Secret of Happiness #3

Distinguish between wants and needs:

“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.” Psalm 23:1

Advertising seeks to make us see our wants as needs.

Our true needs are actually few:

food and water,

air,

clothing and shelter,

and meaningful relationships.

Most things beyond that are wants which we can actually do without.

If we know that we have our actual needs met, and that our wants are actually optional, then we should be able to be more content with what we have.

A sign that we have confused the wants with needs is the often-used statement, “I just have to have it!”  In plane language, we are declaring something to be our idol, which is defined as “something I demand to be happy.” Idols never deliver for long, however, and then they become our masters.

One thing my father would say, “Remember, in a few years this is going to end up  on the trash heap!”

Be grateful for your needs being met; accept the extras, but don’t give your heart to them: they will not love you back!

Picture: focusing on wants instead of being thankful leads us here:

Everyone wants to be happy; this desire is what naturally drives us through each day.  Most people, however, take the wrong roads and only find fleeting happiness.  For the next seven days we will look at seven simple (although some are not easy) things we can all do which will increase our happiness.

1. Count your blessings:

“Bless the Lord, O my soul and forget not all His benefits.” Psalm 103:2

This is a radical idea in a world where complaining is a full time occupation. To have an attitude of gratitude is going against the flow of the human tide, but it is to move towards what is true and good.

Each of us has many good things in our lives that we never think about: sight, hearing, hands that work marvelously and feet that support us, to name a few.  Each morning the sun comes up; each night it gets dark giving us time to rest.  Most here have clothes to wear and food to eat along with a place to sleep. Most of us can read and write. Most of us have some friends, the ability to share with them. Each of us have something that we are good at. And the list goes on. When you are tempted to complain, tell yourself ten things you ae thankful for.

We reinforce this when we are driving by playing the “alphabet game.” One of us starts with A, naming something we are thankful for that begins with the letter A. Then the other takes B, and so on. We always end up being more positive when we are done.

So stop complaining and start thanking, and watch your happiness increase.

Picture: Being thankful

Why we should worship God (Yahweh, Elohim, Adonai)?

You, O God, are the One worthy of worship! “Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: ‘The LORD’s right hand has done mighty things!’” (Ps 118:15).

You, Lord God, are incredibly Great,

completely Sovereign,

compassionately Gracious

and incomprehensibly Glorious.

Your balance of qualities is marvelous,

your perfection is magnificent,

your complexity is majestic.

In a word, you are Holy: you have no imperfection, no lacks, no foibles, no hang ups, no imbalance, no over-emphasis, no under development, no negatives.

Your individual characteristics seamlessly fit together, complementing each other, working in absolute harmony.

Your power acts out of love,

your decisions flow from wisdom,

your motives are formed in grace,

your mercy triumphs over judgment,

your wrath works with love,

your glory shines in goodness.

All that you accomplish is done, not just well, but perfectly, without error, without failure, without mistake. You are always right: your desires are right, your motives are right, your timing is right, your actions are right.

You are so great that you can see every detail in every second of every situation, right down to the sub-atomic particles involved.

You mind is so expansive that you can comprehend every implication of every decision, from the next second, right on into eternity.

You are aware of all that has and will happen in time. You always know what is best and will do it with perfect timing.

You are the God to be feared in awe,

to be loved in obedience,

to be honored in thanksgiving,

to be obeyed because of your wonderful, marvelous, overwhelming, beautiful, and perfect character.

To you be honor and glory in my life today and forever, for “The LORD’s right hand is lifted high; the LORD’s right hand has done mighty things!” (Ps 118:21).

Picture: God’s beauty and power seen in His creation.

“Praise the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, you are very great; you are clothed with splendor and majesty.”  Psalm 104:1

Praise be to you, my God,

the God of relationship,

of intimacy, of personality,

of interaction a

nd communication.

You, O Yahweh, I will praise with

my mind,

my will,

my emotions,

with my whole being;

without reservation I will exalt you.

You are worthy of worship for you are great:

you are mighty,

immense,

immeasurably expansive,

filling the universe with your presence,

knowing all,

seeing all,

performing all that is good.

In th light of your perfect, pristine character, Lord, may my attitude, my trust and my obedience give you the glory where my tongue fails. Honor and praise be to you, Lord Jesus, in my life today. Amen.”

Picture: HE fills the whole universe.

We are called to be ambassadors of Christ, carrying the message of the King to all around us. Here are two verses that give us direction in our responsibilities.

“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:15,16.

“Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect….” 1 Peter 3:15

Many believers wait for opportunities to share the gospel, and we should look for such possibilities. And, I would add, we should create opportunities. For instance, wearing a cross, having a t-shirt that stirs curiosity (see picture below of my “witnessing t-shirt) or carrying a Bible. 

I’ve already told you about my favorite way to stimulate people’s thinking, talking about death, then adding that “we all are going to die. And when you die and get to the gate of Heaven where the angel says, ‘why should I let you in,’ what will you say?” That opens  up clear opportunities to share the gospel, as most people do not know the needed answer, of having Jesus as our Lord and Savior. 

Another opener is to talk about God sightings, telling some I’ve had recently. They make people curious.

So, look for opportunities and create them when you can, so others may also enter the Kingdom of Heavenl.

Picture: All the imaginary heroes listn to the true Savior who actually saved the world! People ask about it.