HAPPY NEW YEAR! As another year goes by and a new one comes, everyone wishes this to each other. So do I.
Think about the past year. At its beginning, each of us got this message many times. But was the whole year happy for us? Several situations were there that made us sad, depressed, doubtful, and even fearful. Can this new year be free from all those unhappy situations? Would we be happy throughout the new year? The unfortunate truth is that the situations that made us unhappy last year will most likely happen this year as well. However, as a child of God, the choice to make ourselves happy throughout the year regardless of those adverse situations is ours! Can one be happy 24/7 and 365 days a year? To answer that, one needs to know the definition of Happiness. Happiness is not just being cheerful always. The true meaning of being Happy is "being contented" or "being in good spirit". Even when something is not right in lives, if we can find hope beyond the situation that troubles us and know that there is good behind that, we can consider ourselves happy.
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
Romans 8:28
This is what makes us Happy through unhappy situations. God made me think about 10 simple steps for being in good spirit or to find satisfaction. The 1st nine steps are based on the relation to God and the tenth one is the result of the 1st nine.
Happy are you, O Israel!
NKJV
Who is like you, a people saved by the Lord,
The shield of your help
And the sword of your majesty!
Your enemies shall submit to you,
And you shall tread down their high places.
One of the major causes of worry in life is the guilt of sin. By the blood of Jesus Christ on Calvary, our sins are forgiven forever and we no longer have to carry the burden of the disobedience. Being saved is as easy as believing in the LORD Jesus Christ and his plan of salvation for us. Of course, the pre-requisite for that is to know and admit that we are sinners by nature and we cannot do anything else to get free from sin.
Being Saved gives us the ultimate hope that lasts forever - To be with God in Heaven for eternal life (1 Peter 5:10). The assurance of our salvation keeps our spirit happy because we know that even when we walk through the valley of Death, the comforting God is always with us (Psalms 23:4-6). When we compare the sufferings in our short life in this world with the riches of Glory that we soon will attain (Romans 8:18) we certainly can rejoice in hope during our tribulations here (Romans 12:12 )
Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects;
NKJV
Therefore do not despise the chastening of the Almighty
It is our privilege to have God as our Father. (Romans 8:15). We do have all the rights and the divine inheritance from God. At the same time, we should be happy to have been disciplined by God. There are times in our life in the coming year that certain adversities remind us to correct our path with the God. Let us pray to God that we have the divine wisdom to recognize those unhappy times and get ourselves corrected to make ourselves happy again. (Proverbs 3:11-12 )
Happy are the people who are in such a state;
NKJV
Happy are the people whose God is the Lord!
It is so wonderful that we serve the ONE and ONLY God. (1 Corinthians 8:6) - Not one among many, but just THE ONE. (Isaiah 43:10-11, Isaiah 44:6 ) - Besides, we have a personal relationship with God (Deuteronomy 6:4-5). For the same reason, we are on higher ground and have an advantage over the troubles of our life.
Happy is the man who finds wisdom,
NKJV
And the man who gains understanding;
What is the wisdom and Understanding mentioned in this verse? We can see the answer in Proverbs 9:10 - It is the fear of God and Knowledge about God. 1 Corinthians 3:19 says that the wisdom of the World is foolishness to God. We have to grow in the understanding of our God. How do we do that? From the word of God (Psalm 119:66) and it cannot be attained by human efforts as it is a gift of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:8). So one can find true happiness in seeking knowledge about God.
Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help,
NKJV
Whose hope is in the Lord his God
Nothing in our life comes by chance. Everything happens according to the divine plan of God and that plan is always good for us. (Jeremiah 29:11 ). Proverbs 10:28 says Hope of the righteous bring Joy. Even in the adverse conditions, if our true Hope is the LORD, we will be happy because the ONE with us is mightier than anything and everything (Isaiah 40:31, Deuteronomy 31:6).
But those who wait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31)
It clearly says that there are times that our strength needs to be renewed.. There are times that we can be weary or feels like fainting.. But just wait on the LORD and we will be happy because it is the ALMIGHTY who strengthens us and that strength is more than enough to mount up like Eagles.
He who heeds the word wisely will find good,
NKJV
And whoever trusts in the Lord, happy is he
The words 'Hope' and 'Trust' are sometimes used synonymously but there is a fine difference in them. While 'Hope' is waiting for something that we wish for, 'Trust' is Hope backed up with prior evidence or knowledge. (Proverbs 3:5) - Hope may not drive away from the inner fear of uncertainty while Trust makes one brave (Psalm 56:3-4) - Happiness may be an after-effect of Hope, but in Trust, happiness is never lost in the troubles we face. (Psalm 13:5, Psalm 33:21) In other words, when we trust the LORD with our full heart, we will be able to rejoice even during the tribulations we face in our life.. (Isaiah 26:3-4) - Trust in the LORD drives away the fear from our hearts (Psalm 112:7)
Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint;
NKJV
But happy is he who keeps the law.
Obeying the word of God will make a person transformed (Romans 12:2) and enable him to discern what is right and what is wrong. This knowledge brings about the ultimate peace in our lives which makes us truly happy. The word of God brings about thankfulness in our hearts which is the result of perfect satisfaction (Colossians 3:16). The word of God sanctifies us (John 17:17), keeps us away from evil (1 John 2:14), brings respect (Psalms 119:6, 31,46, 98-100) counsels us, and shields us (Psalms 119:14, 24, 50, 52, 105, 130) thus brings us joy.
Unless Your law had been my delight,
I would then have perished in my affliction. - Psalms 119:92Great peace have those who love Your law,
And nothing causes them to stumble. - Psalms 119: 165
Happy is the man who is always reverent,
NKJV
But he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity.
Being reverent to God means fear of the LORD which is sometimes misinterpreted as fear with which God is to be regarded. The more accurate meaning would be fear to do evil considering the holiness of God. This makes more sense since there is no fear in perfect love (1 John 4:18) and we love God with perfect love. We have to be Holy as our God is Holy (1 Peter 1:14-16) - Usually fear and happiness does not go along. One who is afraid cannot be happy. However, being fearful to do sin will cause us to be extra cautious not to commit Sin that causes unhappiness. (Hebrews 12:15 , 2 Timothy 2:21 )
I think myself happy, King Agrippa, because today I shall answer for myself before you concerning all the things of which I am accused by the Jews
NKJV
In this passage, we can see the Paul is happy to witness the LORD even during the terrible tribulation he faces. We have to become a living testimony for others.
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:16
He who despises his neighbor sins;
NKJV
But he who has mercy on the poor, happy is he.
Love of God bears the love towards fellow beings. It is by loving others that we testify that we are children of God (John 13:35). Love does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things (1 Corinthians 13: 6-7) which brings about joy and peace in all stages of life.
