Was reading this in my email yesterday, and decided to share with you.
Seems like everyone wishes for Happiness. Everybody wants some. Many pretend to have it... yet few seem to truly possess it. Why is happiness so hard to find?
Don't worry about anything, instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. - Philippians 4:6 (NLT)
From this verse, we have 3 clear instructions for finding lasting happiness and contentment.
- Do not worry about Anything
- Pray about Everything
- Thank God for Everything
In the next verse,
Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hears and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 4:7 (NLT)
If we begin to live this way, we will experience amazing peace -- a kind of peace we can't even imagine. Peace that makes no earthly sense! This kind of peace is so powerful that it has a protective function on our hearts and minds -- which only makes it easier for us to stop worrying and be thankful. That sounds like a state of happiness for me!
Instead of worries, think about other things -
And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise - Philippians 4:8 (NLT)
We can think about whatever that is good, true, honorable, pure, lovely, praise worthy and right. Many things can fall into these categories, but Christ encompasses them all! This is not just "positive thinking", this is "spiritual thinking".
How I praise the Lord that you are concerned about me again. I know you have always been concerned for me, but you didn’t have the chance to help me. Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. - Philippians 4:10-12
You have to learn how to be happy and content. It didn't just happen once you reached your goal. The author of the Book Philippians - Paul, claims his ability to be happy had nothing at all to do with circumstances, but rather his increased trust in Christ. (How to be happy when you are behind bars!?)
So happy contentedness is not something that comes once our waistlines have slimmed, our wrinkles are erased, our houses are organized, our children are successful, our bosses have thanked us, or our husbands / wives dote on us. Instead it is learned as we become prayerful and thankful as we practice spiritual thinking and as we trust totally in Christ, despite our circumstances.
- Article by Rachel Olsen
(Proverbs 31 Ministries)
