How to be happy – learn the secret to real happiness

How to be happy by Pastor Bruce Edwards

Secret to Real Happiness

How to Be Happy –

Everyone wants to know how to be happy in life, because so many people are unhappy. In fact a recent poll in the United States found that less that 30% of non-believers are truly happy and less than 40% of believers are really happy. That’s sad! The problem is most (wrongly) equate happiness with achieving or reaching some goal. (definition of happiness – read here)

Their thinking goes like this; when I get a certain amount of money then I’ll be happy, when I meet the right man or woman I’ll be happy, when I finally get the right job or own the right business then I will really be happy, when I lose these last 10 pounds I’ll be happy, when everything in life finally looks the way we think it should then we’ll be happy. None of these things bring real happiness in life. They can be a blessing and can make life better, but they are not the source of real happiness.  The question then is, how to be happy?

Secret for Real Happiness –

There is one secret to real happiness.  John Wooden, the famous former basketball coach at UCLA made this statement, “Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out.” In other words Coach Wooden is saying how you respond to what happens in life determines your happiness, not the way things turn out good or bad. It is not what happens to you that counts, but rather how you react to what happens to you.  There is one over riding factor that determines how you respond in life – it is your attitude.   Attitude – a positive attitude is the secret to real happiness.  Your attitude in response to life is what matters.  Having a positive attitude is how to have real happiness.   What is Attitude?

Attitude is the way you look at life. It is the way you choose to see and respond to events, situations, people, and even yourself. Your attitude is not something that happens to you. Your attitude is a “CHOICE”. You choose how you are going to respond to what happens in life. You choose to have either a positive or negative attitude.

The apostle Paul said this, “I have learned to be satisfied with what I have and with whatever happens. I know how to live when I am poor and when I have plenty. I have learned the secret of how to live through any kind of situation—when I have enough to eat or when I am hungry, when I have everything I need or when I have nothing.” (Philippians 4:11-12) Notice what Paul said, “I have learned the SECRET”! What was the secret – the power to chose to be “happy” regardless of the circumstances. (read my post on How to be Content – CLICK HERE to read)

You can’t control what happens in life, but you can control your attitude. Choose to have a positive attitude no matter what your situation. When you choose to have a positive attitude life becomes an adventure instead of just a struggle. It;s been said that life is 10% what happens to you and 90% is how you respond to what happens to you. So, respond to the life that happens around by choosing to have a positive attitude that’s how to be happy!  The question then is how to have a positive attitude?  Here are 3 Biblical principles to help.

3 Biblical Principles for Real Happiness –

Here are three Biblical principles that will help you choose and keep a positive attitude;

1. Always Be Thankful. God has put you on this earth for a purpose. He has saved you and blessed you with life. Every day look for things to be thankful for. Be thankful for having another day to live, for the air you breath, for God’s mercy and grace in your life, for every good and perfect gift that comes from the Lord, for being saved, for the family that you have, and the list goes on.

Too often we find it easier to complain about things in life than to be thankful. There are many things in life you probably take for granted. God has blessed you in more ways than you can count. Count your blessing one by one. Be grateful for what you do have. “In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:18) Always be thankful it is a key to having a positive attitude and real happiness.

2. Keep God First in Your Life. Putting God first means making Him a priority in your life. When God is a priority you seek Him, obey Him, honor Him and worship Him. Proverbs 28:14 says, “Happy is the man who is always reverent…” When you put God first and keep Him first in your life it builds your faith and trust in Him. Proverbs 16:20 tells us, “Whoever trusts in the Lord, happy is he.”

It is easy to let the business of life and the cares of the world to knock God out of first place. Guard against that happening. When you keep God first He takes care of all the things you have need of. “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. ” (Matthew 6:33) Keeping God first it is a key to having a positive attitude and real happiness.

3. Depend on the Strength of Christ. Choosing to have a positive attitude is not something you can do in your own strength. It is not by might nor by power, but by the Spirit. (Zechariah 4:6) Yes you have to make the decision that you’re going to have a positive attitude, but it takes the greater one in you to be able to follow through. It is easy to become critical and negative and if you do your attitude will go south and so will your happiness.

The secret that the Apostle Paul learned in Philippians 4 for true contentment and happiness was relying on the strength of Christ. He said, “I can to all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13) If you try to have a positive attitude in the flesh you’ll fail. Instead depend on the strength of Christ in you it is a key to having a positive attitude and real happiness.

How to be a happy in life is found in having a positive attitude.  Having a positive attitude is a matter of choice.  So, choose to have a positive attitude – that’s how to be happy in life.

Watch this short video on the Pursuit of Happiness on my 2 Minute Breakthrough Video blog   CLICK HERE   to watch

 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.