HOW I CHOOSE TO BE HAPPY IN CHRIST

HOW I CHOOSE TO BE HAPPY IN CHRIST.

Six principles St.Paul teaches us in Philippians:

If we practice this we will be happy,
1.Do focus on positives and not negatives.
2.Do accept all situations coming from God.
3.Do praise God even when you do not feel like.
4.Do serve God wherever you are.
5.Do live in the present not in the past.
6.Get your strength from God.

1.DO FOCUS ON POSITIVES AND NOT NEGATIVES:

We fail to see the positive things in life. Devil wants us to dwell on the negative. He fills our mind with all kinds of negative thoughts and never let us grow further in our spiritual life.
Philippians:1:12-18.
From the word of God, St.Paul was kept in prison. In-spite of that difficult situation,he praised God. He tells that it is a better way to preach God’s word to everyone in the prison. Even if bad things happen,he thinks that it is for his good.
Devil gives us a thought to grumble and blame against God in our difficult situation and tends us to lose our peace in God.

2.DO ACCEPT ALL SITUATIONS COMING FROM GOD:

St.Paul’s thought was not imprisoned even when he was in prison. He thought that anything happens to him, it is a perfect will of God.
Job:1:10,21.

“The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away;
    may the name of the Lord be praised.”

From the word of God, Job was very much tested by all worries and diseases,he lost all his 10 children,his cattle and everything he owns in his life but still he said “Blessed be the name of the Lord”. He did not sin with his lips.
Genesis:50:20.

“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”

Joseph also faced trials in his life but he refused to allow bitterness against his brothers in his heart. He forgave all the one who did evil against him.

3.DO PRAISE GOD EVEN WHEN YOU DO NOT FEEL LIKE:

St.Paul says “Rejoice in the Lord”.If you do not have happiness in your heart,there wont be God’s joy in your heart,so you cannot tell anyone to be happy.
Paul’s happiness was depended on the relationship with Jesus. When you have the true relationship with the Lord, you will be happy. Joy does not depends on the outward circumstances, it mainly depends on your heart.

4.DO SERVE GOD WHEREVER YOU ARE:

Even in the prison, Paul and Silas found time for the presence of God and served him. They gave most of their time for God, so they were able to spread the happiness all over the prison though. They showed God’s love to them.

5.DO LIVE IN THE PRESENT AND NOT IN THE PAST:

Stop dwelling in the past and start to think about the present.
Philippians:3:13,14.

“Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

From the word of God,you cannot forget your sins until you bring them under the cross of Jesus. Unless you wash yourself by the blood of Jesus, you will never forget your sins.
If you live in the past you cannot enjoy the present situation and cannot make use of the present.When you come under the cross, your sin gets buried and will be forgotten.

6.DO GET YOUR STRENGTH FROM GOD:

St.Paul got his strength from God.
Philippians:4:13.

“I can do all this through him who gives me strength”

everyone of us will receive Christ strength when we wait upon God’s presence. From the word of God we see,

              1.Isaiah:40:31 – Through prayer.

              2.Hebrews:4:12 – Study of the word of God.

              3.Hebrews:10:25 – Fellowship with God’s children.

              4.Acts:3:16 – Using faith to overcome trials.

              5.Hebrews:12:1 – Face every situation with faith.

Choose to live happy in Christ Jesus, cause he is the creator of you and me, he knows what is good for you and me. If he allows you a tough situation, he tests your faith so, stay strong and face the battle by the power of God and praise God for everything at any situation in your life.