Introduction: First of all, before we start the actual study, if you have not received Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Saviour, do so now. Then all of the promises in God’s word will apply to you also, and you can be happy, joyous and free. The prayer for salvation is at the very end of this book. Turn their now if you wish to receive Jesus Christ and your Lord and Saviour and begin the journey to happiness, joyfulness and freedom.
God desires that all people be saved, that is that all would believe on Jesus Christ and receive the promise of eternal life.

(2 Pet 3:9 KJV)  The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

(John 6:38-40 NIV)  For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.  And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."


I heard the statement made one time by a man who said, “I know that it is God’s will for me to be happy, joyous and free.” Those words stuck in my mind for months. How could he know that?, I wondered at various time when his words popped into my mind. What if God wants us to go through a time of suffering? What if it is God’s will for us to be miserable? Shouldn't we just accept it and play the hand that is dealt to us? Why should we try to be happy if God wants us sad? Is what he said scriptural? These questions and more like them nagged at my mind for months until one day I decided to do something about it. I decided to search the scriptures to see if I could find out if there was any validity to what he said, it or if it was just the ramblings of an old man.

Later I found out that the words he spoke were a quotation from what is know as the “Big Book,” in 12 step recovery programs. The quote is below.

“We are sure God wants us to be happy, joyous, and free. We cannot subscribe to the belief that this life is a vale of tears, though it once was just that for many of us. But it is clear that we made our own misery. God didn't do it. Avoid then, the deliberate manufacture of misery, but if trouble comes, cheerfully capitalize it as an opportunity to demonstrate His omnipotence.”

While researching this project I discovered that in many cases the words happy and joyous are from the same Greek root word in the New Testament. There are two Greek root words used often and their descriptions are presented below, taken from Strongs Hebrew - Greek lexicon.

5479. chara, khar-ah'; from G5463; cheerfulness, i.e. calm delight:--gladness, X greatly, (X be exceeding) joy (-ful, -fully,

2114. euthumeo, yoo-thoo-meh'-o; from G2115; to cheer up, i.e. (intrans.) be cheerful; neut. comp. (adv.) more
So, since these words seem to be for the most part interchangeable we will look at the scriptures pertaining to them together. 

(Deu 28:47-48 NIV)  Because you did not serve the LORD your God joyfully and gladly in the time of prosperity, therefore in hunger and thirst, in nakedness and dire poverty, you will serve the enemies the LORD sends against you. He will put an iron yoke on your neck until he has destroyed you.

(Neh 8:10 NIV)  Nehemiah said, "Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength."

I discovered that in the Old Testament that when the Israelites failed to rejoice and be appreciative when God was blessing them with prosperity, it was counted to them as sin and angered the Lord. So, when life is going well we should never forget to rejoice and praise God for his many blessings, or we may lose them all. In other words it is not just an option to rejoice, it is a necessity to maintain a happy life. 

We need to get it into our minds that it is not just an option to be happy, joyous and free, it is a command of Christ and a theme throughout the scriptures. In other words it is a sin not to be happy, joyous and free. If we are living in sin we cannot receive all that God has to offer in his plan for our life. So, if a person is not happy, joyous and free they need to stop sinning and get on with God’s program.

It may not be easy to get ones self out of a sad and depressed mode of life, but the scriptures contain things we can do to move down the road toward the goal of happiness in the Lord.

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(Psa 68:4 NIV)  Sing to God, sing praise to his name, extol him who rides on the clouds -- his name is the LORD-- and rejoice before him.

(1 Th 5:16-18 NIV)  Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

If something is a command Then it is a sin not to do it. As the scripture says, if someone knows something is right but doesn’t practice it them to them it is sin. So, it is a sin not to be joyful.

(James 4:17 NCV)  Anyone who knows the right thing to do, but does not do it, is sinning.

In the middle ages many misguided souls thought that a pure expression of Christianity was to be like a monk in a silent world away from everyone practicing penance and stoic behavior, punishing the body. It was at this time that Martin Luther while climbing the stairs of the Sistine Chapel on bloody knees received the revelation that salvation was by grace through faith, not by works. He wrote many songs expressing his joy to the Lord for giving him the understanding of the simple gospel that was preached from the beginning of the Christian era, but lost as the worship of God gradually became a system of rituals rather than being led by the Holy Spirit.

If we can rejoice in nothing else, we can rejoice that the gospel is freely preached in the United States and that we can worship in Spirit and in Truth as God commands.

(Psa 68:3 NIV)  But may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful.

(John 4:23-24 NIV)  Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."


How can we rejoice and be glad when things are not going so well? How can we be happy if tragedy has struck in our lives or if we are sick, sad or even depressed? The answer is that we must look to the future. We must put our thoughts on the fact that God has a good plan for our life and he will eventually fulfill it, though maybe not as quickly as we would like. But, since God cannot lie we know happiness and joy are coming, sooner or later, so we can rejoice in that even in the midst of a time of trial.

(Num 23:19-20 NIV)  God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? I have received a command to bless; he has blessed, and I cannot change it.

(Titus 1:2 KJV)  In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

(Jer 29:11 NIV)  For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

(Prov 10:28 NIV)  The prospect of the righteous is joy, but the hopes of the wicked come to nothing.

(Psa 68:2-3 NIV)  But may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful.


If we are bogged down in bad circumstances we need to pray for restoration to joy. For some of us we may need to pray to have joy for the first time ever in our lives. Many of us have never experienced true spiritual joy at anytime during our entire lives. Many of us were in bad circumstances when we came to Christ and have never really experienced the joy of our salvation.

(Psa 90:15 NCV)  We have seen years of trouble. Now give us as much joy as you gave us sorrow.

(Psa 51:12 KJV)  Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

(Psa 86:4 NIV)  Bring joy to your servant, for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.



(John 16:24 NIV)  Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.


If we do not have joy in our lives then there is something wrong. We have already seen from the scriptures that it is God’s will for us to be joyful. So, if we are not joyful then we need to identify the problem that is preventing us from having joy and fix it, according to the scriptures.


First of all joy begins on the day we are saved and begin our Christian life in Christ.

(Psa 68:3 NIV)  But may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful.

(1 Pet 1:8 NIV)  Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy,

(John 20:29 NCV)  Then Jesus told him, "You believe because you see me. Those who believe without seeing me will be truly happy."


(Acts 16:34 NIV)  The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God--he and his whole family.

(Rom 4:7-8 NCV)  "Happy are they whose sins are forgiven, whose wrongs are pardoned. Happy is the person whom the Lord does not consider guilty."

(Rom 5:11 NIV)  Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

(Psa 13:5 NIV)  But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.

(Psa 32:1 NCV)  Happy is the person whose sins are forgiven, whose wrongs are pardoned.

(Isa 12:3 NIV)  With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.

(Isa 61:10 NIV)  I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

(Luke 10:20 NIV)  However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."

(Hab 3:18 NIV)  yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior.

(Luke 1:47 NCV)  my heart rejoices in God my Savior,

(Acts 2:26 NIV)  Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will live in hope,

(Rom 5:2 NIV)  through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.


(Psa 119:162 NCV)  I am as happy over your promises as if I had found a great treasure.

(Heb 4:1 NCV)  Now, since God has left us the promise that we may enter his rest, let us be very careful so none of you will fail to enter.

(Heb 10:23 NIV)  Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.

(2 Pet 1:4 NIV)  Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

(2 Pet 3:13 NIV)  But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.

(1 John 2:25 KJV)  And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.


(Col 1:12 NCV)  And you will joyfully give thanks to the Father


(Psa 1:1 NCV)  Happy are those who don't listen to the wicked, who don't go where sinners go, who don't do what evil people do.

(Psa 32:2 NCV)  Happy is the person whom the LORD does not consider guilty and in whom there is nothing false.

(Psa 32:11 NIV)  Rejoice in the LORD and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!

(Psa 33:1 NIV)  Sing joyfully to the LORD, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him.

(Psa 97:11 NIV)  Light is shed upon the righteous and joy on the upright in heart.

(Psa 4:7 NIV)  You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound.

(Jude 1:24 NCV)  God is strong and can help you not to fall. He can bring you before his glory without any wrong in you and can give you great joy.

(Rom 15:13 NCV)  I pray that the God who gives hope will fill you with much joy and peace while you trust in him. Then your hope will overflow by the power of the Holy Spirit.

(Acts 2:28 NIV)  You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.'

The method God uses to bring joy into our lives is the same as the method he used to give Jesus joy during his ministry on earth. He gives us joy through the Holy Spirit.

(1 Th 1:6 NIV)  You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.

(Acts 13:52 NIV)  And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

(Rom 15:13 NIV)  May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

If you want a happy life try practicing the fruit of the spirit on a daily basis. In every situation ask yourself what is the loving thing to do, the peaceful; thing to do, the kind thing to do, and so on. By doing so you will be fulfilling the law of love. Seeking after Love is seeking after God, because he is love, and love brings joy.

(Gal 5:22-23 NIV)  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

(1 Cor 13:13-14 NCV)  So these three things continue forever: faith, hope, and love. And the greatest of these is love. You should seek after love,

(1 John 4:8 NIV)  Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

(1 John 4:16 NCV)  And so we know the love that God has for us, and we trust that love. God is love. Those who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.


Many of us come to Christ initially because of fear, whether fear of hell or fear of a continuing miserable life. Eventually though as we draw closer to God and study his word we begin to fear less and love more as we see how the Lord first loved us and cares for us. While it is impossible in this life to have perfect love, the closer we come to it the happier we will be. Strive for perfect love if you want to be happy, joyous and free.

(Psa 111:10 NIV)  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.

(Job 28:28 NIV)  And he said to man, 'The fear of the Lord--that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.'"

(1 John 4:18-19 NIV)  There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us.


Once we are born again we should begin to seek after God and his will for our lives. Just the action of seeking after God should bring us joy, even if we haven’t found his perfect will for our lives yet. We can rejoice during the seeking period because we know that God promised that if we seek after him we will find him.

(Mat 7:7-8 NIV)  "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

(1 Chr 16:10 NIV)  Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.

(Psa 70:4 NIV)  But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation always say, "Let God be exalted!"

(Psa 105:3 NCV)  Be glad that you are his; let those who seek the LORD be happy.


As we have seen seeking the Lord brings us joy. How can we seek him and get that joy? By studying and meditating on his word, day and night.

(Josh 1:8 NIV)  Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.

(Psa 19:8 NIV)  The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.

(Psa 119:111 NIV)  Your statutes are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart.

(Jer 15:16 NIV)  When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart's delight, for I bear your name, O LORD God Almighty.

(John 15:11 KJV)  These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

(James 1:25 NCV)  But the truly happy people are those who carefully study God's perfect law that makes people free, and they continue to study it. They do not forget what they heard, but they obey what God's teaching says. Those who do this will be made happy


As we are seeking God and studying his word, soon understanding begins to come to us and increases our joy even more. Do you remember when you first became a Christian the joy you had when you began for the first time to understand the meaning of the scriptures? There is so much truth and knowledge in the Bible that our joy should be unending in this lifetime because no matter how much we study his word there are always new things to learn. Gods word is like a well that never runs dry.

(Neh 8:12 NIV)  Then all the people went away to eat and drink, to send portions of food and to celebrate with great joy, because they now understood the words that had been made known to them.

(Prov 3:13 KJV)  Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.

(Prov 3:18 NCV)  As a tree produces fruit, wisdom gives life to those who use it, and everyone who uses it will be happy.

(Eccl 8:1 NCV)  No one is like the wise person who can understand what things mean. Wisdom brings happiness; it makes sad faces happy.


Once we begin to understand portions of God’s word we need to begin to put it into practice. Not in a legalistic sense as the Pharisees were doing in Jesus day, but in the way Jesus taught, in the way of love.

(Mat 22:36-40 NIV)  "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

(John 15:9-12 NIV)  "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love.  I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.

Joy comes from obeying God’s commands in a spirit of love, not by his commands being a burden and a weight about our necks.

(1 John 5:3 NIV)  This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome,

When we realize how much more wonderful our life is when we follow Gods plan his commands are a joy to perform, because life just gets better and better the more we perform his word.

(Luke 11:27-28 NCV)  As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out to Jesus, "Happy is the mother who gave birth to you and nursed you." But Jesus said, "No, happy are those who hear the teaching of God and obey it."

(Eccl 3:12 NIV)  I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live.

(John 13:17 KJV)  If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.


Again, the following of God’s commands is not for the sake of salvation through legalism, but for happiness due to the natural results of wise living. For example, the bible says in Proverbs that if you co-sign a loan for someone you may suffer for it. How many people have co-signed for someone and when that person could not pay the co-signer had to pay or face a black mark on their own credit rating?

(Prov 22:26-27 NCV)  Don't promise to pay what someone else owes, and don't guarantee anyone's loan. If you cannot pay the loan, your own bed may be taken right out from under you.

This is just one example of hundreds of wise commands in the scriptures. The book of Proverbs and the entire New Testament is full of wisdom for daily living. Those who follow God’s manual for human living will have happier lives than those who don’t. Even non Christians who follow God’s laws unknowingly are blessed even if they are not saved. It just makes good sense to use the tools our creator has given us. He knows better than anyone what we need to be happy because he designed us in his own image. What makes God happy makes us happy because we are his workmanship. As the old TV show title said, “Father Knows Best.”

(Rom 8:6 NIV)  The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace;

(Rom 14:17 NIV)  For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit,

(Rom 15:13 NIV)  May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

(Psa 19:8 NIV)  The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.

(Psa 119:1-2 NCV)  Happy are those who live pure lives, who follow the Lord's teachings. Happy are those who keep his rules, who try to obey him with their whole heart.

(Psa 119:14 NIV)  I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches.

(Psa 119:32 NCV)  I will quickly obey your commands, because you have made me happy.

(Psa 119:35 NCV)  Lead me in the path of your commands, because that makes me happy.

(Prov 29:18 KJV)  Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

(Psa 128:1 NCV)  Happy are those who respect the LORD and obey him.


(Mat 5:6 NCV)  Those who want to do right more than anything else are happy, because God will fully satisfy them.

(Mat 5:8 NCV)  Those who are pure in their thinking are happy, because they will be with God.


(Psa 2:11 NCV)  Obey the LORD with great fear. Be happy, but tremble.


(Psa 106:3 NCV)  Happy are those who do right, who do what is fair at all times

(Prov 8:32 NCV)  "Now, my children, listen to me, because those who follow my ways are happy.

(Psa 126:5 KJV)  They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.


A byproduct of being happy is better health. No matter what the state of our health is, if we are happy it is better than what it would be if we were sad or depressed. When we are sad or depressed or grieving we tend not to eat right and to neglect our personal care and needs. This leads to further problems which make us even more depressed. An example would be a person grieving over the ending of a relationship fails to do a good job at work because of the sorrow and gets fired. Then that person has double the problems. While that might be extreme it is common for people under stress to neglect to pay their bills even if they have the money and then get in trouble with the bill collectors. For our own good health and mental sanity we need to be joyful as much as is humanly possible. It will save us a lot of grief in other areas of our lives.

(Prov 15:13 NIV)  A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit.

(Prov 15:30 NIV)  A cheerful look brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones.

(Prov 16:24 NCV)  Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, making people happy and healthy.

(Prov 17:22 NCV)  A happy heart is like good medicine, but a broken spirit drains your strength.


Once we learn God’s word we are responsible to perform it. Even if we have the opportunity to learn and understand his word and fail to do it we are still responsible for it, so there is no getting out of it. Some might say, I’m not going to go to church because I might hear that something that I’m doing is a sin and then I’ll have to quit or God might chasten me. If you feel that way I hate to burst your bubble, but if you have the opportunity to learn but pass on it you are still responsible. So, we may as well get on with the program and learn God’s will for our lives and do it. It’s all for the best anyway because he loves us and wants the best for us. So when God corrects us, let’s do like David did after his fall into sin and repent immediately and get back to being blessed rather than chastened.

(2 Sam 12:13 NIV)  Then David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD." Nathan replied, "The LORD has taken away your sin.

(Job 5:17 KJV)  Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty

(Psa 94:12 NCV)  LORD, those you correct are happy; you teach them from your law.

(Heb 12:11 NIV)  No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.


(Job 6:10 NIV)  Then I would still have this consolation-- my joy in unrelenting pain-- that I had not denied the words of the Holy One.

(Job 8:21 NCV)  God will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy.

(Psa 30:5 NCV)  His anger lasts only a moment, but his kindness lasts for a lifetime. Crying may last for a night, but joy comes in the morning.

(Psa 30:11 NIV)  You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,

(Psa 31:7 NCV)  I will be glad and rejoice in your love, because you saw my suffering; you knew my troubles.
Rejoice That God Is Guiding Your Path

God’s chastening and correction and enduring through hard times should make us joyful because we know that if God is chastening us he loves us and if he loves us then he is guiding our path. And, if he is guiding our path then it will eventually lead to perfect peace and joy and happiness with him in his kingdom.

(Psa 1:1-3)  Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.

(Psa 37:23 KJV)  The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.

(Psa 16:11 KJV)  Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

(Isa 26:3 KJV)  Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

When we line up our will with God’s will we bring happiness to ourselves. This is so because God will bring to pass his plan for our lives, and if we are in agreement and aligned with his plan and his plan is the desire of our heart then we will get what we want and that will bring us happiness. It is a natural tendency of mankind to rejoice when we get what we want. So, If we want what God wants, we will eventually get it.

(Psa 37:23 KJV)  The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.

(Psa 112:1 NCV)  Praise the LORD! Happy are those who respect the LORD, who want what he commands.

(Psa 37:4 NIV)  Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.


As we recognize that God is guiding our path through life we can begin to trust him, and as we trust him more and more our joy increases with our faith.

(Psa 28:7 NCV)  The LORD is my strength and shield. I trust him, and he helps me. I am very happy, and I praise him with my song.

(Psa 33:21 NCV)  We rejoice in him, because we trust his holy name.

(Psa 34:8 NCV)  Examine and see how good the LORD is. Happy is the person who trusts him.

(Psa 40:4 NCV)  Happy is the person who trusts the LORD, who doesn't turn to those who are proud or to those who worship false gods.

(Prov 16:20 NCV)  Whoever listens to what is taught will succeed, and whoever trusts the LORD will be happy.

The Lord is powerful, perfect, just and in control. The Almighty and just God has the power bring to pass whatever he wishes. So then, if we commit our ways to him and walk in his will, he will bring it to pass and that will bring joy to our hearts when it happens.

(Rev 1:8 NCV)  The Lord God says, "I am the Alpha and the Omega. I am the One who is and was and is coming. I am the Almighty."

(Mat 5:48 KJV)  Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

(Psa 11:7 NIV)  For the LORD is righteous, he loves justice; upright men will see his face.

(Psa 37:5 KJV)  Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

(Isa 42:9 NCV)  The things I said would happen have happened, and now I tell you about new things. Before those things happen, I tell you about them."


We need to be sure and rejoice when God brings good things into our lives. If we could fall into the same sin as the Israelites in the wilderness, grumbling and complaining which brings a curse to our lives.

(Psa 92:4 NIV)  For you make me glad by your deeds, O LORD; I sing for joy at the works of your hands.

(Psa 118:15 NIV)  Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: "The Lord's right hand has done mighty things

(Psa 126:2 NIV)  Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them."

(Psa 126:3 NIV)  The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.


(Psa 2:12 NCV)  Show that you are loyal to his son, or you will be destroyed by his anger, because he can quickly become angry. But happy are those who trust him for protection.

(Psa 5:11 NCV)  But let everyone who trusts you be happy; let them sing glad songs forever. Protect those who love you and who are happy because of you.

(Psa 84:12 NCV)  LORD All-Powerful, happy are the people who trust you!
(Psa 34:5 NCV)  Those who go to him for help are happy, and they are never disgraced.

(Psa 5:11 NIV)  But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you.

(Psa 64:10 NIV)  Let the righteous rejoice in the LORD and take refuge in him; let all the upright in heart praise him!

(Rom 5:3 NCV)  We also have joy with our troubles, because we know that these troubles produce patience.

(Rom 12:12 NIV)  Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

(Col 1:11-12 NIV)  being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.

(James 1:2 NIV)  Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,

(James 1:12 NCV)  When people are tempted and still continue strong, they should be happy. After they have proved their faith, God will reward them with life forever. God promised this to all those who love him.

(James 5:13 NCV)  Anyone who is having troubles should pray. Anyone who is happy should sing praises.
Have Faith During Times of Worry

(Psa 94:19 NCV)  I was very worried, but you comforted me and made me happy.


People who are hard headed and out of control bring misery upon themselves. Those who behave in a decent manner, Honoring and respecting those who deserve it will have a longer and happier life.

(Rom 13:7 NIV)  Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

(Prov 28:14 NCV)  Those who are always respectful will be happy, but those who are stubborn will get into trouble.

(Exo 20:12 KJV)  Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

(Deu 5:16 NCV)  "Honor your father and your mother as the LORD your God has commanded you. Then you will live a long time, and things will go well for you in the land that the LORD your God is going to give you.

(Eph 6:2-3 NIV)  "Honor your father and mother"--which is the first commandment with a promise-- "that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth."

(1 Tim 5:17 NIV)  The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.

(1 Pet 2:17 NCV)  Show respect for all people: Love the brothers and sisters of God's family, respect God, honor the king.


The falsehood has developed down through the centuries that one must experience some evil in order to understand it better and deal with it. This has been used as an excuse for wild behavior in ones younger years and excused as just “sowing some wild oats.” This type of thinking has brought lifetimes of sorrow to many people. It only takes one illicit encounter to be infected with AIDS. Recreational drug use can quickly lead some people to cocaine, crack, crank, speed or heroin addiction. Dabbling in the occult can lead to demonic possession. We do not need to experience evil to understand it is evil any more than we need to suffer a broken leg to know it hurts. Avoid becoming entangled in any type of evil and you will save yourself from many sorrows. Avoiding sorrow leads toward happiness and joy.

(Rom 16:19 NIV)  Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I am full of joy over you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil.

(1 Cor 13:6 NIV)  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

(1 Pet 3:10 NCV)  The Scripture says, "A person must do these things to enjoy life and have many happy days. He must not say evil things, and he must not tell lies.

(Psa 32:10 KJV)  Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about.

(1 Tim 6:10-12 KJV)  For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.


We should learn, like Paul to be happy in all types of circumstances. We should be happy that we have food to eat and for everything that god has blessed us with.

(Psa 128:2 KJV)  For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.

(Acts 14:17 NCV)  Yet he proved he is real by showing kindness, by giving you rain from heaven and crops at the right times, by giving you food and filling your hearts with joy."

(Eccl 5:19 NIV)  Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work--this is a gift of God.

(Luke 3:14 NIV)  Then some soldiers asked him, "And what should we do?" He replied, "Don't extort money and don't accuse people falsely--be content with your pay."

(Phil 4:11-12 NIV)  I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.

(1 Tim 6:7-8 NIV)  For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.

(Phil 4:12 NCV)  I know how to live when I am poor, and I know how to live when I have plenty. I have learned the secret of being happy at any time in everything that happens, when I have enough to eat and when I go hungry, when I have more than I need and when I do not have enough.

(Job 1:21 NCV)  He said: "I was naked when I was born, and I will be naked when I die. The LORD gave these things to me, and he has taken them away. Praise the name of the LORD."

(Psa 41:1 NCV)  Happy is the person who thinks about the poor. When trouble comes, the LORD will save him.

(Prov 14:21 KJV)  He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.

(Mat 5:7 NCV)  Those who show mercy to others are happy, because God will show mercy to them.

Working For Peace Brings Happiness

(Mat 5:9 NCV)  Those who work to bring peace are happy, because God will call them his children

(Prov 12:20 NCV)  Those who plan evil are full of lies, but those who plan peace are happy.

(Psa 42:4 NIV)  These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go with the multitude, leading the procession to the house of God, with shouts of joy and thanksgiving among the festive throng.

(Psa 43:4 NIV)  Then will I go to the altar of God, to God, my joy and my delight. I will praise you with the harp, O God, my God.

(Psa 122:1 NIV)  A song of ascents. Of David. I rejoiced with those who said to me, "Let us go to the house of the LORD."

(Psa 84:4 NCV)  Happy are the people who live at your Temple; they are always praising you. Selah
(Prov 11:10 NIV)  When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices; when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.

(Prov 29:6 NCV)  Evil people are trapped by their own sin, but good people can sing and be happy.

(Prov 29:2 NIV)  When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan.

(Prov 21:15 NIV)  When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers.


(Prov 23:16 NIV)  my inmost being will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.

(2 John 1:4 NIV)  It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us.

(3 John 1:-43 NIV)  It gave me great joy to have some brothers come and tell about your faithfulness to the truth and how you continue to walk in the truth. Nothing gives me greater joy than to hear that my children are following the way of truth.


(Luke 1:58 NIV)  Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy.


Even unbelievers know that a sweet smelling home brings cheer. That is why there are so many air fresheners sold at the grocery store. Think of that every time you go past them in the aisle while shopping. Make your home smell clean and sweet for a happier life.

(Prov 27:9 NIV)  Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of one's friend springs from his earnest counsel.


(Psa 33:12 NCV)  Happy is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his very own.

(Psa 67:4 NIV)  May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you rule the peoples justly and guide the nations of the earth. Selah

(Joel 2:21 KJV)  Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great things.


Not only does God want us to be happy and joyous, he wants us to be free. Free from worry, free from anxiety, free from care, free from sin, free from bondage, free to live a happy life.

(Psa 111:9 NCV)  He sets his people free. He made his agreement everlasting. He is holy and wonderful.

(Luke 1:68 NCV)  "Let us praise the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come to help his people and has given them freedom.

(2 Cor 3:17 NIV)  Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

(Gal 1:4 NCV)  Jesus gave himself for our sins to free us from this evil world we live in, as God the Father planned.

(Gal 5:1 NIV)  It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

(1 Tim 2:6 NCV)  He gave himself as a payment to free all people.


(Rom 3:24 NCV)  and all need to be made right with God by his grace, which is a free gift. They need to be made free from sin through Jesus Christ.

(Eph 1:7 NCV)  In Christ we are set free by the blood of his death, and so we have forgiveness of sins. How rich is God's grace,

(Eph 3:12 NCV)  In Christ we can come before God with freedom and without fear. We can do this through faith in Christ.


(John 8:32 NIV)  Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

(James 1:25 NCV)  But the truly happy people are those who carefully study God's perfect law that makes people free, and they continue to study it.

(Psa 119:32 NIV)  I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free.

(Psa 119:45 NCV)  So I will live in freedom, because I want to follow your orders.

Prayer To The Lord In Times Of Trouble Can Set Us Free

(Psa 118:5 NCV)  I was in trouble, so I called to the LORD. The LORD answered me and set me free.

(Psa 129:4 NIV)  But the LORD is righteous; he has cut me free from the cords of the wicked.


(John 8:33-36 NIV)  They answered him, "We are Abraham's descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?" Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

(Rom 6:20 NIV)  When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness.

(2 Pet 2:19 NIV)  They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity--for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him.

(James 1:27 NCV)  Religion that God accepts as pure and without fault is this: caring for orphans or widows who need help, and keeping yourself free from the world's evil influence.

(Acts 13:38 NCV)  Brothers, understand what we are telling you: You can have forgiveness of your sins through Jesus. The law of Moses could not free you from your sins. But through Jesus everyone who believes is free from all sins.

(Rom 7:4 NCV)  In the same way, my brothers and sisters, your old selves died, and you became free from the law through the body of Christ. This happened so that you might belong to someone else--the One who was raised from the dead--and so that we might be used in service to God.

(Gal 5:1 NCV)  We have freedom now, because Christ made us free. So stand strong. Do not change and go back into the slavery of the law.

(Heb 9:15 NIV)  For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance--now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.

(Col 1:22 NIV)  But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation--


(Heb 10:22 NCV)  let us come near to God with a sincere heart and a sure faith, because we have been made free from a guilty conscience, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.


We are free from sin in two ways through Christ. First of all we are free from its effect of separating us from God forever. Secondly, if we walk in the Spirit we can be free from continual, habitual sin, even though we may slip up once in awhile, we do have to live continually under the power and bondage of sin in this life.

(1 Cor 1:30 NCV)  Because of God you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God. In Christ we are put right with God, and have been made holy, and have been set free from sin.

(Col 1:13 NCV)  God has freed us from the power of darkness, and he brought us into the kingdom of his dear Son.

(Titus 2:14 NCV)  He gave himself for us so he might pay the price to free us from all evil and to make us pure people who belong only to him--people who are always wanting to do good deeds.

(Heb 9:12 NCV)  Christ entered the Most Holy Place only once--and for all time.  He did not take with him the blood of goats and calves. His sacrifice was his own blood, and by it he set us free from sin forever.

(Rev 1:5 NIV)  and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood,

Like a person who has just been freed from prison needs to avoid crime, as believers we need to avoid again becoming entangled in perpetual habitual sin, or we will once again be in bondage to sin. When God frees us from a problem in our life and we intentionally go back to it, it is even more difficult to become free from it again. In the back of our minds we know that we failed to keep on with our freedom and it is difficult to start again. It is similar to being on a diet and losing some weight and then going on an eating binge and gaining it all back. Once that happens it is hard to get the incentive to diet and exercise again and get back to where we were. It is the same with sin. If the Lord delivers us from some bad habit or character flaw, such as anger or greed or over drinking or drug addiction or over smoking and we go back to it again, it is even worse to quit again the next time around. So, once we are free we need to stay free. We won’t lose our salvation by falling into sin, as some teach, but we will lose our ability to be an effective witness for Christ, which is Satan’s will for us, and we will lose rewards at the judgment seat of Christ for all of the good that we could have done but didn’t do because we were entangled in sin.

(Rom 6:18 NIV)  You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.

(Gal 5:1 KJV)  Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

(Gal 5:13 NIV)  You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature ; rather, serve one another in love.

(Mat 12:43-45 NIV)  "When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, 'I will return to the house I left.' When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first.


(John 8:36 KJV)  If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.


We need to consider ourselves dead to sin in a spiritual sense in this life and at the same time know that eventually physical death will completely free us from sin.

(Rom 6:7 KJV)  For he that is dead is freed from sin.

(Rom 8:2 NIV)  because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.

(Gal 2:4 NIV)  This matter arose because some false brothers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves.

(Gal 3:1-3 NIV)  You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?

(Prov 11:6 NCV)  Doing right brings freedom to honest people, but those who are not trustworthy will be caught by their own desires

(Rom 13:3 NIV)  For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you.


(Cor 8:9 NIV)  Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak.

My former Pastor explained the meaning of this verse one time in a sermon and the explanation stuck with me. In a nutshell he said, that though he was free to drink a beer while cutting the grass, he would not do so, nor would he ever drink again, not because it was a sin for him to have an occasional beer or a glass of fine wine with his wife while enjoying fine dining at a fancy restaurant. His reason for not ever drinking again was this; that due to the fact that some members of the congregation were battling alcohol addiction, and some had not drank in years but were always on the edge of being tempted to have a drink, he did not want to be a stumbling block to them with his freedom. If one of the congregation who had the problem were to see him in the yard cooking out on the grill and drinking a beer they might say in their minds, if the pastor can have a few beers then why can’t I? The difference being that because of their problem, they can’t have just a few, after one drink they drink until they get drunk and may even go on a binge that lasts for weeks months or even years. For this reason he gave up alcohol altogether, for the good of others. Now I’m not saying that we all have to do that. But, if God has promoted a person to a high position in the church then they should be a good example for everyone who looks up to them. To whom much is given, much is required. The higher the position the greater the responsibility before man and before God.

(Luke 12:48 NCV)  From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded. And from the one trusted with much, much more will be expected.

(Rom 13:13 NIV)  Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.

(Eph 5:18 NCV)  Do not be drunk with wine, which will ruin you, but be filled with the Spirit.

If a weak brother or sister with a drinking problem were to get drunk due to his (the pastors) influence then they would be falling into sin because of his actions, and he did not want that to be the case. To do so would not be following the law of love toward the brothers and sisters in Christ.

(Gal 5:13 NCV)  My brothers and sisters, God called you to be free, but do not use your freedom as an excuse to do what pleases your sinful self. Serve each other with love.


(Rom 6:22 NIV)  But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.

(2 Cor 7:1 NCV)  Dear friends, we have these promises from God, so we should make ourselves pure--free from anything that makes body or soul unclean. We should try to become holy in the way we live, because we respect God.

(1 Pet 2:16 NIV)  Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.


(Eph 4:30 NCV)  And do not make the Holy Spirit sad. The Spirit is God's proof that you belong to him. God gave you the Spirit to show that God will make you free when the final day comes.

(Rom 8:21 NIV)  that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.


(Psa 100:1 KJV)  A Psalm of praise. Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.

(Psa 95:2 KJV)  Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.

(Psa 95:1 KJV)  O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.
Singing Is A Sign Of Joy

(Psa 33:1 NIV)  Sing joyfully to the LORD, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him.

(Psa 68:4 NIV)  Sing to God, sing praise to his name, extol him who rides on the clouds -- his name is the LORD-- and rejoice before him.

(Psa 81:1 NCV)  Sing for joy to God, our strength; shout out loud to the God of Jacob.

(Psa 100:2 NCV)  Serve the LORD with joy; come before him with singing.

(Psa 132:16 NIV)  I will clothe her priests with salvation, and her saints will ever sing for joy.

(Psa 149:5 NIV)  Let the saints rejoice in this honor and sing for joy on their beds.

(Psa 9:2 NCV)  I will be happy because of you; God Most High, I will sing praises to your name.
(Isa 65:14 NIV)  My servants will sing out of the joy of their hearts,
 


( Psa 90:14 NIV)  Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.

(Psa 118:24 KJV)  This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

( Psa 89:15 NCV)  Happy are the people who know how to praise you. LORD, let them live in the light of your presence.


(Psa 98:4 NIV)  Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music;

(Psa 47:5 NIV)  God has ascended amid shouts of joy, the LORD amid the sounding of trumpets.

(Psa 132:9 KJV)  Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness; and let thy saints shout for joy.



(1 Chr 16:31 NIV)  Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let them say among the nations, "The LORD reigns

(1 Chr 16:32-33 NCV)  Let the sea and everything in it shout; let the fields and everything in them rejoice. Then the trees of the forest will sing for joy before the LORD. They will sing because he is coming to judge the world.

(Psa 66:1 NCV)  Everything on earth, shout with joy to God!

(Psa 96:11-12 NIV)  Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it; let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy;

(Psa 97:1 NIV)  The LORD reigns, let the earth be glad; let the distant shores rejoice.

(Psa 98:4 KJV)  Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.

(Psa 98:5-9 NIV)  make music to the LORD with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing, with trumpets and the blast of the ram's horn-- shout for joy before the LORD, the King. Let the sea resound, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it. Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy; let them sing before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples with equity.

(Isa 44:23 NIV)  Sing for joy, O heavens, for the LORD has done this; shout aloud, O earth beneath. Burst into song, you mountains, you forests and all your trees, for the LORD has redeemed Jacob, he displays his glory in Israel.

(Isa 49:13 NIV)  Shout for joy, O heavens; rejoice, O earth; burst into song, O mountains! For the LORD comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.

(Isa 55:12 NIV)  You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.

(Luke 19:37-40 NIV)  When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!" Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples!" "I tell you," he replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out."


( Job 38:7 NCV)  while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted with joy?

(Luke 15:7 NIV)  I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

(Luke 15:10 NIV)  In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

(Heb 12:22 NIV)  But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly,


If God rejoices over us, the saved with singing then surely we should follow his example and do the same.

(Zep 3:17 NIV)  The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing."


Even if we have nothing else in our lives to be joyful about we can still rejoice because our God is righteous and that someday everything will work out for our good if we are saved. Just think how horrible it would be if the all powerful supreme being, the most powerful being in the universe were Satan. In that case we would have nothing but misery to look forward to for all eternity because Satan loves to see human beings in misery. This is so because God created us (human beings) to replace Satan and his angels as masters of the earth after Satan’s fall, and he (Satan) is full of jealousy and envy over us and wants us all destroyed. Praise God that through Jesus Christ Satan has been defeated and we are on the road to eternal happiness, even if we have not arrived at the end of our journey yet, it is not far away for any of us. The oldest living person on the earth at any given time is about 125 years old, so none of us are more than 125 minus our age from total happiness, joyfulness and freedom.

(Psa 97:12 NIV)  Rejoice in the LORD, you who are righteous, and praise his holy name.

(Psa 89:16 NIV)  They rejoice in your name all day long; they exult in your righteousness.

(Psa 144:15 KJV)  Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the LORD.

(Isa 30:18 NCV)  The LORD wants to show his mercy to you. He wants to rise and comfort you. The LORD is a fair God, and everyone who waits for his help will be happy.

(Rom 8:28 NIV)  And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.


At the present time, at least in the United States we really don’t have to do much suffering for Jesus. We may have a little social embarrassment sometimes but at least it is still legal to go to and worship in a Christian Church. But, the time is coming in the near future during the tribulation period when that may not be the case. It may not be legal at that time to be a Christian. Enjoy the freedom we have now and mentally prepare yourself for the time when we may have to meet in secret to study God’s word together, and suffer for it if we are caught. Some churches and people may even have their property confiscated as was happening during the early days of the church.

(Acts 5:41 NCV)  The apostles left the meeting full of joy because they were given the honor of suffering disgrace for Jesus.

(1 Pet 3:14 KJV)  But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;

(1 Pet 4:13 NIV)  But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.

(Heb 10:34 NIV)  You sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions.

(1 Th 1:6 NCV)  And you became like us and like the Lord. You suffered much, but still you accepted the teaching with the joy that comes from the Holy Spirit.


(1 Pet 1:8 NIV)  Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy,

(Rev 1:3 NCV)  Happy is the one who reads the words of God's message, and happy are the people who hear this message and do what is written in it. The time is near when all of this will happen.

(Luke 14:15 NCV)  One of those at the table with Jesus heard these things and said to him, "Happy are the people who will share in the meal in God's kingdom."

(Rev 19:7-9 NIV)  Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear." (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.) Then the angel said to me, "Write: 'Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!'" And he added, "These are the true words of God."

(Rev 22:12 NCV)  "Listen! I am coming soon! I will bring my reward with me, and I will repay each one of you for what you have done.


We have shown in this work God intends for us to be happy, joyous, and free, and that we can determine his will for us by following the path that leads us to that destination.

The true test of determining God’s will for our lives is in the long term, eternity. This is the test of determining God’s will. Ask yourself when facing a decision, will this thing I want to do increase my happiness throughout eternity? Will it be something I will be proud of when I stand before the judgment seat of Christ. Will he (Christ) say to me, “Well Done Thou Good and faithful servant” because I did it? If yes, do it. If no, don’t do it. If undecided, pray about it some more.

(Mat 25:21 KJV)  His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

A good rule of thumb is that when faced with difficult choices and seeking to do God’s will then use the principle of doing whatever is best for being a good witness for Christ and promoting the great commission as the deciding factor. It may not really matter what color car we drive or what type of furniture we buy but when deciding on who to date or marry, whether or not to marry at all, what school to attend, what job to take, where to live, what church to serve in, and any major decision, the thought of “what is best for my being a good witness for Christ” can help clarify the situation and make a decision easier. And remember, God wants us to be happy, Joyous, and Free, both in this life, and in the life to come.




Very briefly, everyone who ever has or will ever make it into God’s Kingdom will have been saved by faith in the Messiah, Jesus Christ. Many before his first coming never knew is name as Jesus Christ. They only knew and believed by faith that God Would someday send a Redeemer, a Messiah, a Christ, to save them from both spiritual and physical problems. They had Faith in an unknown un-named Jesus Christ. The promise of a Saviour began in Genesis right after mans fall into sin and salvation by faith in this promise has been available from the time of Adam and Eve onward up until This promised Messiah, Saviour and Redeemer was revealed as Jesus Christ about 2000 years ago.

We no longer have the option of just believing in some un-named coming redeemer for salvation. This option vanishes for every person the moment they hear, read or have the Gospel presented to them in some manner. From that point on they must make a choice. This is so because Jesus said;

(John 10:24-29 NCV) The Jews gathered around him and said, "How long will you make us wonder about you? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly." Jesus answered, "I told you already, but you did not believe. The miracles I do in my Father's name show who I am. But you don't believe, because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never die, and no one can steal them out of my hand. My Father gave my sheep to me. He is greater than all, and no person can steal my sheep out of my Father's hand.

Since Jesus returned to Heaven whenever anyone hears the Gospel the Holy Spirit is there to open the minds and hearts of those who are hearing it to the fact that it is the truth. Anyone who rejects the Gospel upon having it presented to it simply show that they are not willing to accept the truth and be saved.
You can be saved right now, in the next few moments by simply praying sincerely to God the Father and to Jesus Christ the simple prayer below.

Heavenly Father, Lord Jesus Christ; I know I am a sinner. Please come into my life and save me and forgive me all of my sins and make me into the kind of person you want me to be. I’m trusting only in Jesus Christ for my salvation and I ask this prayer in his name. Thank You Lord for Saving me, Amen.
That's all there is to it. Now tell someone about it. Read your Bible. Get Baptized. Discover your Spiritual Gifts and Talents. Find a good church and volunteer to serve in some manner according to your gifts and talents.
You may ask, How do I find a good church. That's easy. Find one where people are being saved or at least an invitation is given for salvation through Jesus Christ in every service and you will be in a good church.

(John 7:14-17 NCV) When the feast was about half over, Jesus went to the Temple and began to teach. The Jews were amazed and said, "This man has never studied in school. How did he learn so much?" Jesus answered, "The things I teach are not my own, but they come from him who sent me. If people choose to do what God wants, they will know that my teaching comes from God and not from me.

If you begin to serve the Lord and do his will you will understand more and more with certainty the truth of teaching and doctrines of Jesus Christ. If you ever doubt your salvation, refer to the verse below, and remember, God cannot lie, it is true, and will always be true if you meet the qualifications in the verse below.

(Rom 10:9 NKJV) that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

(Titus 1:2 NKJV) in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began,