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? Much

Charles Spurgeon said of 1 Timothy 1:11, "The Gospel is also the Gospel of happiness. It is called 'the glorious Gospel of the blessed God.' A more correct translation would be, 'the happy God.' Well, then, adorn the Gospel by being happy!"[17]

You may not be accustomed to thinking that God commands us to be happy. But it's a fact. And I'm betting it's a command most of us would like to obey!

If we believe Scripture, we can reverently seek to enjoy happiness and laughter with God himself. I often remind myself that God is always with me. He wants us to know we can be happy both in him and with him—not only after we die, but as we live today. When I'm alone, whether I'm meditating or reading or looking at photos or watching a movie, any happiness or laughter I experience is a laugh I share with God because, in fact, I am not alone!

Don't just try to "make it" through the day. Celebrate the day. Say, "This is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it" (see Psalm 118:24). Don't dread the day; attack the day. Know what you want to accomplish today and go for it.

There are many emotions we have to resist, but happiness is not one of them! So go ahead and be as happy as you can possibly be.

No day needs to be ordinary if we realize the gift God is giving us when He gives us another day to live and enjoy. An extraordinary attitude can quickly turn an ordinary day into an amazing adventure. Jesus said He came so that we might have and enjoy life (see John 10:10). If we refuse to enjoy it, then it's no one's fault but our own. I would like to suggest that you take responsibility for your joy and never again give anyone else the job of keeping you happy.

Our circumstances shouldn't be the things that determine our level of joy. Even if we are having the worst day ever, we can have a confident, joy-filled, hopeful attitude if we learn to look at what we have left, not what we have lost. Always look at what God is doing, not what you think He isn't doing.

Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you [uncompromisingly] righteous [you who are upright and in right standing with Him]; shout for joy, all you upright in heart! Psalm 32:11

take responsibility for your joy and never again give anyone else the job of keeping you happy. Add a little variety to your life—break up your routine, do something different, and so on. When you do, expect God to meet you and help make your ordinary… extraordinary!

I wake up expecting to enjoy my day.

Not every circumstance feels good. But we can always determine to be joyful. Yes, oftentimes joy is a choice, an act of the will. That's why grumbling and complaining is so dangerous. Negative thoughts and words take us down a path to where everything feels impossible, too hard, unfair. But positive words and thoughts—as an act of the will and as an expression of our salvation—lead us to joy.