"HAPPY HAPPY JOY JOY"

Have you thanked Him?

Have you praised Him?

Have you made it your priority to agree and cooperate with Him today?

Have you taken that deep breath and listened for what He has for you today?

ARE YOU SEEKING?

1 Timothy 2:1 (The Message)

^1-3The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.

If someone asked you today, I mean right now, “Are you happy?” what would you say?

Would you say, “Yeah, I think so…”or maybe “Uhh, most of the time I guess” or would you say, “Ahh…not really.”

What if then they asked you the follow-on question, “What would it take to make you happy?” What would you say then?

I was sitting in an early morning session yesterday where an interesting question was asked. “If you had 3 wishes, could rub the GENIE’s lamp, what would be the 3 things that you would request to make you happy?”

On the surface that seems like an easy question, but it really isn’t.

Come on, ask yourself, “What would make me happy?”

Wealth?

No guarantee there, I have counseled with a fair share of folks who have great wealth and are deeply sad. In fact earlier this year I laid to rest a dear friend who fit that category. He died a sorrowful man.

Fame?

No guarantee there either. Check the headlines. Lindsey Lohan, Whitney Houston, Dennis Rodman and that list goes on and on.

Power?

That one is a tricky one isn’t it? Yet the truth is, power is an insatiable desire, it is never satisfied. It was said of Alexander the GREAT that he wept because there were no more worlds to conquer.

That doesn’t seem too happy to me.

Truth is, NOTHING this world can offer, not wealth, fame, or power can guarantee HAPPINESS. There is only ONE who can.

GOD.

1 Thessalonians 5:16 (AMP)
Be happy [in your faith] and rejoice and be glad-hearted continually (always).

BE HAPPY IN YOUR FAITH...and where does that lie? GOD!

So here is the question again, ARE YOU happy? Are you glad-hearted?

Did you know that a joyful spirit and a happy countenance are the marks of God's image in us? To miss out on joy and the source of that joy is to miss out on the reason for our existence. God wants HIS joy to be in us. GOD even guarantees that JOY will fill the lives of those who embrace Him!

Galatians 5:22 (ERV)

²² But the fruit that the Spirit produces in a person’s life is love, JOY, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness

So when someone asks us that question, “Are you happy?” we can say a resounding yes, because the JOY of the LORD is the strength for those in HIM. We can quote boldly…

Psalm 92:4
For You, O Lord, have made me glad by Your works; at the deeds of Your hands I joyfully sing

In fact, if we want to get “real”about this joy thing, GOD’s WORD puts OUR JOY and OUR HAPPINESS in what I will call the “non-optional” category.

Don’t think so?

Philippians 4:4 AMP

"Rejoice in the Lord always [delight, gladden yourselves in Him]; again I say, Rejoice!"

Think again. J

Here is the bottom line, God wants us to be happy, and here is what is SUPREMELY COOL; HE makes HAPPINESS POSSIBLE.

There is only one catch.

It is impossible to experience real joy unless you have invited the “SPIRIT of JOY”, Jesus, to permeate and flow in and through your life. Jesus wants to help you, to strengthen you, to fill you with the laughter and joy that only He can give.

SO LET HIM!

Do it this morning.

Prayer
Lord, I've tried things my own way and have never found lasting joy. I'm ready to do things your way. Help me to be happy in my faith and to rejoice continually. In Jesus' name.

Once you do, you will experience JOY!

Romans 15:13
May the God of your hope so fill you with all joy and peace in believing [through the experience of your faith] that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound and be overflowing (bubbling over) with hope.

Have a joyful day!

I love you all

Freedom Church

Pastor GDelaney