“Thou Shalt Be Happy!”

 by Jacki Scott

I think the happiest time in my life was when I first got saved, and began living for the Lord. Maybe the Lord drops a “happy bomb” on us when we first get saved and filled with the Holy Spirit. After a while we have a few tests and maybe even a few “Job moments” in our lives. Then, with time, happiness and joy are things we have to develop and cultivate to help us mature as Christians.

Like the familiar saying, “Happiness is a choice.” We have to choose to be happy. Why is that? Why can’t we be filled with joy all the time, for our whole lives? I’m not sure, but I think one thing is that the Devil fights us and he tries to wear us down, a “wearing out of the saints.” Do you just feel worn out sometimes? There are probably a few other reasons, but that’s the first one that comes to my mind.

Recently I read a few verses where it seems like the Lord is saying, “Thou shalt be happy!” Well, it’s not one of the Ten Commandments, but I think He could’ve added it as maybe #11.

Over here in this part of the world where 98% of the people are Muslim, being happy is like wearing a big sign that says, “I am a Christian,” so it’s a HUGE part of my testimony. It’s my witness, because Christians are viewed as being happy people, joyful, positive, and often smiling.

Sometimes I don’t do so well at being happy. But because it’s my witness, then that settles it! Being happy is not an option; I have to be a representative of the kingdom—and being a sample of joy is part of the package.

I was a little surprised when I read the verses on how the Lord has put such a high priority on being happy in our lives. Does He really say, “Thou shalt be happy”? I think so. See what you think.

• If you want to make the Lord happy, be happy. “And when the people complained, it displeased the LORD” (Numbers 11:1).
• And be happy while working, too! “And there ye shall eat before the LORD your God, and ye shall rejoice in all that ye put your hand unto, ye and your households, wherein the LORD thy God hath blessed thee” (Deuteronomy 12:7).
• And here it is again: “And thou shalt rejoice before the LORD thy God in all that thou puttest thine hands unto”(Deuteronomy 12:18).
• And everybody in your house should be happy! “And thou shalt eat there before the LORD thy God, and thou shalt rejoice, thou, and thine household” (Deuteronomy14:26).
• Enjoy life! “And thou shalt rejoice before the LORD thy God, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite that is within thy gates, and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are among you, in the place which the LORD thy God hath chosen to place his name there. Because the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thine increase, and in all the works of thine hands, therefore thou shalt surely rejoice” (Deuteronomy 16:11,15).
• Being thankful is part of being happy. “And thou shalt rejoice in every good thing which the LORD thy God hath given unto thee, and unto thine house” (Deuteronomy 26:11).
• There are times when the Lord wants us to remember Him and be glad—even having a ceremony and a specific time to be happy. Throw a party! “… to keep the dedication with gladness, both with thanksgivings, and with singing, with cymbals, psalteries, and with harps” (Nehemiah 12:27).
• Praying can make you happy. “Let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD” (1 Chronicles 16:10).
• Start and end the day being happy. “And to stand every morning to thank and praise the LORD, and likewise at even” (1 Chronicles 23:30).
• Being happy is like a spiritual workout at the gym. “For the joy of the LORD is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10).
• Fruit of loving Jesus is happiness. “Let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee” (Psalm 5:11).
• Yep! Be happy! Couldn’t be clearer. “Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing” (Psalm 100:2).
• Happiness will bring us well-being. “For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee” (Psalm 128:2).
• We are happy as we obey the Lord. “If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them” (John 13:17).
• Enjoy time with your brothers and sisters at a delicious meal. “And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart” (Acts 2:46).
• Being happy is a part of our witness. “Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and that hear thy wisdom” (1 Kings 10:8).

Those are only a few verses on being happy. There are many more! There is going to be joy and happiness in heaven because we have a happy God who loves to see us happy. Can you imagine being happy for all eternity in heaven? Wow! Be happy and make God happy, too!