The Source of Happiness—July 25 Bible Reading Plan

The Source of Happiness

Life can bum us out, right? Especially today when it feels like the world is cray-cray. But if we are looking to be cheered up by anything this world offers, it will be temporary. The source of happiness is found in only one place.

Happiness does not just happen—it is chosen. But before we choose happiness, we need to find it. And in our reading today, the Psalmist gives us the answer to the source of happiness. Happiness cannot be found in the creation, but it can be found in a relationship with our Creator.

Bible Reading of the Day: Psalms 84-86

What do you long for, friends? What if our longings are in the wrong place? Proverbs 13:12 says, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.” Proverbs 13:12 (NIV) Our hearts grow weary when our longing is unfulfilled.

Overview of Today’s Reading

In today’s reading, Psalm 84 is about how the Psalmist’s unfulfilled longing. God’s restoration takes center stage in Psalm 85, followed by a lament and petition or prayer in Psalm 86.

The Source of Happiness is Found When We Yearn For God

Psalm 84:1-4, “How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord of Armies. 2 I long and yearn for the courts of the Lord; my heart and flesh cry out for the living God. 3 Even a sparrow finds a home, and a swallow, a nest for herself where she places her young—near your altars, Lord of Armies, my King and my God. 4 How happy are those who reside in your house, who praise you continually. Selah.”

The Source of Happiness is Found When Our Strength is in God

Psalm 85:5-7, 10-12, “5 Happy are the people whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage. 6 As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a source of spring water; even the autumn rain will cover it with blessings. 7 They go from strength to strength; each appears before God in Zion.10 Better a day in your courts than a thousand anywhere else. I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God than live in the tents of wicked people. 11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield. The Lord grants favor and honor; he does not withhold the good from those who live with integrity. 12 Happy is the person who trusts in you, Lord of Armies!”

The Source of Happiness is Found as We Yearn for God.

David longs and yearns after God. Psalm 84:2, “I long and yearn for the courts of the Lord; my heart and flesh cry out for the living God.” What are we yearning for, friends? When our yearning and hungering are in the right place, we find what it is we are really looking for—happiness. We aren’t looking anymore for happiness from things that cannot provide it.

The Source of Happiness is found by those who reside with God.

• “How happy are those who reside in your house, who praise you continually.” (v4)
• When we drift away from the purpose of our creation, knowing God and abiding in His fellowship, we are burdened by this world.
• We lose focus when we spend more time with the things of this world than the Maker of this world.
• We can stay in His presence, friends. This is what gives us joy.

The Source of Happiness is Found When we Stay on Mission

“Happy are the people whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.” (Psalm 84:5). What are your hearts set on this morning? Outcomes? Circumstances? Something we desperately yearn for? These other things distract us from staying on mission. It is when we do what we were created to do that we find joy.

The Source of Happiness is Found When We Trust in God

“Happy is the person who trusts in you, Lord of Armies!” (v. 12) Do we trust that God can truly satisfy? My 21-year-old son, Daniel, asked some friends to do a Bible study with him recently. They said that would be boring. Time with God was labeled as being boring. Truly, no one has tasted and seen that the LORD is good if they think time with God is boring. And when God is our portion and joy, we realize that trying to get joy out of things or people set us up to fail. When Christ is our joy, we are able to bring joy to others.

Why God is the Source of Happiness

In Psalm 85 the Psalmist shares just a few of the reasons why we can be happy in our relationship with God. “Lord, you showed favor to your land; you restored the fortunes of Jacob. 2 You forgave your people’s guilt; you covered all their sin. Selah 3 You withdrew all your fury; you turned from your burning anger.”

• God has given us favor where we didn’t deserve favor.
• And God has forgiven us when we were His enemies.
• He has covered our guilt and all of our sin. All!!!
• He withdrew all of His anger toward our sin.
• There is such a joy when we have been forgiven, right?

The Source of Happiness is Found When We Do Not Have a Divided Heart

Our hearts are divided when we search for happiness in the creation rather than in the Creator. Happiness does not flow from a divided heart. Because there are many distractions, it can be easy to be divided. Despite this temptation, being divided makes us miserable. When we are no longer divided, our joy returns. And when we put Christ first in our lives, life makes sense.

Scripture of the Day: Psalm 86:11

“Teach me your way, LORD, and I will live by your truth. Give me an undivided mind to fear your name.”

Application

• Guys, don’t let this world divide or separate you from God, the Lover of your souls.
• Don’t search for happiness in the creation. Search for happiness in God’s word.
• We cannot be faithful when our heart is divided.
• When we do what we were created to do, we find joy.
• We lose focus when we spend more time with the things of this world than the Maker of this world.
• We find joy when we stay in His presence.
• When our yearning and hungering is in the right place, we find what it is we are really looking for—happiness.
• But we aren’t looking anymore for happiness from things that cannot provide it.

7-Fold One-Year Bible Reading Plan

Day #207: Psalms 84-86

Scripture of the Day: Psalm 85:8-9

Listen: https://www.biblegateway.com/audio/mclean/niv/Ps.84

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