The Key to Happiness

There is a great hymn that speaks of the true key to happiness, Trust and Obey, the chorus goes...

Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

Psalm 128:1,2 says Blessed is everyone that feareth the Lord, that walketh in his ways. For thou shalt eat the labour of thy hands, happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.

So basically fear the Lord and walk in his ways and you will be happy. Trust and obey for there is no other way to be happy in Jesus.

God loves us and wants us to be happy. He longs for a close relationship with us. We can have that by praying often, talking to Our Father about all our concerns, pouring out our love and praise to Him; just talking to Him and spending time in quiet reflection and heeding His leadings. Another way is by reading His Word the Bible faithfully. It is life's instruction manual. By reading it and thinking about it we will learn God's ways so we can walk in them.

This is no guarantee however that life will always be sunshine and chocolate bars ( yeah I know that should be bubblegum or lollipops but who wouldn't rather have chocolate ~smile~). Everyone will go through hard times, times of sorrow and disappointment but there is a difference for the Christian. When we go through these times we can call out to God and cast all our cares upon Him for He cares for us (1Peter 5:7) Neh. 8:10 tells us that the joy of the Lord is our strength. When we face these hard times we can still have joy and strength through the Lord. Joy is deep down not a fleeting emotion.

So, how do we get the joy of the Lord...well let me tell you! Gal. 5:22 says that the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekeness and temperance. Joy is one of the fruit of the Spirit. Fruit of the Spirit means when you have the Holy Spirit and allow Him to work fully in your life, obeying Him then your life will bear the fruit of that relationship and you will have that fruit in your life. Isn't that wonderful! What a blessing!

There are possible blockages to a Spirit filled life such as unconfessed sin, purposefully sinful behaviour etc. If you are struggling talk to your pastor. If you don't have any blockages you know of and yet are not bearing fruit talk to your pastor. He is there to help you. If you don't have a pastor yet call a church, they will be overjoyed to help you through this! Believe me you will make their day!

* One note is that I am in no way talking about depression here. If you are depressed and are under a doctor's care then that is a whole other issue. Do not feel that if you are clinically depressed or are taking medication that makes you less of a Christian. That is absolutely not true. That is a medical condition and God provided us with doctors for a reason. If you are struggling hard with depression and have not yet spoken to your doctor then please do so right away, talk to your pastor too he is there to help you through all life's struggles - that is after all his job.

Have a Happy Wednesday! Trust and Obey!
Blessings,
Liisa


Trust and Obey

When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.

Refrain:
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.
Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;

Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,
But is blessed if we trust and obey.
But we never can prove the delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay;

For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.
Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet,
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way;
What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;
Never fear, only trust and obey.