Have you ever thought about what makes you happy? Maybe it’s having a lot of money or owning a big house. Or maybe it’s your spouse or seeing your children do well in their careers. While all of these things can bring happiness they can’t compare with the happiness we can get when we do things that please our heavenly Father and bring glory to His name. For the Christian, missionary David Livingstone said it best when he shared: “There is one safe and happy place, and that is in the will of God.”1
I believe when we are walking in the will of God, not only are we pleasing the Lord but there is a special joy in knowing that we are putting a smile on Jesus’ face, helping to build up the kingdom of God, and accruing a great reward in heaven.
Did you ever realize that you were created to have a special relationship with the Lord and true happiness can’t be achieved unless our relationship with the Lord is right. We are all born with a spiritual vacuum that only Jesus Christ can fill. And when we are walking in the will of God, we will not only experience joy, but a sense of deep meaning knowing that we are doing what we were created for. And this my friends, being in the center of God’s perfect will, is what true happiness is all about.
(Psalm 37:4) proclaims: “Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.” I love this verse because it tells me that when I delight in the Lord by aligning with His will, I will receive the desires of my heart, which include happiness, joy, and wonderful meaning.
In closing, if you want to be really happy then spend time getting to know the Lord better by reading Scripture and delighting in Jesus. (Psalm 1:1-3), in my opinion, is the best advice I know on how to obtain lifelong happiness:
“Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.”
1 Quote by David Livingstone: “There is one safe and happy place, and that is …”
Curt
Excellent commentary today.
Psalms 1: 1-3 is probably my favorite verses in the Bible. Verses that I’ve memorized and often repeat throughout the week.
I always picture my dad and mom as that “tree planted by the rivers of water”. It is also the goal for my life that my kids would see me that way as well. Prospering God’s way is pure joy.