Ancient Truths for Happiness

The holiday season for many people is the most lonely and depressing time of the year. There will many opportunities for the children of light to bring their light into the lives of people who struggle in their own personal darkness.

Although you can’t really give what you don’t really have; so to get us ready, here are seven helpful and very old ….

           Ancient Truths for Happiness

   Indeed, man wishes to be happy even when he so lives as to make happiness impossible. ~St. Augustine

In an age where unhappiness seems to be everywhere we look, it’s good to remind ourselves that a disciple’s happiness is not based on his physical, financial, or social status. For those of us who love and follow Christ happiness is based on the current status of our relationship with Him. Here are seven reasons for the loss of our happiness and seven ways to find it again.                                            

                                             One

Sometimes our natural understanding of things causes our hope to retreat back into our own ideas, our own strength or into just wishing we had more money.

That’s always the beginning of unhappiness.

What I love about Jacob in the scriptures is that he wasn’t a very “good” man so to speak. He actually started out sort of a rascal; yet he finally learned to put his trust in the God who loved him and not in his own efforts. That’s when his nature changed from always being a ‘grabber’ to a ‘chosen prince’. I want his help and his hope to be mine.

Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God, Psalm 146:5 

                                           Two

It is crucial that we pay attention to what the Lord is saying to us and to trust Him in working out the details of His will. Hold fast to what He has shown you and be careful in your obedience to Him. He has already has made provision for all the ramifications of you doing His will.

He who heeds the Word wisely will find good, and whoever trusts in the LORD, happy is he. Proverbs 16:20

                                             Three

Pray always to see what God sees. Never let anything interfere with God being able to speak to you and guide you. Never seek to be free of God’s restraints on you. Look for Him in your circumstances, the scriptures and prayer. Never forget to do as He instructs.

Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; But happy is he who keeps the law. Proverbs  29:18 

                                               Four                               

Always remember that you are in training for righteousness and being led into perfection through obtaining His wisdom. Walk humbly before your God and consider it His love when you are humbled. Pray that He finds a way to correct you that you won’t reject. Don’t determine which person can and cannot correct you. Remember to live before Him and not people, letting your praise be from God and not man.

"Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects; Therefore do not despise the chastening of the Almighty. Job 5:17 

                                               Five

Never let bitterness occupy your thoughts for it will destroy everything good. Never let un-forgiveness move into your heart or you will find it to be the most difficult tenet to try and evict. Never let haughtiness walk with you for it will purposely trip you up. Never give passiveness a place to lay down in your life or you will find it difficult to ever get it up again. Cultivate the presence of a grateful heart and a worshipful spirit; for they can protect you from spiritual ruin.

Happy is the man who is always reverent, But he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity. Proverbs 28:14

                                               Six

There are many ways of showing someone you don’t like them. Perhaps the cruelest is to ignore them. Every day we should look for those who struggle with being downcast. When we find and help them we also find a source of potential happiness for ourselves. Sometimes the greatest act of kindness is to, in some personal way, let those people know … you see them; you care about them and that you love them. Whatever we end up giving; God will refund it to us ….tenfold. Pretty good deal.

He who despises his neighbor sins; But he who has mercy on the poor, happy is he. Proverbs 14:21 

                                            Seven

Always listen to your conscience but never force it on others. Don’t try to fix people. Don’t try to convict people of anything, that's the job of the Holy Spirit; not you. Let everything you do or say come from a desire to please God.

Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. Romans 14:22 

Let’s stop being so foolish and start getting the Wisdom He promised. Start eating from the Tree of Life. It’s the only real ‘Christmas tree’ and underneath its branches we will find, among others, the gifts of peace and happiness that Christ, not Santa, brought us.

Happy is the man who finds wisdom, And the man who gains understanding; for her proceeds are better than the profits of silver, and her gain than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies, and all the things you may desire cannot compare with her. Length of days is in her right hand, in her left hand riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, and happy are all who retain her. (Proverbs 3:13-18)