Have you posed for a picture lately? Get a camera, get the lighting right, then pose and say “Cheese”…. CLICK!!! Why do we always smile for pictures? We all prefer to look good in pictures. Smiling make us look happy and cheerful so we try to give a decent smile rather than a sulking face for pictures. A person looking at a happy picture feels happy because happiness is contagious. Haven’t you seen people who are full of Joy and Happiness spreading it to the people around them? Who doesn’t like to be happy? Even though we prefer to be Happy, that is not the case always – days of gloominess and sadness are also a part of our lives. How can we stay happy even when our circumstances are not right?
Let us open the treasure book to find clues.
OPENING THE TREASURE BOOK 
Clue 1: The source of true happiness
for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Romans 14:17 NKJV
When we accept Jesus as our savior, we shift our citizenship from kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of God. And when we enter this kingdom – righteousness, peace and JOY in the Holy spirit are made available for us. The righteousness bought by the blood of Jesus, divine peace that transcends all understanding and everlasting JOY are all available for us. Like how certain passports provides certain privileges, JOY is a privilege we enjoy as a holder of the passport of the kingdom of God. It is up to us whether we use the privilege or not.
JOY in the Holy Spirit is a privilege we enjoy in the kingdom of God.
Different things brings happiness to different people. For some it is music, for some others eating good food lift up their spirits, there are others who cheer up after a nap, for some others it is watching funny videos and so on. However, if we depend on these momentary things for our happiness, it will soon die off when the moment passes by.
You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Psalms 16:11
Honor and majesty are before Him; Strength and gladness are in His place.
I Chronicles 16:27
The fulIness of joy or the complete form of joy is only found in the presence of God. There is gladness in His place. So having a fellowship with God who is the complete form of Joy ensures that this joy is transferred to us. When we spend time with Him – talking to Him and walking with Him and living in Him, we also overflow with joy and gladness, spreading it everywhere we go. This is the kind of JOY that stays and do not die off. If we abound with this Joy, even when the circumstances looks grim, the gladness will not depart from us.
God is the source of ultimate JOY and being with Him makes our heart also abound with JOY regardless of our circumstances.
Clue 2: The effect of Happiness
A merry heart does good, like medicine,
Proverbs 17:22
But a broken spirit dries the bones.
A happy heart is like medicine, it does good to the physical and mental well- being of a person. However sadness is bad for the health. Scientific researches also has proven that happiness is good for health – it boosts our immune system.
So DON’T WORRY, BE HAPPY ! ! !
Clue 3: God’s will for us
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
I Thessalonians 5:16-18
We know that God is always Good. He always wants the best for us. His will for us is that we always rejoice, pray without stopping and give thanks in everything. When we pray, we are communicating with God and having a fellowship with Him. This will fill us with His JOY. God wants us to be always rejoicing. So rejoice in everything and make this your lifestyle. If things don’t work out the way it should be – do not worry, but rejoice because all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
Rejoice always – this is the will of God for us in Christ Jesus.
Treasures uncovered
JOY in the Holy Spirit is a privilege we enjoy in the kingdom of God.
God is the source of ultimate JOY and being with Him makes our heart also abound with JOY regardless of our circumstances.
BE HAPPY, Happiness has medicinal effect on body and mind.
It is the will of God in Christ Jesus that we “Rejoice always”.
Prayer:
Though the fig tree may not blossom,
Habakkuk 3:17-18
Nor fruit be on the vines;
Though the labor of the olive may fail,
And the fields yield no food;
Though the flock may be cut off from the fold,
And there be no herd in the stalls—
Yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will joy in the God of my salvation.
Father, we thank you for making JOY available to us. Help us to rejoice always. In Jesus name, Amen.
Bible lessons 4 young Christians 