Celebrate and Dance Like David

Have you ever lamented, "If only I could have this one thing, I would be happy”? Countless commercials play on this illusion by promising joy and happiness. Christians are duped into believing these claims, even while knowing that happiness and real joy are not found in things but in believing God’s love abounds in us.

We all have known those people who appear to have unlimited and abounding joy regardless of their circumstances – circumstances that could easily plunge others into despair. So what's their secret? These people look at each day as a reason to celebrate because it's a gift from God. Joy is replenished as it is shared with others.

 

David was known as a man after God's own heart. He was far from perfect and failed to live up to God’s expectations but would sincerely repent of his sins and return to a life that honored God. When you do your best to live according to God’s expectations, your joy will continually be renewed, and that’s reason to celebrate. 

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Shout with joy before the Lord, O earth! Obey him gladly; come before him, singing with joy.

~Psalm 100:1-2 The Living Bible

Join Hands and Celebrate God's Good Gifts

Throughout history mankind has devised ways to celebrate life. Douglas Jerrold, the British playwright, humorously said of the English people, “If an earthquake were to swallow up our property tomorrow, my people would meet and dine somewhere in the rubbish to celebrate the event.” God is especially honored when we celebrate his intervention in our lives.

When I was in the military, I attended a church whose mission was to provide a home for young men and women serving their country. At the close of our Bible study, we would join hands and celebrate by singing, “Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love. The fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above.”

Jesus in Matthew 5:12 commands us to “rejoice and be glad” even in difficult, hard times. You can do this seemingly impossible task by staying focused on the Lord God, who gives more than life itself. “For my God shall supply your every need according to the riches of his glory by Christ Jesus.”  

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Tell the heavens and the earth to celebrate and sing;

command every mountain to join in the song.

The Lord’s people have suffered,

but he has shown mercy and given them comfort.

~Isaiah 49:13 Contemporary English Version

Let your hope keep you joyful, be patient in your troubles, and pray at all times.

~Romans 12:12 Good News Bible

Whistle a Happy Tune – of Thanks

Happiness and worry are incompatible. Worry has the tendency to create and perpetuate a negative attitude about life’s possibilities, crowding out thoughts of happiness and thanksgiving necessary for celebrating life. Worry is also aligned with fear that implies a portion of your life is out of control.

Worry is indicative of diminished faith and lack of confidence in God’s ability to solve your problems. Jesus countered this lack of faith with these words. “Look at the birds of the air; they do not plant or harvest, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you more valuable than they? Can worry add a single hour to your life?”

Jesus wants you to accept his care for you, so there is no reason to obsessively worry. Nothing is impossible for him. Go outside and listen to the birds singing. Is this their way of  being thankful and celebrating reflectively of God’s provision? Right now envision the Lord caring for you just as he cares for the birds. 

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Lord, when doubts fill my mind, when my heart is in turmoil, quiet me and give me renewed hope and cheer.

~Psalm 94:19 The Living Bible

Worn Down by Worry?

A little anxiety is not unhealthy when it serves as a deterrent to neglecting responsibilities or opportunities. Anxiety about losing your job serves as motivation to show up on time, ready to work. Some chronic worriers, however, become so fixated on the negatives of life that thanksgiving and happiness are beyond experiencing.

Jesus said, “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or what you will wear. Life is more important than food and clothes.” Jesus spoke these words to help people refocus on what ultimately matters. Worry stifles trust in God while immobilizing the brain’s ability to consider and apply alternative solutions to problems.

Too much worry damages your health by creating headaches, high blood pressure, ulcers and other problems. In place of worry and anxiety, Jesus will give you peace of mind and the desire to express thanksgiving and happiness. He invites you to place all of your worries on him for he knows what distresses you. Do this now.  

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Give your burdens to the Lord. He will carry them. He will not permit the godly to slip or fall.

~Psalm 55:22 The Living Bible

Give God Your Worries – and Your Gratitude

Happiness and thanksgiving are adversely affected by anxiety and worry. Researchers have noted that excessive levels of anxiety and worry negatively impact our physical and mental health. Before the Industrial Revolution and the production of safe food and modern medicine, a major worry was staying alive one day at a time.

The make-up of personal worries varies, but even minor concerns can diminish happiness and the willingness to be thankful. For instance, our drinking water is as safe as any nation’s, yet one of the best-selling products in stores is filtered bottled water. It feels safer drinking water from a bottle than from a faucet.

When worry prompts you to change what is unhealthy, destructive or bad, then worry is appropriate; however, when it robs you of peace of mind and the inability to be thankful, including feelings of joy, then reassessing your faith in God is in order. Strong, godly faith diminishes worry and restores your trust that God will give you peace and joy.  

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Each one of you is part of the body of Christ, and you were chosen to live together in peace. So let the peace that comes from Christ control your thoughts. And be grateful.

~Colossians 3:15 Contemporary English Version

Let him have all your worries and cares, for he is always thinking about you and watching everything that concerns you.

~1 Peter 5:7 The Living Bible

God's Blessings – Joy Unspeakable!

In the church I attended as a child, the congregation was fond of singing the hymn, Count Your Blessings. The chorus concludes with "Count your blessings, name them one by one, and it will surprise you what the Lord has done." Counting blessings is an effective way of expressing thanksgiving, which contributes to happiness and peace.

Irving Berlin knew it was impossible to experience continuous good times, yet he composed numerous songs expressing his gratitude for the blessings of living in America. When you’re willing to count your blessings, it’s apparent that God's gifts outshine the glitter of all other possessions.

Abraham Lincoln told a man in a large group of former slaves of Virginia who had been freed by the Emancipation Proclamation: "Don't kneel to me. That is not right. You must kneel to God only and thank Him for the liberty you will henceforth enjoy." God's greatest gift is Jesus Christ, who gives us freedom from sin. This liberty gives us joy unspeakable! For that we can be sincerely thankful. 

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Let us give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! For in our union with Christ he has blessed us by giving us every spiritual blessing in the heavenly world. Let us praise God for his glorious grace, for the free gift he gave us in his dear Son! For by the blood of Christ we are set free, that is, our sins are forgiven.  

~Ephesians 1:3, 6-7 Good News Bible

Thankful Through It All

Happiness should always be surrounded by an attitude of thanksgiving. Good things happen and I am blessed. So is thanksgiving dependent only on good, positive experiences? If thanksgiving is totally dependent on the absence of negative or bad attitudes, then my gratitude will evaporate if anything troublesome happens. 

However, God makes it possible to be thankful in every situation. It’s important to remember we have a powerful, loving, approachable Lord who longs to comfort and assure us at all times. While the pain of loss can conceal our happiness, a Christian’s joy is based on God’s enduring love. 

William Blake, the English poet, gave us this assurance:

To Mercy, Pity, Peace and Love,

All pray in their distress:

And to these virtues of delight

Return their thankfulness.

For Mercy, Pity, Peace, and Love,

Is God, our Father dear.

Blake continues: "For Mercy has a human heart; Pity, a human face; and Love, the human form divine" portrayed in the person of Christ Jesus. So we thank God for all he has done.

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Let us give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! Because of his great mercy he gave us new life by raising Jesus Christ from death. This fills us with a living hope, and so we look forward to possessing the rich blessings that God keeps for his people.

~1 Peter 1:3-4 Good News Bible

Oh, give thanks to the Lord for he is good;

His love and his kindness go on forever.

~1 Chronicles 16:34 The Living Bible