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Worship 301: The Keys to Happiness 
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MONDAY
It is stated in the Declaration
of Independence that everyone of us has the right to
the pursuit of happiness, but is happiness something we should pursue or chase
after? The flesh says yes but what
does the Spirit say? 1 Corinthians 10:23-24 reads
“Everything is permissible - but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible - but not
everything is constructive. Nobody
should seek his own good, but rather the good of others.” Read the following passages and assemble
a list of the things the Spirit of God teaches us to pursue which are
beneficial to us. Proverbs 21:21; 1Timothy
6:11-16; 2Timothy 2:22. Do you see the word happiness in any of
these passages? Could we gain
happiness as a result of pursuing these things which the Spirit says to
pursue? Read Ecclesiastes 2:24-26.
Who does God give happiness to - those who please themselves or those
who please Him? Serve Him and you
will understand that happiness is not something you need to pursue,
rather it is a result of your service!!
TUESDAY
Today’s quiet time will
review what we began looking at last Friday. Read Philippians
4:1-13. Paul learned to be
content (happy) whatever the circumstances. What were his circumstances when he
wrote this letter (see chapter 1)? How do you think you would have felt in
Paul’s circumstances? Would
you have felt happy? What was the
secret he learned? Notice in verse
9 the key to having peace (happiness) - What was this happiness a result
of? Practice the things the Lord
has taught you and you will experience the same peace as Paul!! “For no matter how many promises
God has made, they are YES in Christ.” (2Cor.1:21)
WEDNESDAY
What did we chase after in the
world to make us happy? People , places, and things. We thought, if only I had a better
relationship - or any relationship! - I’d be happy. If only I lived somewhere better -
I’d be happy. If only I had
some nicer things - I’d be happy.
If only, if only, if only!
What does the Lord teach us about these things? First let’s look at what He says
with regards to our tendency to put all our hope in each other- our tendency to
look to people to make us happy.
Read Jeremiah 17:5-13. What is our condition if we trust in
man? If we depend
on the flesh for our strength (and happiness)? Where does our trust and confidence
belong? Do you look to people to
make you happy? What condition are
you in if you do - cursed or blessed?
If you are unhappy you need to ask yourself why. Are you looking to someone, your wife or
husband, your brother or sister to make you happy? If you are you can turn it around. Trust in God!! Serve your husband or wife, your brother
or sister and you will feel the difference!! Don’t chase after happiness like
the world does. It will come to you
if you serve!!
THURSDAY
What is our lot if we look to
things (material possessions) to make us content or happy? The world boasts about this notion with
bumper stickers that read, “The one with the most toys in the end wins!” In Christ we add the word “ nothing” to this phrase. Read Luke
12:13-34. What was the rich
fool putting his hope in? According
to verse 19, what was the source of
his happiness? What is God’s
response to this? What does the
world run after (see verses 29-36)? What should we pursue? Do you see how happiness comes as a
result of seeking and serving the Lord?
Write verse 15 on an index
card and meditate on it. Praise God
for the opportunity to have a happiness that is from above!! Serve and experience it!
FRIDAY
The word “blessed”
means supremely blest, fortunate, well off , happy. How is this different from the
world’s definition of happiness. Read Matthew
5:1-12 and Luke 6:20-36 and note
what it takes to be blessed or truly spiritually happy. What are the requirements for
blessedness as taught by the Lord?
Go through each one and ask yourself if you fit the description for
blessed. Which of the requirements
are the most difficult for you?
Pray that God will show His strength through your weaknesses. Understand that our calling is to follow
Jesus!! He came to serve and so we
are called to serve. When we truly
follow we will also truly experience a happiness that the world can never give
or know. Blessed are you who live
by the truth and who come into the light (John
3:21)!!
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