Choose To Be Happy

The message at church today was "choose to be happy." It wasn't enough to just want to be happy and hope it would happen. Being happy was deliberate. Being happy was a choice. A conscious effort was necessary in order for happiness to occur.

The pastor broke his sermon up into four parts.

The first part focused on clearing up conflicts. The point of this section was that it is really difficult to be fully happy if there is conflict that exists between people. Being proactive and addressing issues, even it if means apologizing when the other person is at fault, is the shortest distance to resolving conflict. "It is to a man's honor to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel." (Proverbs 20:3)

The second section focused on making everything a matter of prayer. The key word here was "EVERYTHING". So many people pray only when things are going badly for them, as though God is only listening when people need something. Prayer is much less frequent an occurence when life is going well. The pastor reminded the people in the church that in order to be fully happy, God should be thought of and prayed to all of the time. He wants to hear from His children. It's much easier to ask Him for a little help when one has been in constant contact with Him than it is to say, "Hey God, I know we don't talk much but...I could really use a favor." "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." (Philippians 4:2)

The third section was focused on the power of positive thought. Happiness is a tall order when one's mindset is consistently negative. The pastor said that there are people who have far less, but are happier than a lot of people who have more. That's because those happy have-nots focus on what they do have and are grateful for it. The unhappy haves tend to focus on what they do not have and are resentful. A simple change in mindset that could have a great impact on the level of one's happiness is just thinking positively when possible. "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable --if anything is praiseworthy--think about such things." (Philippians 4:8)

Finally, it is important to practice saying, "This is good enough." It's a lot more difficult to find things to complain about if one decides that his life is good enough. Practicing such a statement and actually believing it is the key. It makes anything acquired beyond the current circumstances a true blessing and icing on the cake. "I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength." (Philippians 4:11-13)

Scott and Susanne needed to hear such a message. Paxton's journey up to this point had been so difficult, so exhausting, so frustrating...it was easy to feel every emotion other than happy. Faith in God's word and trust that the plan for Paxton would be revealed one day was what kept them in the game. This message reminded them what a true blessing Paxton was. It made them remember to continue to pray for his comfort and healing every single day. It was important to know that God was not just with them while Paxton was in the hospital. He was there always, waiting with baited breath to hear His name.
Scott and Susanne thanked God for the gift He had given them in Paxton.