Tuesday, November 27, 2007

if you're happy and you know it...

It's easy to be happy when life's circumstances are good. Things like health, job and relationships effect our mood and effect our happiness. If things are going well or as expected, sometimes by an arbitrary standard or a changing tolerance, we like to say we are happy. It's socially acceptable to not be sad... no one likes a whinner. But, we recognize in ourselves that if things changes for the worse, our ability to express happiness is not easy. So what is real biblical happiness? And how do we rest there no matter what?

"...there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live." Ecclesiastes 3:12-13

Three questions define happiness:

  • something to do... "how am I serving Him today?"
  • someone to love... "who have I shown kindness, forgiveness?"
  • something to hope for... "where do I place my faith and trust?"
We recognize that our real happiness is defined by our relationship to God. Our choices regarding the qualities of life including "the where" (environment), "the what" (opportunities), "the why" (purpose) and "the how" (contentment) will determine if we are happy and know it. And only a life lived in love with Him will bring happiness, no matter what.

"You will make known to me the path of life. In your Presence is fullness of joy; in your right hand there are pleasures forever."
Psalm 16:11

Choose joy. Choose Him. Be happy :)

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Love this blog...serious words of wisdom :) Love it...