Tag: Happiness

What’s in Your Heart

That which is in our heart has a great impact on how we go about things. We may have a persona on the outside and our face says one thing, but it is what is on the outside and what is on our heart that really drives how we approach things.

“25Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down,

but a good word makes him glad.”

— Proverbs 12:25 (ESV)

I admit that I am consumed a lot by what is on the inside and fight each day. I am a bit of a worry wort and allow things that are out of my control to dominate my mind and approach. I am not always a “glad” person. I like to think that I am a realist where the glass is not half full or half empty but that there is just water in the class. But really, I am one who allows the fear of the unknown to keep me from things.

Notice in the verse above, that it is simple anxiety that brings us to a low point and dominates our thinking and approach to things. When we have that worry in our hearts, we are not able to proceed forward in a positive way as there is always something lurking that will cause us to doubt. I have that in my heart and it does indeed keep me tied up, unable to move forward in a constructive way.

But, there is hope. Hope in the Word of the LORD. “A good word” or the Word of God on our hearts makes us glad and keeps us away from the negative approach to things. When I am focused on the Word of God, I am more likely to smile and know the way forward and avoid the doubts and anxious moments.

It is possible to have both anxiety and happiness at the same time, according to therapists. But is that really true. I feel that it is really one or the other. When glad and filled with happiness, there is little to no thought of any worry. It is just happiness and gladness and looking forward to the next thing that will bring happiness and gladness. Where anxiety, the anxiety of the moment keeps us from moving forward and wanting to hold on to the moment of happiness forever.

I don’t want to be weighted down by my anxiety and worry. I therefor pray against it daily. I speak to the LORD asking Him to take it from me. I work daily to let it go and think from a glad heart. I work to allow the LORD to consume me so that His light will shine from me and lift others. I am a continued work in progress.

I will be glad. I will be happy. I will press forward. I will keep the Word of God on my heart. This is the approach I need to keep looking for the next thing to bring happiness and gladness. I will fill my heart with gladness.

What is on your heart? Are you filled with anxiety and worry? What if you filled the gladness and happiness provided by the Word of God to press on to the next thing that will bring you happiness and gladness?

Human Happiness and Joy

Where do you go to find happiness? Wouldn’t it be great to have a blueprint or an instruction manual to get to happiness. Well, there is, God’s Word. All that is needed is to keep it close to be able to reference and refer to when things get a little sideways, or you want to make sure that you are taking things on in the right manner. God’s Word has all we need to start and make it through the day and life in general.

“4But he answered, ‘It is written,

“Man shall not live by bread alone,

but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”’” – Matthew 4:4 (ESV)

“7Jesus said to him, ‘Again it is written, “You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.”’” – Matthew 4:7 (ESV)

“10Then Jesus said to him, ‘Be gone, Satan! For it is written,

“You shall worship the Lord your God

and him only shall you serve.”’” – Matthew 4:10 (ESV)

This morning I was reminded that Jesus depended on God’s Word as He worked through this world. In the above verses, Jesus was being tempted by Satan in the wilderness, and yes, Satan was using scripture to distort the truth to get Jesus to give into the temptation. But, Jesus did not fall into that trap. Even as He was weak from a 40 day fast, Jesus went back to the instructions or blueprint to make it through. He consulted God’s Word to find the strength and just what was what. Jesus quoted God’s Word in refute of the lies from Satan. Jesus was able to find happiness in the Word of God as to how to proceed.

But what did Jesus do after fending off Satan, He began His ministry. Jesus was able to get back (or started) to work doing what He loved, teaching and caring and loving and leading and healing and all that came with His ministry. He had consulted the blueprint that got Him through the sticky spot and stuck with the blueprint to move forward into that which brought Him joy.

If you remember, happiness is a momentary emotional thing. Joy is more lasting and internal. With Jesus in our lives and God’s Word to lean on daily, we are able to find joy in all things and circumstance. We will however need happiness from time to time in a moment to get back to the joy. Joy and happiness are found in the instructions for our lives that was laid out by God through His Word. Jesus used it and certainly if it was good enough for Jesus, then it is good enough for me.

Where do you go for encouragement and life giving instructions? Do you look for momentary happiness and then back to the grind? What if you found the instruction on how to get through things and then used those instructions to get you back on track and moving forward into joy, God’s Word, Jesus did can’t we?