Is anybody happy?

I love to be around people who make me happy, that means they are positive, have a good sense of humor and don’t talk about others, expecting me to respond.

So happiness – isn’t that the thing that all of us strive to find and keep?

No one is happy all of the time, but some people are definitely more fulfilled than others. Studies on what makes people happy reveal that it doesn’t have much to do with material goods or high achievement; it seems to whittle down to your outlook on life, and the quality of your relationships with the people around you.

How can we find this elusive emotion of happiness, or joy?

Psalm 16:11 You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.King David was very happy as he walked in front of the Ark in 2 Samuel 6: 11-13 David, ceremonially dressed in priest’s linen, danced with great abandon before God. The whole country was with him as he accompanied the Chest of God with shouts and trumpet blasts. There is a difference between deep worship and just praising with abandon and that’s what David was doing. King James says he was leaping and twirling! Psalm 47:1 Oh, clap your hands, all you peoples! Shout to God with the voice of triumph!

When your heart is filled with joy, it’s easy to praise, it just flows, but what happens when you are in the depths of despair?

Let’s see what Jonah did, Chapter 2 I was as far down as a body can go, and the gates were slamming shut behind me forever, Yet you pulled me up from that grave alive, O God, my God When my life was slipping away, I remembered God, And my prayer got through to you, made it all the way to your Holy Temple. Those who worship hollow gods, god-frauds, walk away from their only true love. But I’m worshiping you, God; I will sacrifice to you with the voice of thanksgiving! And I’ll do what I promised I’d do! Salvation belongs to God!”

Last night, someone asked me to give them a “word” to get through the night. I prayed for a moment, then I knew what God wanted them to hear, “Weeping endures for the night, but Joy comes in the morning!”According to Lamentations 3:22,23 we are given a clean slate every morning, with new mercies from the Lord!

Time to talk about the very thing Satan is trying to take away from you, that is your JOY!

Nehemiah 8:10 Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”

Psalm 16:11 You will show me the path of life; In your presence is fullness of joy; At your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Psalm 27:6 …therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in the tabernacle;

I think that happiness starts with being grateful for what you have and praising God for all He has done for you!