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bluidkiti · 07-01-2015, 09:33 AM

Do You Want To Be Happy?

What are you waiting for?

Most people are waiting for something -- something "special" that will make their life great, so they can be happy.

Ask yourself: have others had this, and are they all happy? No, they're not, and it won't give you lasting happiness, either.

Happiness is not determined by external circumstances, but by internal circumstances.

Everyone chooses how happy they are by what they choose to think about.

Your attitude is determined by your perspective, which is determined by what you think about -- your focus. You choose your focus, so ultimately, you are the one who chooses whether to be happy, or not.

Perspective is what the Beatitudes (Matthew 5) are about. Seeing a bigger picture than just this one small moment of time. (The Beatitudes are where Jesus explained how some are blessed, or happy -- even in difficult situations.)

(The word we translate as "happy" in the New Testament is usually translated as "blessed.")

You won't get happiness by chasing what the world has to offer. It has already been tried and found wanting.

And, you will never be happy as long as you are self-centered. A focus on self is guaranteed to prevent happiness.

Right after Jesus performed the menial task of washing his disciple's feet -- akin to cleaning toilets today -- He told them:

JOHN 13:15,17 ICB
15 I did this as an example for you. So you should do as I have done for you.
17 If you know these things, you will be happy if you do them.

You will be happy if you help others. If you take your focus off yourself. That's what Jesus taught.

SAY THIS: I choose to focus on God and be thankful and happy.

A Bible Devotion

07-01-2015, 09:33 AM	#1
bluidkiti Administrator Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 70,788	Do You Want To Be Happy? Do You Want To Be Happy? What are you waiting for? Most people are waiting for something -- something "special" that will make their life great, so they can be happy. Ask yourself: have others had this, and are they all happy? No, they're not, and it won't give you lasting happiness, either. Happiness is not determined by external circumstances, but by internal circumstances. Everyone chooses how happy they are by what they choose to think about. Your attitude is determined by your perspective, which is determined by what you think about -- your focus. You choose your focus, so ultimately, you are the one who chooses whether to be happy, or not. Perspective is what the Beatitudes (Matthew 5) are about. Seeing a bigger picture than just this one small moment of time. (The Beatitudes are where Jesus explained how some are blessed, or happy -- even in difficult situations.) (The word we translate as "happy" in the New Testament is usually translated as "blessed.") You won't get happiness by chasing what the world has to offer. It has already been tried and found wanting. And, you will never be happy as long as you are self-centered. A focus on self is guaranteed to prevent happiness. Right after Jesus performed the menial task of washing his disciple's feet -- akin to cleaning toilets today -- He told them: JOHN 13:15,17 ICB 15 I did this as an example for you. So you should do as I have done for you. 17 If you know these things, you will be happy if you do them. You will be happy if you help others. If you take your focus off yourself. That's what Jesus taught. SAY THIS: I choose to focus on God and be thankful and happy. A Bible Devotion __________________ "No matter what you have done up to this moment, you get 24 brand-new hours to spend every single day." --Brian Tracy AA gives us an opportunity to recreate ourselves, with God's help, one day at a time. --Rufus K. When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on. --Franklin D. Roosevelt We stay sober and clean together - one day at a time! God says that each of us is worth loving.