Living a Balanced LifeSample

A Positive Choice

Happiness can be defined as a feeling of spiritual contentment that will carry you through the triumphs, pitfalls, or even heartaches of life with calm stability, serenity, peace of mind, and tranquility (Matthew 5:3-12). Happiness may or may not be related to the happenings in your life. In many instances, the outward happenings in a life affect our attitudes. However, happiness is also an act of the will (Psalm 144:15). We all have things happen in our lives that give us reason to be unhappy, but we have the power through Christ to make our own response to those happenings. Happiness is a potential positive choice.

Jesus gives some characteristics that promote a response of happiness (meekness, righteousness, merciful, peacemakers; Matthew 5:3-11). A believer must concentrate not on doing, but on BEING and LIVING! Total commitment to the Lord will result in a believer instinctive Christ-like response to various happenings as they occur. You must appropriate the tools God has given (his Word and his indwelling Spirit) in order to pursue happiness (Proverbs 3:13, 29:18). When a believer’s faith and conduct are balanced, happiness will always result. Happiness is enjoying everything the Lord has given you and not fretting about the things that have been taken away or withheld (Matthew 6:33-34). Happiness is trusting in God’s sovereignty and omniscience. You must believe that in every happening God will work for your good (Romans 8:28). Happiness comes from a daily obedience and faith in the Lord.