If You're Happy and You Know It!

When I was a little girl, we used to sing a song in Sunday School—“If you’re happy and you know it clap your hands!”  It was one of the first songs I taught my children.  For some odd reason that little ditty has been ringing in my head for a few days now.

We live in uncertain times. The economy is still shaky, crime is at an all time high and the divorce rate is ever increasing.  Given all of these facts, what could we possibly have to be happy about? Author Barry Neil Kaufman believes that happiness is a choice. And to some degree, I agree with him. 

Just as we must choose to worship the LORD even in the most difficult of times, I believe that sometimes we just have to choose happiness.  So, today there are no sad stories about the darkness of depression, failed relationships or bad days.  Today, I simply want to encourage you to choose “happy.”  The dark days will come and most assuredly, we will all encounter difficulties in life.  But, I want to challenge you to choose a different path today…

When you find yourself feeling these emotions, consider these scriptures:

Sadness/Grief: Isaiah 61:3—“He gave them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for                                           mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD that He might be glorified.”

Defeated: Psalm 107: 2—“Let the redeemed of the LORD say so—who He                                          has redeemed from trouble!”

Lonely/Depressed: Psalm 28:7 –“The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart                                          trusts in Him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise Him.

Let’s Pray:

Dear Jesus, I thank you for giving me joy and happiness in my life.  You said in Your Word that “laughter does good like a medicine.”  So, today I choose to focus on the joyous things in my life.  Thank you for helping me “get my happy back!”

Amen