Happiness, part 1
Happiness
Well, the Lord has not laid a new hymn on my heart. But He has been causing me to think much about the subject of happiness. Christians ought to be happy. God has saved us; He loves us; He is coming again for us. But sometimes the things that go on in our lives just seem to weigh down upon us, and it is easy to get discouraged and feel downhearted. I Thessalonians 5:16 says, “Rejoice evermore.” But how do we rejoice evermore?
The book of Psalms talks much about happiness. In fact the very first verse of Psalm 1 begins with the word “Blessed.” It is interesting that this word is an interjection that means, “How happy!” Psalm 1 explains how to be happy and describes the evidences of happiness in an individual. It also gives a contrast of a happy, righteous person to an unhappy, ungodly person. This study will deal with only the first section of Psalm 1, “How to Be Happy.” I pray this study will be an encouragement to you as it was to me.
Psalm 1
How to be happy -
verses 1 and 2, “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.”
1. Do not walk in the counsel of the ungodly
A godly man is a happy man. A happy man does not choose the ungodly for his companions, and he is not led by the advice of the ungodly. The advice of the ungodly does not control the life and actions of a happy man.
To be happy, we must have wise companions, and our lives must be guided by the Holy Spirit and the word of God.
2. Do not stand in the way of sinners
A godly man avoids doing that which sinners do. He does not say the things that they say or measure his actions by the principles of the world.
If we allow the laws of God to govern our lives and measure each word and action by the word of God, we will be truly happy. Happiness comes from dwelling in God’s way, not in following the way of the sinner because the sinner sets himself in a way that is not good.
3. Do not sit among the scornful.
The scornful man is secure in his own wickedness, and his conscience is seared so that he does not experience conviction when he sins. A godly man, a happy man, does not sit among those whose goal is to advance the devil’s kingdom. He does not sit among those who judge and condemn the righteous.
To be truly happy, we must avoid spending time with scorners and sitting and listening to their judgment against the righteous. Our hearts should be with those who advance the kingdom of God.
4. Delight in the law of the Lord
To be happy we must delight in the word of God. We must fill our hearts with it and make it very familiar to us. Then it will guide us in the right way. It will strengthen us against temptations. And it will keep us from being led astray into the way of the ungodly.
5. Meditate often on God’s word
We must meditate on God’s word day and night. It is the rule for our actions and the source of our comfort. When it fills our minds and becomes interwoven into every part of our lives, the result will be great joy.
And that is what I pray each one of you will experience this day and throughout the days to come, great joy. God bless you all.
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Ever-changing Sky Blog
Name: Suzy Quzy
And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters... And God called the firmament Heaven. (Genesis 1:6,8a)
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