS:

Trust in God:  The person who puts faith in God has a source of strength and delight that a non-believer cannot understand (see Proverbs 3:5; 16:20).  If we fuss and stew about everything, it shows a lack of trust.  Jesus told Martha that she was “troubled about many things.”

Relish the Scriptures:
See Psalm 1:1-2.  Psalm 119:104 says, “How sweet are thy words unto my taste!  Yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth.”  The Scriptures always shoot straight.  Tax laws change, the weather changes, politics are ever changing, but God’s Word never changes.  (See 2 Timothy 3:16-17.)  The sacred pages give hope, comfort, gladness to the lovers of the truth.

Live Righteously:
“Many sorrows shall be to the wicked, but he that trusteth in the Lord, mercy shall compass him about, be glad in the Lord and rejoice, ye righteous:  and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart…” (Psa. 32:10-11).  Titus 2:12 shows that clean living contributes to deep-rooted joy and contentment.  People may mock you and deride you, but you possess something they do not have.

Worship God with Regularity:
In Acts 20:6-7, the brethren traveled so they could worship with other Christians.  In Acts 2, it describes the disciples as having all things in common among them:  “great joy” and “praising God.”  David said, “I was glad when they said to me, let us go into the house of the Lord…”  (Psa. 122:1).  (See also Psalm 95:1; 96:9-11.)  Worship is for the glory of God and the happiness of man.

Keep a Clean Conscience: (Acts24:16; 1 Timothy 1:19; 2 Timothy 1:3)  There can be no happiness when one violates his conscience.  See Genesis 42:21:  Joseph’s brothers’ consciences made them miserable.

Learn Contentment:
The grass is not always greener on the other side.  Some people continually fret and complain about the cost of living, their job, wife, husband, weather, politics, etc.  Christians grumble.  Philippians 4:11 states that a contented person is a happy individual, without contentment, joy is only superficial.

Stay Busy and Constructive: Idleness breeds displeasure, restlessness, despondency, mischief.  Happiness comes to him who works persistently, consistently, and diligently.  (See Romans 12:11.)  Effort expended and accomplishment materialized brings inward fulfillment.  Beneficial work keeps the mind from thoughts that are negative and destructive.  First Corinthians 15:58 says, “...abound in the work of the Lord.”

  Paul found joy in seeing and hearing about other Christians doing good.  Read Philippians chapters 1-3 and count the times you read the word “rejoice” or “joy.”

From The Southwesterner
January 21, 2008

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