Prayer that craves a particular commodity—anything less than all good, is vicious. Prayer is the contemplation of the facts of life from the highest point of view. It is the soliloquy of a beholding and jubilant soul. It is the spirit of God pronouncing his works good. But prayer as a means to effect a private end is theft and meanness. It supposes dualism and not unity in nature and consciousness. As soon as the man is at one with God, he will not beg.

Those who cannot tell what they desire or expect, still sigh and struggle with indefinite thoughts and vast wishes.

There's nothing capricious in nature, and the implanting of a desire indicates that its gratification is in the constitution of the creature that feels it.

That which befits us, embosomed in beauty and wonder as we are, is cheerfulness, and courage, and the endeavor to realize our aspirations. Shall not the heart which has received so much, trust the Power by which it lives? May it not quit other leadings, and listen to the Soul that has guided it so gently, and taught it so much, secure that the future will be worthy of the past?

Do we seek happiness because we're sinners or because we're human? Should faith in God be dragged forward by duty or propelled by delight? Must we choose between holiness and happiness?

British preacher Charles Spurgeon (1834—1892) said, "Those who are 'beloved of the Lord' must be the most happy and joyful people to be found anywhere upon the face of the earth.

Christ is the desire of nations, the joy of angels, the delight of the Father. What solace then must that soul be filled with, that has the possession of Him to all eternity!" —John Bunyan

C. S. Lewis put it this way: We are halfhearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at sea. We are far too easily pleased.5 Even many Christians have settled for a life of unsatisfying material acquisitions, like making mud pies in a slum.

If you hope for happiness in the world, hope for it from God, and not from the world." —David Brainerd

Good-hearted laughter is a tribute to the happy God, who created laughter and delights to enter into it with us.

Our degree of happiness in life largely depends on: the amount of happiness we believe should be rightfully ours our ability to find delight in a fallen world God will redeem our ability to see the little things—the ten thousand reasons for happiness that surround us that we easily ignore

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28, ESV).