There are many steps for one to live a happier life!
In this series, we are looking at four based on Matthew 5.
Step one is to embrace an attitude, which Jesus calls ‘being poor in spirit.’ This is characterized by 4 things one has to work on daily:
- Love
- Peace
- Comfort
- Restoration
These four characteristics are what describe the kingdom of heaven. Jesus Christ gives us a taste of what God’s Kingdom means by offering love, peace, comfort and restoration. Our happiness dwells in demonstrating that we belong to God as we love, pursue peace, comfort and help people change their lives.
Step two to a happier living is based on Matthew 5:5, “Blessed are those who mourn for they shall receive comfort.” Here we are dealing with two things: mourning or grief and comfort.
Grief is an experience one has due to loss of any kind. Sometimes, it is due to loss of a loved one. It can also be a result of watching a relationship or personal hopes die. Other times, failures to meet personal expectations in life, at work or in school may create a sense of grief and guilt.
What we experience though is reality. It is the perception of what we face in real time. However, what we perceive to be reality does not always have to be the truth about who we are.
[bctt tweet=” Who we are is what God says we should be.”]
[bctt tweet=”The truth about us is the source of our comfort, which keeps us moving no matter what.”] It is the source of our happiness.
Two truths here, which should be the source of our happiness. First, Jesus is coming back to wipe every tear away. And when He does so, there will be no more crying, no more suffering. Death will become powerless. However, this is in the future and an event for which we, as believers, are waiting. Second, through Jesus, we find happiness. His mission statement is that He came to proclaim the year of the Lord, which means we will receive ‘an oil of gladness instead of mourning’ and ‘a garment of praise instead of a faint spirit.’ (Isaiah 61)
The garment of praise does not have to be what we make, but what God provides for us. Adam and Eve, for instance, chose to make garments for themselves after realizing they had sinned against God. However, God, after looking for them, provide better garments, which worked best for them. When we put on what God has provided for us, God’s work will become obvious in our lifestyle.
Our relationship with Jesus is grounded in the fact that He exchanges whatever we have with what He brings to us. He takes our mourning and gives us gladness. He exchanges our faint spirit with a garment of praise. That is the source of our happiness!
Click below to watch the full audio sermon
Watch a summary of the message on video below:
