Living a Happy Life: A 7-Day Devotional for Parents About Living From Acceptance—Not for AcceptanceSample

Day Five: The Way of Happiness

The book of Psalms opens with a description of the blessed (or happy) life. The person who is happy is the person who delights in the instruction of the Lord. Someone who enjoys a great meal does not simply eat the food but delights in the flavors and the time with friends or family. The happy person does not merely read the instruction of the Lord but delights in it. There is a huge difference in spending time with God out of duty—in an attempt to make Him love you—and spending time with God out of delight, because you know His love for you is secure.

The person who is happy, who delights in the Lord, is compared to a large tree. Tourists travel miles to take pictures in front of famous trees. Some trees are so spectacular that they are given names: Sherman, the Lone Cypress, Hyperion, etc. But people who are not happy in God—the wicked ones—are compared to chaff. Chaff is the outer covering of a seed. Think of the outer shell of popcorn seeds that feel miserable between your teeth. No one takes pictures in front of chaff! 

Psalm 1 reminds us of the ends of the two paths we can take in this life. We can delight in the Lord, receive His forgiveness, and enjoy everlasting happiness as He watches over us. Or we can go our own way, the way of the wicked. The end of that path is destruction because those on that path won’t be able to stand before the Lord.  

The good news is that Jesus walked the narrow path perfectly for us. If we trust Him, He puts us on His path, watches over us, and fills us with His joy. And we will be able to stand before God—not because of our goodness but because of Jesus’ goodness, which we have received. What a reason to be happy!