Happiness 101

Today’s message was written by guest pastor, Rev. Tasha Blackburn.

So many of us would like to be happier that happiness itself has become an industry. Lots of people would be thrilled to make money in their effort to make you happier. Before we give out our credit card number, let’s consider what scripture has to say about happiness. The book of Psalms is 150 songs of faith and the opening number is all about how to be happy. 

The first lines are not a surprise. They are three things not to do: don’t follow the advice of wicked people, don’t head down a path of sinning, and don’t sit around and scoff at everybody. Just by not doing those three things, you will be happier. Then we are given one positive thing that will make us happier too, one thing to do. Happy people meditate on God’s word day and night. They “meditate” on it. 

It is interesting to find out that the word “meditate” here means more like “worry” it or “chew” on it. In fact, it is the same word that is used when a dog chews on a bone. The dog pulls at it, gnaws on it, won’t stop working it over until he’s gotten it all.

That is how we are supposed to consume God’s word. We are supposed to be like a dog with a bone. Pulling and pushing on it, having it pull and push on us until we’ve got all it has to offer. This kind of effort, of course, will take way more than day and night. It will take a lifetime. And in that lifetime, we will be happier. You will be happier.

Meditate on God’s Word. Do things like you are doing right now: listen to devotionals, worship in a congregation, read your Bible, pray throughout the day. Be like a dog with a bone! Don’t give up, just keep gnawing away. It is a sure path to happiness.

Let’s pray: Gracious God, you long for us to know joy and purpose in our lives. We pray that you can renew in us this day a desire for you, a desire for your Word. Give us hearts open to receive the scriptures and an appetite that will not stop until we know you better. In your name, we pray. Amen.