Dustin has been receiving devotions from a friend he grew up with in FL and I felt this one was too good not to share...Enjoy!
"All the days of the afflicted are evil, But he who is of a merry heart has a continual feast."Proverbs 15:15
First things first, "Happiness" is a choice. It is a choice that we make everyday, to be happy or to be angry, sad or depressed. As Christians, believers in God and His word, we should never fear or revere anything that this world brings against us. There have been times in my life where I have lost site of this and chose to be sad, chose to be "the victim" or whatever. But there has been times when I have stood tall and secure in what God has planned for me, His blessings and the comfort that only He can give. And what a difference it made in my life! How different we feel when we take on circumstances with a smile, trust God and be a light to those who sit in the dark.We are supposed to be different, right? Has anyone every come up to you said, "Wow, how did you do that?" or "How did you handle that? Why didn't you get upset? You had all the right to yell and scream and be angry or upset!" Set yourself apart, God is your provider!1 Thessalonians 5:18 tells us to be thankful for everything, because what we encounter is all part of God's will. It goes beyond being happy or content in what you are doing or where you are at, but being thankful! My challenge to you is to make the decision to be thankful in everything. Your job, your relationships, your financial situation, every aspect of your life, just thank God today for it all. If you are grateful for what you have you cannot concentrate on the lacking that Satan tries to plant in our emotions.
