Many people are vaguely unhappy. But really they don’t need to be. One can awaken every morning with a thrill, looking forward with anticipation to the day. You can imagine having the time of your life all day long and actually regret having to go to bed for fear of missing something exciting.
Three verses will help you cast off unhappiness and show you how to live joyously. We suggest that you say the first one out loud every day:
1. “This is the day which the Lord hath made; let us rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24).
Those words are a stimulating mental and spiritual tonic with which to begin the day. Upon awakening, say these dynamic words out loud. You have a new day crammed with opportunity to build a better and happier life. As you go to work, repeat the verse and, if you begin to run down in spirit during the day, say it again. This is one of the greatest of all strength producing thoughts. Possibly no method is more effective for driving off unhappiness than to saturate the mind with these powerful words.
2. “Rejoice in the Lord always again I will say, Rejoice” (Philippians 4:4).
You can make yourself unhappy by habitually thinking unhappy thoughts. Instead, start thinking joyfully. It is that simple. Practice rejoicing, not vaguely, but specifically rejoicing in the Lord. Think of every wonderful thing the Lord has done for you, the most important being that He is always with you. When you consider the implications of that fact, there is every reason to rejoice and be happy, for it means that nothing can ever defeat you.
3. “These things I have spoken to you … that your joy might be full” (John 15:11).
Real, in-depth Christians are always happy people. Of course, that does not mean that they are free from pain and suffering, but they have the power to conquer it. They are filled with joyous exultation, for they have the priceless experience of victory over misery. To be happy, try to follow the “things” Jesus teaches. You will experience joy in its fullest form.
Light. It’s something we can’t live without, yet something we often take for granted. Psalm 119 tells us, “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path” (Psalm 119:105). In modern America, where electricity illuminates all things brightly, we tend to assume this means that God will make the path clear and easy to see. But the amount of light shed by an oil lamp—the kind the Psalmist sung about—was far less than we’d be comfortable with today.
Imagine walking through the streets of a village in 500 B.C. at midnight, with only the stars above and the flicker of a lamp the size of your palm for guidance. Your eyes would be intently fixed on the faint illumination of your path, to avoid tripping. You would be able to see only a few feet ahead and to the side. You would be keenly aware of the intense darkness surrounding you.
Sometimes we overlook obvious turns in the path because we’re expecting a flashing neon sign to tell us which way to go. We’re waiting for God to shake our hearts up with an earthquake like the one in Exodus 19:18. We want Him to announce Himself with a thunderous voice (John 12:29). However, it’s just as likely—perhaps more likely—He will communicate His will to us in a gentle whisper (1 Kings 19:12). And it’s very, very likely that what He asks of us will be something small and manageable.
When in doubt about what God wants you to do, work on what you can see needs to be done. Do that hated chore. Finish the project you’ve been avoiding. Call and make the medical appointment you’re afraid to make. Do every one of the things that is already visible in the little circle of light that’s illuminating your path before you complain that you can’t see where to go. God has often already shown us the answer to the question we’re asking.
Jesus said, “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much” (Luke 16:10). There is nothing shameful about being asked to work on little things. Often they’re exactly what we need to prepare our hearts to spread the light of Christ in the way that God desires.
Brother Lawrence was an illiterate lay brother who lived in 17th century France. His holiness was so well-known that, although his work consisted of simple tasks like peeling potatoes, he was asked to dictate his thoughts for the benefit of others. “We ought not to be weary of doing little things for the love of God, who regards not the greatness of the work, but the love with which it is performed,” he said in The Practice of the Presence of God.
When we go out to do great things for God, we mustn’t forget that we can do great things by doing little things with love. You can “let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16), whether your deeds are as bright as a street light or as gentle as a clay oil lamp.
Everyone loves a good story. This is why we read books and go to movies and listen to each other tell their personal experiences. “Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story—those he redeemed from the hand of the foe,” Psalm 107:2 proclaims. Our lives are wrapped up in God’s story—and while that’s wonderful, it’s also a bit scary. Our words and actions tell others not only about ourselves, but about our Maker and Master.
Long ago I heard a missionary talk about working in Africa, where he asked how the local people went about evangelization. “Oh, that’s easy,” the leader of the village explained. “We ask one of our Christian families to move to the next village. When everyone sees how they live their lives, they want to be like that, too. So then they want to know about Jesus Christ.”
That’s the kind of plot I want for my life—one in which I’m living my faith so fully that, even if I don’t say a word about what I believe, people will long to “taste and see that the Lord is good…” (Psalm 34:8).
Each thing we do or say has meaning and significance. “But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken,” warns Jesus in Matthew 12:36, and “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing” (John 14:12). Becoming a believer means taking on an active role as a Christian.
One characteristic of a good story is that it bears repeating. Most of us need to hear things many times to absorb them; like the stiff-necked Israelites wandering in the wilderness, we don’t always grasp God’s majesty the first time we learn of it. Perhaps this is why the story of the exodus from Egypt is mentioned in 24 books of the Bible. And perhaps it explains why the feeding of the five thousand is present in all four Gospels, the curing of the boy with fits in three and the healing of the blind man in two.
When Jesus said, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear,” (Mark 4:9) he knew that becoming a good listener is a prerequisite to becoming a good storyteller. We have to know the story by heart — and know it deep in our hearts — to be able to tell it well.
Paul tells us, “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ” (Romans 10:17).
How can we become better listeners?
1. Pray for a true attentiveness to the Word of God.
“Lord, open my ears!” is a humble plea worthy of the deaf and mute man whose story is found in Mark, chapter 7. “Be opened!” Jesus commanded (verse 34). And that will be His answer to us, too, when we pray for ears open to God’s voice.
2. Don’t interrupt.
Listening isn’t the same as having a conversation. Absorb first; respond later.
3. Fend off negative thoughts.
Don’t let yourself get dragged down in ‘But…’ and ‘I can’t….’ If God is behind what you’re hearing, He will show you how you can live His will.
Our life stories have to wordlessly echo the story of redemption—and make it easier for others to live that same tale. Thank goodness God is always ready to help us improve our story-telling techniques (and to rewrite those places where we fail)!
Disappointment is a vicious and debilitating enemy. It can cause you to be so emotionally disturbed that you will be unable to think effectively. As a result, you cut off the creative forces that are ready to help you. Disappointment can strike you at almost any time, so it’s important that you learn to deal with it.
First and foremost, don’t let disappointment shake your belief in the goodness of God. “Do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward” (Hebrews 10:35). When disappointment strikes, hold tightly to your faith. Say, “I am still confident. I still believe.” It will require mental and spiritual effort to maintain this confidence in God and in yourself, but it is your road to better things.
Thank God every day; there’s always a reason to do so. “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits” (Psalm 103:2). Start thanking the Lord for all the blessings he has given you. Do this instead of mentally—and perhaps vocally—harping on what has been denied you. You’ll be amazed how much better your life will look when you saturate it with thanksgiving!
God wants you to be happy where you are with what you’ve got. “Be content with what you have; for he has said, ‘I will never fail you nor forsake you’” (Hebrews 13:5). The word “contentment” derives from two Latin words, con and tenere, meaning “to hold together.” When you have faith in God, your mind will “hold together” so efficiently that you can recover from disappointment. If you always remember that God is on your side, you can be content with whatever comes your way. And out of such contentment great things can happen.
When you don’t understand why things are happening the way they are, cling to this promise: “We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).
When you are disappointed, examine yourself to make certain you are thinking and living in harmony with God’s purpose. It could be that you have wandered off the Godly path. Instead of dwelling upon the word “disappointment,” think of it as “God-appointment.” What you regard as a disappointment may actually be a wonderful new plan for your life—namely, His plan.
So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; it will not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it. (Isaiah 55:11)
One of the things that brought me the most comfort while our son was on deployment as a frontline infantry Marine was the time I spent in prayer. It didn’t start out that way. For a while, I really struggled to find the words to pray. I worried that maybe my words wouldn’t be powerful enough or be said in just the right way to do any good.
I had awakened from another terrible nightmare and made my way downstairs to curl up in the recliner. As I sat wordless, with my Bible resting in my hands, a memory wormed its way to forefront of my mind. Somewhere, years before, I had read that a good way to find the right words to pray was to pray Scripture.
It only took me a minute to turn to the book of Psalms in my Bible. I’d read through that book almost daily because of the comfort it brought. The authors of those words could articulate the things I was feeling and the fears I couldn’t voice.
I turned to Psalm 27 and found the comfort and the peace that had alluded me for so long. Below is an example of how I turned the first three verses into a prayer for my son. The words in italics are the ones I changed:
The Lord is my son’s light and salvation;
Whom shall he fear?
The Lord is the defense of my son’s life;
Whom shall he dread?
When evildoers came upon my son to devour his flesh, My son’s adversaries and enemies, they stumbled and fell.
Though a host encamp against my son,
My heart will not fear and neither shall my son’s;
Though war arise against my son,
In spite of this I, and my son, shall be confident.
There is so much power in just these three short verses. I encourage you to read the rest of the Psalm, plugging in the name of your own soldier. But don’t stop here. There are so many verses in the Bible that we can pray for those we love.
After that night, I never again lacked the words when I wanted to pray for my son. No matter what situation you find yourself facing, remember that the Bible isn’t just inspiration, it’s also full of practical application.
Recently at church, I heard a pastor preach on how the book of Proverbs offers wisdom for prosperous living. Typically, when there is discussion of prosperous living it’s associated with the Prosperity Gospel, a belief among some Christians that financial blessings and physical well-being are always the will of God and that faith, positive speech and contributions to religious causes will increase one’s material wealth. However, this was not the case.
The pastor’s message was how the wise sayings in Proverbs, when applied, can enrich our relationships, faith, finances and physical and spiritual health. The Scripture for his sermon was from Proverbs chapter three:
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing and your vats will brim over with new wine.”
From this passage, the key message is to trust, honor and fear the Lord. In doing so, we are able to navigate the challenges and opportunities of life thus drawing us closer to God. When referring to the passage, trust means not to lean on our understanding, but to seek the guidance and wisdom of God. Our hearts and mind can fail or deceive us, but He never will. This is not to say that we shouldn’t think things through and come to conclusions, but when council is needed, we should turn to God through Scripture and prayer.
For believers, having a fear of God doesn’t mean to be afraid of Him but to have a healthy understanding of God in all that we do, to not neglect His presence and to always have reverence for Him.
Lastly everything we have is a blessing from God, so we must honor Him with our wealth and resources. When we trust, honor and fear God, we can live prosperously even if our prayers are unanswered, our health is not perfect and we continue to face financial hardships. What does living prosperously means to you? Please share with us.
Lord, teach us to trust, honor and fear You all the days of our lives.
Training is hard. Every athlete will tell you it takes dedication and focused energy to build muscle and improve skills. The same is true on the spiritual side.
Paul says, “Train yourself to be godly” (1 Timothy 4:7). When we ask God to help us overcome a bad tendency–whether it’s worry, gossip, pessimism, a temper, self-indulgence, a sharp tongue or pride–we still have a workout ahead of us.
Stamina doesn’t appear like magic; it’s developed one day, one temptation, one choice at a time. God will give us the strength we need, but it’s only by using that strength day after day that we develop the ability to “run with perseverance the race marked out for us” (Hebrews 12:1).
One of the first steps in breaking a bad habit or purging your life of recurring sin is to pray for “a discerning heart” (1 Kings 3:9) so that we can see what distracts us from what God asks us to do. What tempts us away from the path we want to be on? Into which kinds of situations do we stray?
What discourages us? Makes us want to give up? The more we understand the things that pull us off track and onto “the road that leads to destruction” the easier it will be to stay focused on the narrow “road that leads to life” (Matthew 7:13).
Once we know where the pitfalls lie, we can pray throughout the day, as many times as needed, Give me, Lord, the wisdom to make the good choice right now. Holding Scripture verses in your mind and returning to them throughout the day can help, too. Three of my favorites are:
“God is love” (1 John 4:8).
“Great is the Lord, and most worthy of praise” (Psalm 48:1).
“The Lord is my strength and my defense; He has become my salvation” (Exodus 15:2).
Often when we seek to make a change in our lives, we work on it for a while, then gradually forget. Jesus’ words to the disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane are apt: “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41). Before–and during–any effort to change, we need to continually ask God for the strength to stay awake and persevere in what we are doing. We need to dedicate our hard work to Him and unite our struggles to His. We need to cling to the promise in Philippians 4:13: “I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.”
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.—Proverbs 1:7
That word fear here used to shake me up. It made me wonder, Do I have to be afraid of God to grow in wisdom? Not at all. I’ve come to see how fear in this context means “wonder and awe.” Our world is full of distractions. We’re barraged with information on our phones and computers. How to make sense of it all? This verse reminds me to put first things first. The rest will follow.
I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.—Psalm 32:8
We learn from God through Scripture and prayer. I used to start my day with the morning paper, but I found that my spiritual life was overwhelmed by scary headlines. Not fear of God—just fear of everything else. These days, I make sure the good news comes first. I start with prayer, then read a few psalms with my oatmeal. Feeding on God’s word. Later, when I catch up on the news, I have the right focus, knowing where to put my trust.
Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.—Philippians 4:9
With wise and experienced teachers like the Apostle Paul (writing here), we learn not only through what they say but also through what they do. That’s where we find peace. Paul was the first to admit to his failings, offering an example of how even someone like him, who at first got it so very, very wrong, could later get it all right. He showed how wisdom comes not just through words but also through an inner transformation.
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I was out on my morning run when I glimpsed a sign on a lamppost: FBI.
My mind raced. An FBI investigation! Was there a shooting? A terrorist incident? Fear took over.
The next day, jogging by the same spot, I came upon people setting up camera equipment. FBI? No, they were filming an episode of the TV show FBI: Most Wanted.
By some counts, the phrase “Fear not” shows up in the Bible 365 times, once for every day of the year. Not a day goes by that I don’t need to hear those words.
I sought the Lord, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears.—Psalm 34:4
An active imagination is one of the Creator’s gifts, bringing us empathy. But fear can take it off the rails, as it did for me during the Covid pandemic. When you become afraid of what might happen, seek a higher power.
There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love.—1John 4:18
What is the opposite of fear? I want to say “courage.” But no. Love is the opposite of fear. And love is what helps us cast it out. Connecting to God’s love in prayer, I can echo the adage “Courage is fear that has said its prayers.”
But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the leader of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.”—Mark 5:36
Jesus had been waylaid on his way to heal the daughter of the synagogue leader, and news comes that the girl has died. Jesus turns to the man and offers this extraordinary hope. Often, I find myself uttering these words in prayer: “Rick, do not fear—just believe.” As always, Jesus gets the last word.
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Easter is a time of rebirth and a deep sense of hope. Use these powerful Easter Bible verses to guide you on this day as you reflect on the story of Jesus’ resurrection. How can you bring these Scriptures into your own life and feel the power of Jesus’ love on Easter and beyond?
So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them. (Mark 16:8)
What would your reaction be if you went to the place where they had buried your beloved Lord and discovered the body was no longer there? The best news in the world can be so startling that we can’t embrace it at first. So it was for Jesus’ first followers. Two millennia later, the message of the Resurrection still takes me by surprise. Before singing those “Hallelujahs” at church, I find myself catching my breath. Then I utter the refrain: “The Lord is risen indeed!”
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. (1 Peter 1:3)
I used to wonder why we praise God. Was God so insecure as to need all that affirmation? No—God loves our praise because it’s good for us, like telling a colleague what a great job they did or thanking a friend. Giving credit where credit is due. ’Tis the season of praise and exclamation points! Don’t hold back. Flowers, Easter baskets, colored eggs—they’re all ways to express our exuberance. To thank the Creator for his gift to us.
But Jesus called for them and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs.” (Luke 18:16)
After we sing the last hymn at church, the kids dash outside for the egg hunt. The eggs and giant bunny are reminders of new life. The event mirrors the thrill of any seek-and-find spiritual journey. No matter your age, a youthful spirit is something Jesus valued. Nurture your inner child for the day.
4. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)
5. But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen.” (Luke 24:1-6)
6. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. (Philippians 3:10-11)
7. Ask the Lord for rain in the springtime; it is the Lord who sends the thunderstorms. He gives showers of rain to all people, and plants of the field to everyone. (Zechariah 10:1)
8. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? (Romans 8:34-35)
9. Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. (James 5:7)
10. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. (1 Corinthians 15:20-21)
11. I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. (John 11:25-26)
12. Let us acknowledge the Lord; let us press on to acknowledge Him. As surely as the sun rises, He will appear; He will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth. (Hosea 6:3)
13. I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. (John 8:12)
14. Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going. (John 14: 1-4)
15. It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. (Galatians 5:1)
16. He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time. (2 Timothy 1:9)
17. Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. (1 Timothy 1:15-16)
18. The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. (Lamentations 3:25-26)
19. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms. (Ephesians 1:18-20)
20. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. (1 Peter 4:8)
The Bible is filled with the importance of thriving. Psalm 92:12 promises, “The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree.” In Proverbs 11:28 we read, “The righteous will thrive like a green leaf.” And in his New Testament rendition, The Message, Dr. Eugene Peterson paraphrases Romans 1:17: “The person in right standing before God by trusting him really lives.”
The word “thrive” means to grow vigorously, to prosper, to progress toward or reach a goal. You know how vigorously babies normally develop. The apostle Peter challenges us with the following, “As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby” (1 Peter 2:2). And we are promised that we will prosper when we go God’s way. “They shall prosper that love you” (Psalm 122:6).
God wants us to focus on good goals and reach them. “Be like the runners in a race–run with all your might toward the goal!” (1 Corinthians 9:24-25). The book of Proverbs is filled with sound advice on how to flourish:
“If you accept my words and store up my commands within you…you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God” (2:1, 5).
“A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed” (11:25).
“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed” (16:3).
“Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord” (16:20).
“He who cherishes understanding prospers” (19:8).
Think and pray about these passages. Then write down several things you are going to do in the days ahead to ensure that you will thrive.
Children often forget their manners—and sometimes adults do as well—but manners make a huge difference in our everyday lives. I’d never thought about it before, but God does an amazing job of teaching us manners in His Word.
He tells us to have a thankful heart. I Thessalonians 5:18 says, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” The words “thank you” are so simple, but they mean so much to the recipient. Today would be a great opportunity to thank Him for all the things we so often take for granted. And it would be a wonderful time to thank those who’ve impacted our lives in big and little ways.
In Philippians 2:14, He advises us to not be grumblers, “Do all things without grumbling or questioning.” Nobody likes to hear someone grumble and complain all the time. The Children of Israel did that to Moses about the manna that God sent to feed them. Instead of being thankful that they had food—that they weren’t going hungry—they complained about what they were eating. I know there have been many instances when I’ve grumbled about circumstances—and then realized later that what God had sent me was far better than what I’d wanted. Having that truly thankful heart will keep us from having a complaining spirit.
God wants us to be respectful to others. That includes teachers, bosses, co-workers, siblings and parents. In 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13, He tells us, “We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.” I love how being respectful leads to peace.
He tells us to be kind—and the cool thing is that there’s a bonus in that for us. Proverbs 11:17 says, “A man who is kind benefits himself, but a cruel man hurts himself.”
The words we say are important—and even the way that we say them. Words like “I’m sorry” or “I appreciate you” go a long way in relationships. In Psalm 19:14, the Bible says, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” Words can uplift or defeat us—and often what we say can be remembered for the rest of someone’s life. I want my words to be remembered in a good way.
A refresher course in manners is good for all of us—especially when it’s God giving the lesson. Can you imagine a society where all of us treated other people in a kind and mannerly way? It would be awesome…and there’s no reason why we can’t impact our world like that. Maybe you’d like to join me today in saying, “I want it to begin with me.”
