HAPPINESS - Habits of Happiness (Part 1)

The two most important points of this lesson are:

1. God is sovereign - "Our God is in the heavens; He does all that he pleases." (Psalm 115:3)

The implication of this verse is that God has the right and power to do whatever makes Him happy. He makes all things work together for His glory. That is what it means to say that God is sovereign. If God were not sovereign, if the world He made were out of control, frustrating His design again and again, God would not be happy. Since God is sovereign and can do anything He pleases, none of His purposes can be frustrated. Thankfully so, for we--as His children--cannot enjoy fellowship with our Father if He is unhappy. Therefore we can safely say that the foundation of the happiness of God is the sovereignty of God (John Piper). Bottom line: There is no such thing as mere coincidence. If you believe that God is sovereign, then you are well on your way to living a life of happiness.

2. Keep an eternal perspective - "Set your mind on things that are above, not on things that are on the earth." (Colossians 3:2); "Whose end is destruction...who set their mind on earthly things." (Philippians 3:19)

Jesus prayed to His Father in John 17:

¹⁵ My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. ¹⁶ They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. ¹⁷ Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.

Jesus was very clear in His prayer. Those who are in Christ are to be in the world but not of the world. The "world" is not a location but a system. Satan is the ruler of this earth (cosmos) but can only do what God allows. The people who live a life of the world function apart from God.

The deepest and most enduring happiness is found only in God. We must set our minds on the things that are above (in the heavens) and not on earth. When we do, we will then begin to understand how the sovereignty of God is the key to our enduring happiness.