"Happy are the people who are in such a state;  Happy are the people whose God is the Lord!"    Psalm 144:15

 

If you grew up in the 1970's (or were around during that time,) the "smiley face" symbol accompanied by the phrase "have a nice day" is probably familiar to you. It's use is now included in emoticons across the internet, and is perhaps as deeply embedded in societies communication with one another as waving at each other used to be. 

 

Who hasn't made the little :) symbol while typing out a chat message or e-mail note to a friend? Some call it "The Happy Face" and use it to denote excitement or happiness about something.

 

Now for a thought-provoking question: 

 

How feasible would it be to use this little symbol for happiness and the word "Christian" together in the same thought or sentence?

 

When we take a hard look at the verse above that's found in Psalms, (and the number of other verses that talk about happiness,) we are struck with the idea that not only does God WANT people who are following Him to be happy; it's also telling us quite clearly, that those who truly follow God ARE happy!

 

The root for "happy" in this verse is the Hebrew word 'esher. It literally means "happiness" and "blessedness." 

 

And now for the $64,000. questions: 

 

Are you happy in your spiritual walk?

 

Are you happy in general?

 

Do you awake with each new day THANKFUL to be alive, and HAPPY that you're actually here? Does your heart pick up speed when you think of all that God has promised to those that follow Him, and when you read the promises He has laid out in the scriptures to those whose hearts beat in synch with His?

 

I'm not saying that Christians won't have struggles. I'm not even intimating that there won't be days when we'll have challenges and questions about life and its meaning for us. 

 

In the final analysis however, if what God says in His word is actually true (and I believe that it is,) it ought to bring a smile across our faces.

 

Are you happy in the Lord? Are you? I certainly can't answer that, but if your response was "No, I'm not," then according to scripture, something probably needs to be looked into. Christians OUGHT to be happy. In fact, Christians OUGHT to be the happiest people on planet earth!

 

Have a great day and God bless!

 

 

Pastor Mike / The Open Word