Rules For Happy Living
John 13:15-17 KJV
Introduction: Many people seem to be happy by nature. Others seem to look for happiness all of their lives and cannot find it. Today, we want to look at 15 simple rules for happy living.
1. Count Your Blessings, Not Your Troubles.
Most of us have been blessed far more than most of those who have ever lived or are alive today (Phil.1:21-28). Song: Count Your Blessings.
2. Live One Day At A Time.
Motto for AA Society. You can conquer and control any sin by the help of the Lord (I Cor. 10:13). Life will be much better for us if we include the Lord in our plans (Phil. 4:11-13; James 4:13-15).
3. Learn to say "I Love You."
Break the alabaster box of kindness to as many people as possible each day (Mark 14:3-9). Learn to use the 9 magic words: "I love you, I am sorry and I forgive you."
4. Learn To Be A Giver And Not Just A Getter.
This does not come naturally with most people and it has to be learned. We need to teach our children early in life to give and share with others. Some have disappointments in life because they seek to get and have never learned to give "It is more blessed to give…" (Acts 20:35).
A. Don’t give until it hurts, give until it feels good!!!
5. Pray Every Day.
Reserve a time to pray and thank God for His many blessings to us. If we have a problem with someone, pray for him or her. (Mom & Pres. Reagan) Few, if any, pray as we should (Matt. 6:11-13).
6. Seek For Good In Everyone And Everything.
Be a "good seeker" and not a fault finder (Matt. 7:1-5). Jesus’ attitude with the woman at the well (John 4).
7. Do At Least One Good Deed Every Day (Prayer of Francis of Assisi).
Plant the seed of "goodness" and it will produce after its kind (Acts 10:38; Gal. 6:9,10).
8. Practice The "Do It Now" Habit.
Don’t put off what you need to do today. Many of us intend to do some good and noble things, but keep putting them off. It has been said that the road to Hell is paved with good intentions (II Cor. 6:1-3).
9. Don’t Let The Little Things Destroy You.
We allow too many "little" matters to consume too much of our time. A dent in the fender, a broken fingernail, etc. In the Song of Solomon, He said, "Little Foxes destroy the vines."
Some let imaginary things that will never happen bother us (Phil. 4:8).A.
10. Fill Your Life With Good.
Clean out the trash in your "attic" and fill your life with good thoughts and good deeds (Phil 3:13,14).
11. Learn To Laugh And Learn To Cry.
We are told that 70% of all physical and emotional ills could be overcome if we could learn this (Rom. 12:15 "Rejoice with those who…" and Eccles. 3:4 "A time to weep and a time to laugh").
12. Learn To Practice The Happiness Habit.
Smile and most people will smile with you (Phil. 4:4, "Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say, rejoice").
13. Put First Things First.
We must learn to put the important matters for our lives first and other things after these (Mat. 6:33). Seek to be pleasing to God and Christ as the priority in your life. (Ex. of those on the Titanic).
14. Learn To Fear Nothing Or No One.
Think on your strengths and not on your weaknesses. Crowd out your fears with faith in God (Heb. 11:1-6). When God is on our side and we are on His side, nothing can overcome us (I John 4:4; 15-18).
15. Let Go And Let God Take Over.
The only way to find peace and happiness is to let God and Jesus be our guide. They can take control of us and help us in all situations (Ps. 23; Phil. 1:21; I John 1:7).
Robert L Brown
Great Oaks Ch. of Christ