The Joy Of The Lord Is Forever

Jesus summed up His teaching on happiness this way: ‘Now that you know this truth, how happy you will be if you put it into practice!’ The Bible gives us three keys that are vital to happiness.

(1) Be content (see 1 Timothy 6:8). In life, you get what you focus on, so focus on what you have. Paul writes, ‘Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honourable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.’ (Philippians 4:8 NLT)

(2) Be grateful (see 1 Thessalonians 5:18). Look around and be grateful for what God has given you. And if you can’t, thank Him for what He has protected you from. The devil doesn’t have to steal anything from you, just make you take it for granted. ‘From His abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another.’ (John 1:16 NLT).

(3) Learn to appreciate your loved ones. ‘Don’t be concerned for your own good but for the good of others.’ (1 Corinthians 10:24 NLT) When you are with a true friend you don’t have to be constantly on edge, worrying you might say or do the wrong thing. Because faithful friends will, in the words of George Eliot, ‘take and sift [your words and deeds], keep what is worth keeping, and then, with a breath of kindness, blow the rest away.’