Good Monday morning (4-05-10),

Everybody faces those days when it’s hard to get our act together and confront the world with a smile. I’ve wondered what it is that makes me so grumpy at times. Is it barometric changes or cloudy days? Was it something I ate or just something someone said to me? Anyhow, we all have those days.

Being content is a lot better than being unhappy. The wonderful thing is that our Heavenly Father knows this and never intended for us to live our lives in misery.

If you think about it, the Beautiful Attitudes, found in Matthew 5, also point out this truth. Known as the Beatitudes or The Sermon on the Mount, this portion of the Scriptures is, without a doubt, one of the most beloved portions of the Bible because of the blessings promised to “whosoever” will follow God.

That day, Jesus saw a crowd which was eager to press upon Him with their needs. There on that hillside, He began to teach the multitudes beginning with this phrase, “Blessed are….” It’s so natural for us to think of the word “blessed” to mean, basically, to be happy. This word means so much more than to just be happy.

I guess winning a million dollars would make us both happy, but once the thrill (and the money) was gone, our emotions would be right back where they started, perhaps even worse. Happiness, as a human emotion, comes and goes when circumstances change.

No, Jesus wasn’t saying that we would just be happy following Him. This word “Blessed,” by Greek definition, is indicating that we can be joyous and content with a wealth of inner peace and satisfaction as we walk in God’s favor. All this in spite of any outward conditions and circumstances we may face. Through this blessedness, Christians can and should possess peace, joy, provision, protection, power, knowledge and salvation.

Our blessedness should be the envy of the world and is what make us a, “City set on a hill.” Our light is meant to show the path of salvation for others.

When my light isn’t shining, when I’m walking in lack or in one of those crummy moods, it’s best that I keep training myself to follow the Bible’s commandment to, “Put on the new man.” Because I’m born-again, a new man lives in me. The “new man” looks and acts like Jesus and is thankful and wants to show it by telling others all about Him.

The old man, by comparison, is naturally grouchy and cynical. And no small wonder. It once spent everything serving the only master it knew, the devil. What a terrible master the devil is. All he can offer is death and lack and fear and disease and darkness and eternal damnation in a hell prepared for the devil and his angels.

But, Christians are blessed (joyously content and happy/wealthy with inward joy and satisfaction). God never meant for His people to live unhappy, miserable lives.

Breaking the bondage of unhappiness means that we have to remember and rehearse with our words how blessed we are. In obedience to Joshua 1:8, we must remain thankful and speak the promises of God for all to hear. “This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.”

When the old man wants to take control with its unhappy ways, Joshua 1:8 reminds us to begin to meditate and act upon the promises of God. Then we make our way prosperous. The presence of the new man is strengthened when its thankful heart begins to meditate and then speak the promises of God.

I am thankful for the peace of God. Jesus promised to leave His peace with us, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.”

I am thankful for the joy of God. Jesus told us that when we allow Him to abide in us and we abide in Him, His joy will be in us, and this joy will be full.

I am thankful for the provision of God. “Do not be seized with alarm and struck with fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom!” Believe me, whatever our need, God’s kingdom has more than enough in its storehouse.

I am thankful for the protection of God. Jesus told His disciples this: He is the good shepherd, and He is the door to the sheepfold, “By me, if any man enters in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief comes not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”

I am thankful for the power of God. By promise, these signs shall follow believers. In the name of Jesus we can cast out devils; we can speak with new tongues; we can take up serpents; and if we drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt us; and we shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

I am thankful for the saving knowledge of the most high. In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit and said, “I thank you, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hid these things from the wise and prudent, and have revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.”

And most important, I am thankful for my salvation. “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” Romans 5:8-10

Wayne Witcher