|
Go Back...
Happiness is Holy
by: Ellene Meece
Happiness is a coveted commodity that makes life worth living. It is not a commodity of worldly indulgence. It is straight from God and is HOLY. It is not a by-product of living a life unrestrained and for self. It comes from enjoying perfect well-being in God and God is happy.
"Happy are the people whose God is the Lord" (Psalm 144:15).
"May the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful. Sing to God, sing in praise of his name" (Psalm 68:3-4).
"Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise "(James 5:13).
Some people try to differentiate between happiness and joy saying happiness is only an emotion and joy is a state of mind produced from well-being and is superior to being happy. However, as one author pointed out, the Bible overflows with accounts of God's people being happy in Him and uses the word joy and happiness interchangeably.
Is There a Difference between Happiness and Joy by Randy Alcorn,
http://www.faithstreet.com/onfaith/2015/10/08/is-there-a-difference-between-happiness-and-joy/37870]
Christian writer, Holly Gerth, wrote in her blog recently:
"I grew up in a denomination that tended to view happiness with a bit of suspicion--as something slightly dangerous and wild. And for a long time I believed a lie that went something like this: "Happiness is worldly therefore anything that makes you happy must be wrong." That meant feeling good often led to guilt. It seemed "more spiritual" to be someone who suffered.
Yet as I've dug deeper into what happiness really means, I've come to believe this instead: "Happiness can be an act of worship."
Being happy is an act of worship!
Several years ago, I heard a Bible teacher explain I Peter 1:16, "Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy." He pointed out that everything good comes from God and that this verse was not a command to perform, but an attribute from God to partake of. His illustration was from the film, Little Orphan Annie, and how she had nothing until Daddy Warbucks adopted her and then could have lifted Annie up on his knee and said, "Annie, be ye rich; for I am rich."
Likewise, we can imagine God lifting us up into His lap and saying our name, "-------, be ye happy; for I am happy." It's important to Him that we include this attribute in the great exchange . . . our sorrow for His happiness.
"Your happiness matters because it changes you, it transforms our world, and it glorifies our Maker.-- Jennifer Dukes Lee, The Happiness Dare
Let's receive His happiness! In doing so, we have the opportunity to transform our workplace and bring God's happiness into our everyday lives . . . making it holy.
|
Related...
replies
No replies have been added to this story. Click here to create a new reply Your Reply Was Added For Review...
|
