Pastor’s Bible Reading Schedule:
Psalm 128-130
A basic desire of all people everywhere, whether they be saved or lost, is to be happy. No one wants to be miserable. Everyone wants to be content and satisfied. The Christian is no different. The believer talks about his primary drive to pursue holiness and heaven. However, in so doing, he may give the impression that his desire for happiness is an illegitimate desire. It is not. The first recorded sermon that Jesus preached, the Sermon on the Mount, begins by promising happiness and fulfillment to all who would follow Him.
The first psalm begins the same way with God promising joy and peace to those who meditate on his Word. Therefore, it is not wrong to desire to be happy. The only question is: “How will one find happiness?” The world promises happiness in many things such as possessions, popularity, position, prestige, and promotions. However, true contentment will be found in simply enjoying God. In Philippians 4:4, Paul declared, “Rejoice in the Lord.” God wants us to rejoice, and it is found in the passionate pursuit of loving Him for who He is and for what He is like.
Psalm 128 is written so that believers may know the soul-elevating joy that only God can give. Happiness is most often tied to our circumstances, but joy is not determined by one’s physical or financial condition but by one’s spiritual condition. Joy is not by where one works but by where and how one worships. Joy is not by external circumstances but by internal contentment. Joy is not by finances or fame, but by faith in God. Christ is the source of eternal joy and everlasting happiness. Our happiness comes when we are truly able to interpret the circumstances of life in light of the unchanging and everlasting love of our Savior who has given us eternal life. Our joy, the contentment of our heart, is found in the unchanging and unmovable nature of our God.
Prayer Requests:
Personal
- Lord, please help me to grow in my love for you each day.
- Lord, please help me interpret my circumstances in light of what my Bible has revealed about my God.
- Lord, please help me to express true happiness that comes from a heart of joy, that is produced by a life that is yielded to the Spirit of God.
Political
- Representative Eric Leutheuser – District 58 – Hillsdale
- US Representative Andy Levin – District 9 – Bloomfield Twp.
- Representative Frank Liverati – District 13 – Allen Park