The Happiness Book

"Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength." [Nehemiah 8:10]

Many do not think of happiness in connection with the Bible but basically the Bible is a book not of severity and gloom but of joy, even laughter (Prov. 17:22). With what joy the Lord God must have created the world with all its exotic flowers, colorful birds, and strange creatures of the land and sea! The star-spangled sky, sunrises, sunsets, spring days, and the glory of autumn are all the handiwork of a joyful Creator.

His Word is a book of joy (Luke 1: 46-47; 2:10). John Wesley translated “blessed” in the Beatitudes as “happy.” And, rightfully so, for blessedness is, as someone has said, “happiness with its roots in eternity.” So, the Beatitudes reveal the way to joyous living. Jesus continually sounded the note of joy in His life and teaching (Matt. 13:44; Luke 15:3-10; Heb. 12:). God’s desire for us is that we may be filled with all joy and peace in believing (Rom. 15:13).

Even trouble is transmuted, through the golden touch of faith, into happiness. James said, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing” [James 1:2-4]. Face your troubles with joyous faith in the Lord who makes us victorious over our problems, and your character will become whole, and mature and continually radiant.

Norman Vincent Peale (Bible Power for Successful Living)

Right Now

Remember that you can only live one day at a time. Yesterday is a memory. Tomorrow is a hope. The only reality is right now. Make this minute a good one, fill it with love and trust and good deeds; continue this all day and every day and your life will be full of happiness.

Norman Vincent Peale

On Having A Good Day

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life… [Psalm 23:6]

At the beginning of creation God made the days and after each of them He “saw that it was good” (Gen. 1:5, 10, 12). When we learn to take life one day at a time and to follow Scriptural principals of life and happiness, we too can look back at the end of each day, filled though it may be with pressures and problems and thank God for a good day. His goodness and love fills every one of them (Ps. 23:6). We can either enjoy each day, and live it to the full or we can waste it in futility and misery. The Bible was written to help us make each day wonderful.

Norman Vincent Peale

Don’t Let Others Control You

“It is an honor for a man to cease from strife and keep aloof from it, but every fool will quarrel.” (Proverbs 20:3, AMP)

Did you know that when you allow someone else’s words or actions to upset you, you’re allowing them to control you? When you say, “You make me so mad,” you’re really just admitting that their actions have power over you. As long as that person knows they can push your buttons, as long as you keep responding the same way, you are giving them exactly what they want. Sure, people have a right to say and do things that are upsetting, but we also have a right to not get offended. We have a right to overlook their actions. In fact, the Bible says that it’s an honor for a man to keep “aloof” from strife. In other words, we have to remove ourselves, either physically or emotionally, from strife and offense. It’s not easy, but we can choose to let it roll off of us like water off a duck’s back!

Remember, you don’t need everyone to agree with you all the time. You don’t have to have the approval of others in order to be approved by God. Your job is to be the person God made you to be. Overlook offenses and let go of strife so you can live in peace and victory all the days of your life!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY Father, thank You for loving, accepting and approving me just as I am. I know You are doing a work in my life, and I ask for the strength and confidence to overlook offense so that I can honor You in everything I do in Jesus’ name. Amen.

TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria

Breathing Exercises For Relaxation

Go here: WebMD Stress Management Page

Good Sense

“Good sense makes a man restrain his anger, and it is his glory to overlook a transgression or an offense.” (Proverbs 19:11, AMP)

Every day, we have opportunities to get upset, frustrated or offended. Maybe you had plans that didn’t work out, or someone was rude to you at the office. Maybe you were doing something that should have taken one hour and ended up taking three. Life is full of inconveniences. Even though we can’t always control our circumstances, we can control our reaction. They say, “Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you respond.”

We should always go out each day with a positive attitude, full of hope and expecting God’s favor. But at the same time, we should recognize that most days are not going to go exactly as we planned. However, we are created to live in peace. Peace is our position of power. If you get stressed because you got off schedule, or upset because your child wouldn’t eat his breakfast, or frustrated because somebody offended you, you are giving away your power. Instead, use good sense! Make the decision to release those offenses and disappointments so you live in peace. Overlook offense, release offense and move forward in the power and victory the Lord has for you!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Father, today I release every care, concern, offense and disappointment to You. I choose to keep the peace that You have given me knowing that with You, my best days are ahead in Jesus’ name! Amen.

TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria

Emotional Preparedness

This is why... most martial arts practitioners focus on mental training as much as on physical training. Both are equally important — and require equally vigorous exercise and practice.

Optimism

If you paint in your mind a picture of bright and happy expectations, you put yourself into a condition conducive to your goal. NVP

Focus

One reason so few of us achieve what we truly want is that we never direct our focus; we never concentrate our power. Most people dabble their way through life, never deciding to master anything in particular. TR