Daily Devotion | New Rocky Creek Baptist Church

How to Have a Happy Life

Posted on Feb 9, 2021 in Devotions |

Introduction: Are you HAPPY? Why are you unhappy? Is it because things are not going the way you would like them to go? What can you do? By studying Proverbs chapter 3, written by Solomon, God gives us five (5) ways to achieve HAPPINESS:

1. By “DOING” what the Lord says to do! (Prov 3:1,2)

“My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.”

At first, this looks LEGALISTIC…Trying to keep God’s law? Are you crazy?

Instead, our Lord is telling us that He knows BEST. He knows our “Name” and He knows our “Frame” (Psa 103:12-14). And when our life lines up under His AUTHORITY, then His BLESSINGS of PEACE and FULFILLMENT are the results. Fast forward to the New Testament. As a child of God the Father, purchased by the blood of Jesus Christ, God the Son, our life can be directed by God the Holy Spirit. Not 3 Gods, mind you, but 1. One God who manifests His different roles in three Persons.

Are you obedient to His will? Why not start?

2. By “BELIEVING” what the Lord says! (Prov 3:5,6)

“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

It all boils down to a matter of TRUST! Can we put our FAITH and dependency upon our Lord or not? Of course this spells…I AM NOT IN CONTROL!

That’s the difficult part. Right? We want to be in control. That is where our SECURITY lies. However, just as a little baby trusts the loving arms of a mother, so must we trust in our Lord Jesus. Why not stop striving in the flesh and learn to rest in His loving arms?

Will you?

3. By “RESPECTING” who the Lord is! (Prov 3:7)

“Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.”

The word “fear” is יָרֵא (yaw-ray’), which literally means to fear. Reverential awe is another way to say we “fear” the Lord.

Do you fear the Lord?

4. By “HONORING” what the Lord has given to you! (Prov 3:9,10)

“9Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: 10So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.”

The word “honor” is כָּבַד (kaw-bad’), which means to be heavy, weighty, or burdensome.

The word “substance” is הוֹן, which means wealth, sufficiency.

Do you honor the Lord with your wealth?

5. By “LOVING” the Lord as His child! (Prov 3:11,12)

“11My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction: 12For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.”

The word “chastening” is מוּסָר, which means discipline, chastening, correction. The equivalent New Testament passage is Heb 12:5-11.

This is proof that we are God’s children. Learn to kiss the rod of God’s correction. Does our Heavenly Father correct you when you need it? Do you resent being corrected? Are you hard-headed?

Now we see why Jesus referred to sheep and a shepherd. This is the Father’s love demonstrated to His sons and daughters.

Conclusion: Contrary to our FEELINGS and FLESH, which wants it’s own way, the Lord instructs His children how to be HAPPY in a unhappy world.

Why not follow up on this devotion and start practicing these principles by the power of the Holy Spirit and see that this works.

Try it. You’ll like it!

Love y’all,

Dr. Randy Reese