Tag: heaven

If You’re Happy and You Know It, Enjoy It!

by Ms. Rita's Minute

Psalm 68:3

“But may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful.“

If you have children, consider them for a moment. Don’t you want the best for them? Don’t you want them to be happy? Synonyms for happy are delighted, glad, satisfied, and pleased, among many others. Don’t you want this for your children or other people you love? Then why wouldn’t your Father in heaven desire this for you?

I’d like to submit to you that it makes good sense to reject any idea that suggests that God does not want you to be happy or that your happiness is not valid. God created happiness. The Bible more frequently uses terms like “blessed,” “glad,” and “joy” to describe a state of well-being and contentment that aligns with God’s will.

Happiness does not always come from the receipt of gifts, though often giving can produce happiness. We should keep in mind the generosity of our heavenly Father and how He has brought us joy in our lives. Matthew 7:11 tells us, “If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”

Most of us can probably testify that we’ve received good gifts from the Lord without even asking. So, clearly, he is pleased to see us happy. Psalm 35:27 tells us “… the Lord delights in the well-being of his servant.” This means wonderful things for us.

No doubt there are things we might not always find enjoyable that the Lord expects us to do in obedience to Him and for our own good. These things only cause us to reap the blessings from our agreement and action. Nevertheless, when our hearts are right, but we fall short, that does not stop our Father from blessing us with happiness, without harm. I would define this to be allowing some undeserved blessing that does not bring harm to us or others. God does this all the time, if we’re honest.

Feel free to rejoice in the Lord and his kindness and lavishness toward you and your family. If you read your bible, you will find it is His way to be generous. Not to mention, He’d like us to be this way, too.

Don’t allow people to influence you with false attributes that aren’t of God’s character, but may sound good or spiritual. He came that we might have life and life more abundantly. This has to do with eternal life and God’s life now in the spirit in general. Walking by the spirit allows things to go well with us.

Aren’t you glad God wants you to be happy? The wellness of God encourages happiness. In specific terms, we may desire different things. Yet God takes care of supplying those things as well, never giving us anything that will hurt us. However, sometimes we may insist and learn lessons of desiring the wrong things, or the right things at the wrong time.

Just imagine the pleasures of heaven, and the fact that Jesus told us to pray that his Kingdom would come on earth as it is in heaven. Of course, there are many things to relate to his Kingdom rule. However, any of them would inspire happiness. So, as citizens of heaven, we should welcome the happiness of the Lord. Therefore, “Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise (James 5:13).”

True happiness comes when we pursue God and His kingdom first, so patience is necessary. But don’t think God won’t shower you with blessings in various surprises that spark happiness throughout your life. So, don’t worry, be unapologetically happy!

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More blessings to savor:

You make known to me the path of life;  you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. (Psalm 16:11)

Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. (Psalm 37:4)

I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. (John 15:11)

On Earth As It Is In Heaven

by Ms. Rita's Minute

On this National Day of Prayer, I’m reminded of an event in the Bible in Luke 11:1-4/KJV where the Lord responded to his disciples when they asked him to teach them to pray as John had taught his disciples. The Lord gave them a simple prayer that encompasses everything we need today. He started by telling them that when they prayed they were to say:

Our Father which art in heaven,
We can now pray to the Father in the place He resides, which the Bible tells us is Heaven, though Jesus also lives in us.
“Who is like unto the Lord our God, who dwelleth on high…” (Psalm 113:5/KJV) Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? (2 Corinthians 13:5)

Hallowed be thy name.
The Lord’s name is holy, consecrated; set apart
“Neither shall ye profane my holy name; but I will be hallowed among the children of Israel: I am the Lord which hallow you,” (Leviticus 22:32/KJV)

Thy kingdom come.
The Lord introduces His kingdom to his disciples as well as the blessings that come with it.
“And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.” (Luke 10:9/KJV)

Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.
The Lord desires His will to be done where we live as where He lives. This can happen by renewing our minds via the Bible, thereby forgoing the ways of the world, which results in change.
“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Romans 12:2/KJV)

Give us day by day our daily bread.
As our heavenly Father, God can be trusted to supply all of our needs. He created the earth and everything in it. He is omnipotent; all-powerful. This is easy for Him.
But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19/KJV)

And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive everyone that is indebted to us.

God is merciful and gracious to forgive our sins, but He does require that we forgive others when we’ve been offended.
“For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” (Matthew 6:14-15/KJV)

And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.
We can rely on God to order our steps and deliver us from every form of evil.
“And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.” (2 Timothy 4:18/KJV)
“For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13/KJV)

Many other factual words of encouragement can be given to uphold these verses in the Lord’s teaching on prayer. However, I’ve only provided a few in my minutes of sharing with you. Nevertheless, I’d like us to remember the following words when our needs or the needs of others come to mind:

“And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.” (1 John 5:14-15/KJV)
“And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” (Luke 11:9/KJV)
“Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.” (Mark 11:24/KJV)
“If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?” (Matthew 7:11/KJV)