HAPPINESS IS THE LORD

There are days I just walk through my house thanking God for all the little things that fill the rooms.  Then I thank Him for all of the people that walk through the doors; people that I am blessed to “share life with.”  It was such a day as this last week, as I walked from one room to the next, singing songs of praise, it hit me, “Susan, you have had a happy life!”  The little song I had learned in Sunday School, so many years ago began to echo in my mind:

“Happiness is to know the savior

Living a life within his favor

Having a change in my behavior

Happiness is the Lord”

Oh yes, I have had a very happy life.  Am I more blessed than most or do I just recognize the blessings?  Is the happiness a fleeting emotion unleashed because of a momentary pleasure or is there something  that bubbles up from deep within, when I “Think of the Goodness of Jesus?” 

People are constantly searching for something to feed the “Happiness Gene” that seems to exist in a perpetual state of hunger.  Millions of dollars are spent on the latest gadgets, luxury automobiles, houses and vacations trying to finally satisfy the longing for happiness.  It remains unsatisfied because the gadget doesn’t remain the latest, a newer car model will be released and someone will build a bigger house.  Men and women opt for divorce and go after another man or woman, convinced that God wouldn’t want them to be UNHAPPY!  SO, DOES GOD WANT YOU HAPPY?  I believe that He DOES want you happy, but God’s definition seems to war against our definition of happiness and the search continues.

The Bible gives us clues to follow in our pursuit of happiness, Psalms 37:4 says “Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.”  An unexpected thing happens to our mind as we begin to “Delight ourselves in the Lord,” all of the things we just thought we “couldn’t live without,” suddenly seem to slide down the priority list and our hearts begin to desire anything that will strengthen our relationship with God.  We suddenly find we have moved and are living in the STATE OF HAPPINESS.

There are other “Keys to Happiness” in the Word of God.  Some of them are definitely NOT items I would choose to place in my “happiness bag.”  Job: 17 says “If we allow God to correct us, we will be happy.”  Psalms 128:2 declares “a person is happy when they eat from the labor of their hands.”  Then of course we read in Proverbs from the wisdom of Solomon; “Happy is the man who finds wisdom and gains understanding,” “Heeds the word wisely and trusts in the Lord.”  Proverbs goes on to tell us that a “reverent man is happy,”  as is the one who “keeps the law.”  Back to my little song;  “Happiness is to know the Savior. Living a life within His favor.”  So it would seem that God does indeed want His Children to be happy. 

God doesn't dangle happiness like a carrot at the end of the stick to manipulate and entice you in to following His plan.  He offers you happiness as a gift and allows you to choose.  Happiness by GOD'S definition or the temporary and fleeting happiness derived from following your own plans, pursuing your selfish dreams and building your own little kingdom, which will all eventually crumble and fall.

1 Timothy 6:6 "Now Godliness with contentment is great gain."

I think the writer of the Sunday School song had finally figured out real happiness.  "HAPPINESS IS THE LORD!"