“According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God which was committed to my trust.” 1 Timothy 1:11 (NKJV)

God, who is the author and giver of every blessing, is called the blessed God. Blessedness is a state of happiness. When we read that God is the blessed God, it means that He is a happy God and He wants to bring His happiness to us.

Why is God called the “happy God”? He is happy because He is holy. The joys we draw from the wells of salvation come to us from a pure fountain. If the Scriptures said, “God is unholy” then He would be without happiness, for there is no happiness to be found in darkness, in evil, or in sin.

Some people have painted a false image of holiness. They portray holiness as something associated with gloom, legalism, and grimness. They think of the fruits of holiness as unhappiness, meanness, and a sour disposition. However, it is important for us to remember that heaven, the holiest place of all, is also the happiest place of all.

It is also possible to have a wrong image of happiness. Happiness is not defined by someone who has a great sense of humor, is fun-loving, or has a bubbly personality. Happiness is a state of someone’s heart and sense of wellbeing, not a characteristic of someone’s temperament or a certain personality trait.

Who are the happiest people on earth? The Scriptures tell us, “Blessed (happy, enviably fortunate, and spiritually prosperous—possessing the happiness produced by the experience of God’s favor and especially conditioned by the revelation of His grace, regardless of their outward conditions) are the pure in heart, for they shall see God!” Matthew 5:8 AMP. (Note that this happiness of heart is true even in the midst of hardships and difficulties.)

True happiness comes to us as a fruit of our relationship with God through Christ. The blood of Jesus that cleanses us from all sin, not only removes our guilt and condemnation, but opens the doorway for our happiness (blessedness) by bringing us into a right relationship with God and allowing us to be partakers of His holiness (Hebrews 12:10).

I love the words spoken long ago by a new believer in Christ while giving his testimony of salvation during a church service, “Sometin’ in me got released for good. I swallowed sunshine! He has given me a mighty faith that has made me feel clean inside.”

How good it is to belong to a happy (blessed) God who brings happiness (blessedness) to His children.

by Roy Lessin
used by permission

FURTHER READING

• Delight in God
• Blessed is the Nation Whose God is The Lord
• Be Blessed, Beloved Child

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“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.”  Matthew 6:14

The question is not, Did you get hurt?

The question is, Are you going to let the hurt harden you?

Wouldn’t you prefer to be “tenderhearted, forgiving one another”?

Try these steps.

Decide what you need to forgive.  Be specific.  Narrow it down to the identifiable offense.

Ask yourself why it hurts.  Why does this offense sting?  What about it leaves you wounded?

Take it to Jesus.  Talk to Jesus about the offense until the anger subsides.  And when it returns, talk to Jesus again.

Tell your offender.  If it feels safe, simply explain the offense and the way it makes you feel.

Pray for your offender.  You cannot force reconciliation, but you can offer intercession.

Conduct a funeral.  Bury the offense in the cemetery known as “Moving On with Life.”

This is how happiness happens.

By Max Lucado
Used by Permission

To learn more about Max Lucado visit his website at:    
https://maxlucado.com/about-max/

FURTHER READING

So He May Forgive Us

True Forgiveness

The Secret of Forgiveness

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“(Jesus said) Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you…I am coming to you now…so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them.”  (Read John 17)

Friends are about to set off for a cross-country journey and I say, “I’ll be praying that have a good trip.”  Our friend responds, “Oh, don’t worry. We always have a good trip. After all, God wants to keep his children happy.”

As the door closes and they leave our presence, his words lay heavy on my heart. Is it true? Does “God want to keep his children happy”? Modern dictionaries define a happy person as one who is fortunate or successful. In the Bible, however, when the word happy is used, it primarily means blessed as in Jesus’ words, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, those who mourn, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,” etc. This gives a nuance to the word that we do not usually consider.

Did the Apostle Paul pray for our interpretation of happiness for his friends, many of whom were suffering? “I keep asking God…to give you wisdom…so you may know him better.” And “This is my prayer: that your love may abound…” And “…we have not stopped praying, asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will…”

If I am not happy, has God removed his hand of blessing and protection? Carol is slowly recovering from deep grief after her husband’s long and painful battle with cancer and subsequent death. She smiles – but through tears. Happy? No, but at peace.

Terry is making slow but steady progress after long and dangerous surgery. Her pain has been unimaginable. Did God fail his promises? Is he punishing her? Others would not call her situation happy, but she is deeply aware of God’s presence and love.

Simone Weil wrote,

“Joy is the sweetness of contact with the love of God.”

Dear friend, God has far deeper purposes in our lives than happiness. Jesus promised to leave us his peace and joy. Nothing less.

Father, I am so very tempted to look for fleeting happiness as evidence of your presence. But then I look at Jesus’ life and see one sure of your love, your acceptance and your plan for his life. And he was blessed. May I walk in that same kind of blessing.

by Marilyn Ehle
Used by Permission

Further Reading

• What God Already Gave – JOY – by Bethany Hayes

• You Can Have Joy – by John Grant

• Maintaining Joy – by Charles Stanley

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