January 2016 1st of the Month Series on Character by Steve the son of John

How To Stay Happy?

Somebody has said there are only two kinds of people in the world. There are those who wake up in the morning and say, "Good morning, Lord," and there are those who wake up in the morning and say, "Good Lord, it’s morning.”

What do you do to plan for a happy day?

Here are some suggestions from friends in order to be happy:

· I believe that I can be happy, “Happy is the person whose God is the Lord.” (Quote from Psalms)

· Playing praise and worship music when I am in my car/house.

· I do something nice for myself each day. Often it is only something small like an extra 10 minutes in a hot tube, purchase my favorite kind of gum, or read a portion of a book with no one around.

· Praying Scriptures, traditional prayers, or in the Spirit daily.

· I’ll watch a feel good movie, one filled with laughter/joy/hope.

· Finding intimacy with the Lord and people brings me happiness.

· If I feel depression coming, I start laughing out loud at the devil. If you’re laughing at the devil it is because the "joy of the Lord is your strength"!

· I like to get up early while it is still really dark and quiet, anytime after midnight before dawn, to listen with a clear mind and heart to receive my daily word from the Lord.

· I stay happy by not turning on the news when I get home. I want my family to bring me happiness and I make time for that.

· I like to be outside with different temperatures, wind, sounds of nature to see the stars, reminding me I am not in control, God is. He is at peace and I can have his peace by casting all my cares on him.

· I purposely remind myself that what I do not get done today, I can do it tomorrow.

· I remind myself that I am an overcomer not by might, not by strength but by His spirit in turning all my fears and doubts into faith and confidence in Jesus.

· I give “Thank you Lord!” statements each day and rejoice in the little things not just the big things during each day.

· I make up my mind to be happy—I do not wait for circumstances to make me happy.

· Helping others brings happiness/peace/and joy for me each day.

· I take time to listen to God. I get quiet and stay calm and wait for God to bring me success and joy.

· I take a 20-minute walk each morning as the sun comes up with my dogs. I pray and think about my day. I try and let the Holy Spirit tell me what I need to do or not to do. In short, I try to get my head and heart around the day God is giving to me.

· I call up a friend that I have not spoken too for a while to just talk and ‘catch-up’.

· I remind God to be ‘in charge’ and offer Him my life to do as He pleases that day.

· I believe—I state what I believe in each day—I tell God who He is and what He has done.

· I tell people that I love them.

· I say from memory a favorite saying or Scripture—this helps me not to be unhappy when things are not going well.

· I just stop and catch myself when I am becoming sad or discouraged. I cannot get things done unless I have happiness inside of me helping to do so.

· I avoid unhappy or negative people. I do not want them to ‘drag me down’.

· I have to laugh at myself. This gets me on track to be happy again.

· I live for the day, not for tomorrow or next year looking for happiness.

“God, grant me your happiness; the happiness that causes me to be happy!”

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

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