Posted on 09/24/2019 3:49:05 PM PDT by Faith Presses On
Neither a prince nor a princess derives any benefit from his or her exalted title if they are stranded in a country where their status is not recognized or honored. They are out of their realm. Christians, too, bear an exalted title - children of God - and they, too, often are given no honor by their fellow men. But their title is recognized in the heavenly realm, where both angels and evil spirits know that God is committed to caring for anyone who becomes a member of His family.
But the spiritual realm also knows that God's children are required to believe Him in order to receive His benefits. If God's children don't believe Him, evil spirits can harass them whenever they permit doubts to overcome their faith in God.
The Bible provides numerous illustrations of how God responded to those who trusted Him. Those examples make it abundantly clear that faith produces results! Scripture gives us God's promise that we have the right to be filled with joy (see Jn. 15:11). Some Christians have said to me, "I think it's wrong for you to say we should be filled with joy. Many good Christians have terrible problems. You must not understand how painful life can be." These Christians, unfortunately, have believed Satan's lie that problems have the power to destroy our happiness. In fact, God's plan is exactly the opposite. His plan compels our problems to work for our good, and can create ever-increasing joy in us! Problems can be used as the ingredients with which God helps us to produce faith. And faith in our loving Heavenly Father always brings joy. Earth is our training ground. Here we learn to trust God because of Who He Is, rather than just the good things He does for us. Hebrews 11:1 explains that faith is being sure...of what we do not see. In Heaven we will see things clearly, but for now we see through a glass, darkly (1 Cor. 13.12 JV). With faith and persistence we can learn to trust God to keep His promises, even when we see no immediate results. Once we believe Him, He will release new joy in us. Now is our big opportunity - one we will not have in Heaven!
I was once a perfect illustration of one who translated personal problems into personal unhappiness. I did this for so many years that it seemed perfectly natural to me. And because Christians around me often were mired in unhappiness also, I felt normal. Normal may have been, but why be normal when God yearns for us to be victorious overcomers? Jesus certainly wasn't "normal" when He faced life. He always persevered, and He prayed for us to have the kind of faith that receives joy from God regardless of our problems. We should pray, then, that we will be like the early believers. Second Corinthians 6:9, 10 (TLB) describes them well: The world ignores us, but we are known to God; we live close to death, but there we are, still very much alive. We have been injured but kept from death. Our hearts ache, but at the same time we have the joy of the Lord. We are poor, but we give rich spiritual gifts to others. We own nothing, and yet we enjoy everything.
When was the last time you were aware of someone who, "by faith," entered into unhappiness? Probably never - we want to escape unhappiness, not enter into it. If we want to escape from unhappiness we must use our faith. Faith is the tool God gives us to rise above what we feel. Faith is our confidence that God is doing and will keep on doing what He knows is best for us. Faith causes us to replace our sorrows.
Away with unhappiness! Unhappiness is not a product of faith. Up with joy that delivers us out of the clutches of darkness. First Peter 2:9 says, You are a chosen people...a people belonging to God...who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
Of what benefit is our title, "Children of God," if we choose to live as if we had no title and no victory in Christ?
This particular book, You Can be Happy Now, is also available for online reading through Hoopla Digital. Archive.org also offers some of his books.
Happiness is transitory.
Care for others = happiness
Concern only for yourself = misery
It’s as old as time itself
Was Jesus self concerned or was he here to save humanity ?
Life is transitory. Happiness, not so much.The Key to Unhappiness - Dennis Prager (5½ minutes, but a jewel).
Unhappiness and ingratitude are pretty much the same thing - and we are commanded to be grateful. It follows that we are commanded to be happy.
Commanded to be happy? Yes. It’s a hard saying, as anyone with depression can tell you. But anyone can, theoretically, act happy - smiling is under voluntary control. And acting happy can help you feel happy.
Anyway, that’s the theory. I’m having trouble following my own prescription at the moment - and if I told you why, you would understand instantly. But it wouldn’t make anyone happy if I did it.
That should be the goal of life - be content in all you do.
If happiness comes along(birth of a child, new job...etc) wrap yourself in it because it will dissipate quickly.
Happiness comes in small batches and is worth it's weight in gold. If happiness was with us 24hrs a day, it would be reduced to a junk bond.
“Serenity Now!”
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