Be Happy In the Lord

There are too many people who seem so unhappy. There are too many people that have so many things to praise God for, but instead complain about practically everything. There are too many people that let the spirit of Discouragement control their life. The world is wicked, and there are evil people that hurt us. So, WHY should we be happy? Let us look to the Bible for the answer...

 

*PSALMS 146:5, "Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God." Having God as our Heavenly Father, with our hope placed in Him alone, will bring happiness. 

 

*PROVERBS 14:21 "He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he." Loving others and being generous and kind to the less fortunate, as the Bible commands, will bring happiness. 

 

*PROVERBS 16:20 "He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he." Making wise decisions and putting trust in God, will bring happiness.

 

*JOHN 13:17 "If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them." Obedience to God's Word, will bring happiness.

 

*1 PETER 3:14 "But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;" And even when we do all we can, and are hurt by the ones we love, struck down by family, beat down at work, crushed by people at school, looked down upon because of our belief in the whole Truth, we can still have true happiness.

 

Christ came to this sinful world and died on the cross for our sins. He came as a living sacrifice. He laid down His life to save us. He had the whole world on his back, and was without complaint. In light of all this, do we have any room to complain or feel like we just can't go on anymore? Jesus is our friend, our rock, our shield, our deliverance, our hope, our peace, our everything.

 

John 16:33 "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." And because He did, we can, too... "When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee." (Isaiah 43:2)                                      

 

Ginny Owens' song, "If you want me to" says, "Cause I'm not who I was  when I took my first step. And I'm clinging to the promise You're not through with me yet. So if all of these trials bring me closer to You, then I will go through the fire, if You want me to." 

 

Oh, Lord, help us to go willingly through those things that lie before us and to come through perfected in Your image...though it be fire, valleys, or storms. Help us to see that You will not bring us TO something, that You will not bring us safely THROUGH...and that we might face it all with a happy and joyful heart!

-[Destiny Turner]