Who Controls Your Happiness?
When we wake up in the morning, we get to choose how we’re going to live that day. We can choose to live in faith, happy, expecting favor. Or we can choose to live discouraged, defeated, focused on our problems. Happiness doesn’t happen automatically; it’s a choice we have to make. You can’t wait to see what kind of day it’s going to be. The first thing in the morning you have to make the decision: “I’m going to live this day happy. I’m going to see the good, be grateful, love my family, and enjoy this day.” If you don’t decide how you’re going to live, circumstances will decide for you. You’ll see all the problems and think, “I don’t feel like going to work. I can’t believe this traffic. I never get any good breaks.” When you dwell on those thoughts, you’re choosing to live discouraged and to have a lousy day.
The Scripture says, “Joy comes in the morning” (Psalm 30:5). Every morning God sends you a fresh supply of joy. You can dismiss it and think, “This is not for me. I have too much coming against me.” Or you can receive it and say, “Things may not be perfect in my life, but I know God is on the throne, and His plans for me are for good, so I’m going to enjoy this day.”
This is what David did. He had all kinds of opposition coming against him, people slandering him, family problems, but in the middle of it all he said, “This is the day the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24). If he was reporting on his circumstances, he would have said, “The Lord made this day, but I’ve got a lot of problems.” Instead, David was making a declaration of faith: “Despite the opposition, I will be happy. Despite people lying about me, I will be happy. Despite my family not believing in me, I’m going to live this day happy.”
If you’re going to be happy, you have to be happy on purpose, because there will be betrayals, delays, and all kinds of things that can cause you to live sour. You have to put your foot down and say, “That’s it! I’m not letting other people or a problem at work steal my joy. I’m not letting what’s not working out cause me to be sour. I will rejoice. I will be glad. I will live this day happy.” Know that your will is more powerful than how you feel. You have to decide first, then happiness will come. You control your happiness. It’s not up to anyone else. You’re as happy as you want to be.
The Scripture says, “Joy comes in the morning” (Psalm 30:5). Every morning God sends you a fresh supply of joy. You can dismiss it and think, “This is not for me. I have too much coming against me.” Or you can receive it and say, “Things may not be perfect in my life, but I know God is on the throne, and His plans for me are for good, so I’m going to enjoy this day.”
This is what David did. He had all kinds of opposition coming against him, people slandering him, family problems, but in the middle of it all he said, “This is the day the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24). If he was reporting on his circumstances, he would have said, “The Lord made this day, but I’ve got a lot of problems.” Instead, David was making a declaration of faith: “Despite the opposition, I will be happy. Despite people lying about me, I will be happy. Despite my family not believing in me, I’m going to live this day happy.”
If you’re going to be happy, you have to be happy on purpose, because there will be betrayals, delays, and all kinds of things that can cause you to live sour. You have to put your foot down and say, “That’s it! I’m not letting other people or a problem at work steal my joy. I’m not letting what’s not working out cause me to be sour. I will rejoice. I will be glad. I will live this day happy.” Know that your will is more powerful than how you feel. You have to decide first, then happiness will come. You control your happiness. It’s not up to anyone else. You’re as happy as you want to be.