At home with my family on July 4 I was filled with an abundance of peace and happiness. We were getting ready to leave on a vacation with two of our boys to San Antonio. A whole week off of work and the first real vacation we have taken in a long time made me a happy person.
Even though I felt at peace the day was not been perfect. It started with the dogs demanding a walk as soon as I got up in the morning during which time I discovered one of the young turkeys that have been moved into temporary housing outside had escaped.
Walking dogs and chasing turkeys, at least I got a nice workout this morning.
My oldest was obsessing over his lack of employment, we have a visitor who is not one of my favorite people and Rich had a migraine.
I could have taken all of these things and consider the day a wash out. But I chose not to let these things get me down.
I believe attitude is a choice. You can choose to be happy or you can choose to let circumstances get the best of you. We all have things happen in our lives that can cause us to be unhappy, but through Christ we have the power to choose happiness.
Psalm 144:15 says, “Happy are the people who are in such a state; Happy are the people whose God is the Lord!”
Believing and having faith in the Lord will give you a spiritual contentment that helps you through the hard times in life. Commitment to the Lord fosters a Christ-like response to the events of life.
You have to learn to find happiness in everything you have been given instead of focusing on what has been taken away or is not given. You must believe that God will always work for your good. He is perfect. If you follow where He leads and are in His will, you will find true happiness.
Romans 8:28 says, “ And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”
What we have to remember is that the Lord gives us peace and joy as free gifts. We just have to accept them. If someone offered you a $100 bill, free and clear, would you tell them “nah, I don’t want that.” Probably not.
Well the Lord is offering you happiness. I know I am taking it. I’m sure not going to tell Him that I don’t want it, that I don’t want to be happy.
But when you walk around with negative attitude and an unhappy demeanor, that is exactly what you are doing – telling God you don’t want the gift of happiness.
When you are filled with God’s love and accept His gifts it shows through to where everyone around you can see it. It is obvious through your actions, words and attitude. It makes other people around you want some of what you have. They want to be filled with the Spirit just like you.
If you aren’t filled with the love of the Lord, well that shows too.
Is that the impression you want to leave? Do you want to be known as the person everyone avoids because of a negative, poor me attitude? Or do you want to be the person everyone wants to be around because your love for the Lord and his love for you shows through everything you do?
It’s your choice. Choose your will or choose God’s will.
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