What Does it Take to be Happy? ~ Christine Malkemes

Dear Sister Disciples,

Our constitution gives us the right to seek Happiness, and some statisticians have taken surveys to find the happiest place on earth. But Happiness is relative. Only we know what makes us happy.

But we’ve been given a blueprint for Happiness in Holy Scripture. Fortunate, and yes, happy is the one who walks in the Spirit. He who created you knows perfectly well what makes you happy.

What is Happiness?

The first line in the first Psalm reads, “How happy is the man …” Happiness is an expression of joy and satisfaction. These two words reflect what it means to be blessed – found in God’s favor.

Let others find their Happiness in riches or fame, but I will seek my Happiness in the Lord, my God.

Our Delight and Happiness Come From the Lord

His delight is in the Lord’s instruction, and he meditates on it day and night. He is like a tree planted beside streams of water that bears its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prosper. Psalm 1:2b-3

 Psalms is a book of songs – praises directed to our Almighty God. The songs are prayers directed o Him and words that usher us into His presence.

In His presence is pure joy.

Poetry is songs for the heart. Psalms give us “heart songs” of worship, inspiration, lament, and even wisdom. We delight in praising the Lord.

The Psalms are also humans and prayers for the soul in the privacy of your home and community. They’re words of remembrance, history, and celebration. They’re songs of thanksgiving.

Even more than that, the Psalms teach, instruct, and inspire us. Contemplative poetry sets our hearts to know God and know Him intimately. These 150 Psalms instill in our soul confidence and assurance in God’s character.

The Psalms reveal the Heart of God. 

Here, in the Psalms, we’re encouraged in our struggle to understand God’s character. These words of faith in God and His attributes help us navigate our relationship with the Holy One. Reading them and reading them aloud can express our need for forgiveness, gratefulness, and pure worship.

I can’t assure you that a Psalm a day will keep the doctor away, but I can confidently tell you that you will draw closer to Father God. This is because the Psalms allow you to walk in the Spirit. So blessed and happy is the woman who finds her delight in the Lord.

In Summary

God’s word is a revelation of God’s will, way, and even His thoughts. Therefore, seeking God’s will is not a matter of a few days of fasting but a lifetime of instruction and heart-felt fellowship with the Lord. 

Seeking Happiness is not so much our accomplishments or possessions, but in Who possesses us. 

When you give it some thought, this ability to delight in the Lord is a miracle. The common person believes in miracles, but there’s a miracle every day somewhere on this earth. The greatest miracle on earth is a sinner in the presence of a Holy God.

Yes, just the thought of His great love brings me joy, and the Holy Spirit’s touch as we walk together brings me joy and Happiness. It is a good thing to be in the hands of the Lord.