Necessary for Happiness

How hard are you working for what you believe is essential for your happiness? In a nation of abundance how difficult is it to "Count your blessings, name them one by one; and it will surprise you what the Lord has done. Count your blessings, name them one by one; count your many blessings, see what God has done”?

A wise person concluded, "He who is not thankful for what he has, will not be happy with what else he acquires." Hezekiah the king of Judah became sick and believed death was imminent. God graciously gave him fifteen more years to live. Interestingly, Hezekiah was too proud to express gratitude to God for healing him.

Before we rail to heavily on Hezekiah, we would do well to be reminded to demonstrate thanksgiving for the blessings we've enjoyed from God. In our hurried lives, it's difficult to remember God, Jehovah-Jireh, “the Lord who provides all good things”. Why not stop for a moment and express your sincere thanks and gratitude to God?  

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I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.

~Psalm 9:1 English Standard Version

 

I praise you, Lord, for answering my prayers. You are my strong shield, and I trust you completely. You have helped me, and I will celebrate and thank you in song.

~Psalm 28:6-7 Contemporary English Version

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The Unsurpassed Will of God

The two things everyone will experience, according to conventional wisdom, are death and taxes. Beyond these are an array of needs that test the creativity of the most gifted person. A personal goal should be to express our gratitude to God for our nation, our freedom, our family and friends.

The phrase, "No man is an island unto himself," confirms our need for companionship. In the movie Cast Away Tom Hanks portrays a man marooned on a deserted island who creates an imaginary friend to talk to. No one is entirely self-sufficient, so God created the family to fulfill our need for bonding.

God’s name El Shaddai portrays him God Almighty, fully capable of meeting our needs. However, God does not promise to provide everything we want. When Jesus asked God, his father, to take away the suffering he would face on the cross, he added, "Not my will but yours be done." God's will is always unsurpassed.    

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Always be joyful. Always keep on praying. No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

~1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 The Living Bible

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Who Is Number One?

What do you rank as most important in your life?  For some, security fits the number one slot. Family and marriage may come next. Giving God top billing may happen when facing a crisis. David in Psalm 57 pleads with God to keep him in the shadow of his wings for only there could he be safe.

David perceived God as Most High God and addressed him by that name. “I cried out to God Most High who fulfills his purpose for me. He sends help from heaven to save me because of his love and faithfulness." The name Most High defined for David God’s tremendous power and provision.

Recounting what God provides prompts you to love him with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind. Listen to David’s gratitude: “Oh God, I offer my thanks and praise to you for delivering me from death and preventing my feet from stumbling so that I always walk in the light of life.” Could this be your testimony?                             

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I will praise you, Lord! You always do right. I will sing about you, the Lord Most High.

~Psalm 7:17 Contemporary English Version

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Strength to Transform Bad to Good

Strength is an attribute that’s admirable when fused with integrity and good judgement. Conversely, brutality inflicted on others to cause emotional and physical suffering is immoral. Brutality clashes with loving God with all your strength. This commandment embraces healthy mental, physical, and emotional strengths.

So strength has many components to call upon to equip us for overcoming desperate situations or inner weaknesses. Strength is infused with an urgency to display the highest quality of courage and grace. This is what happens when all the strength one possesses is transformed into action for the good of others and oneself.

What’s involved in loving God with all your strength? There must be a sense of gratitude expressed to God that demonstrates you’re indebted to him for giving you forgiveness and a clean slate. Realizing that God gave his most beloved treasure to redeem and save you should arouse such gratitude you can’t help but love him with all your strength. 

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The Lord is my strength and my shield. My heart trusts him. I was helped, my heart rejoiced, and I thank him with my song.

~Psalm 28:7 Common English Bible

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Communion – Pathway to God's Heart

Communion is the pathway for reaching the heart of God. The very nature of communion indicates an intimate connection for expressing your concerns and then being assured you will be responded to in a way that’s helpful. What builds a bridge to communication is faith in the one to whom closeness is desired.

Faith creates a powerful desire to be near to God and to believe he desires to be close to you. Faith gives you and each believer the incentive to be close to God and to follow his purpose for your life. Faith then helps you respond with gratitude to God for his love and faithfulness in providing for all your needs.

The reason for being receptive to communion with Christ Jesus is that it motivates you to live for him wherever you are. Communion with God also creates the desire to be closer to those with whom you share personal relationships. Faith makes it possible to trust that God is present in all your attempts to communicate with others.  

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You are my strength and my choice forever, Powerful Lord God…It is good for me to be near you. I choose you as my protector, and I will tell about your wonderful deeds.

~Psalm 72:26-28 Contemporary English Version 

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