5 Verses to Pray When You Want to Live Happy

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I know it’s impossible to live happy 100% of the time.

Bad things happen, people are cruel, relationships end and happiness fades.

And even when you and I are trying our best to do everything “right” … a choice made by someone else has the ability to turn our happiness into pain.

Yet, I still believe God wants His children to be happy … not entitled, not indulged, not spoiled rotten, but happy. Good parents don’t give their children everything they want. They allow them to live out the consequences of their poor choices. They don’t give them cake and ice cream at every meal nor do they take them to Disneyland every day.

But that doesn’t mean they don’t want their children to be happy.

They do!

They just care more about the long-term happiness of the children than they do about their momentary pleasure.

I don’t know about you, but I can act like a pouty indulged child sometimes … moments when I focus on what I want more rather than on what I already have.

I want to be more like Sadie.

Our Cavapoo, Sadie, was sick earlier this year and due to that illness, she will have to be on prescription dog food and treats for the rest of her life. No tastes of “people” food or bites of her former favorites.

Every meal and every treat tastes exactly the same every day … and it will forever!

But Rev and I get the giggles every time we feed her. You would think she was getting a gourmet steak dinner the way she dances around the room completely delighted with life!

If only I could be more like Sadie and less like the Children of Israel…

The people grew impatient with the long journey, and they began to speak against God and Moses. “Why have you brought us out of Egypt to die here in the wilderness?” they complained. “There is nothing to eat here and nothing to drink. And we hate this horrible manna!”

Numbers 21:4–5

God had rescued them from slavery and was providing for them each day but rather than choosing to count their blessings and live contented and happy, they grumbled and complained.

So, I’m going to God today and asking Him to help me count my blessings and focus on the fact that He is a generous and loving Father. Because He is the reason we can live happy whatever the circumstances.

Will you pray with me?

5 Verses to Pray When You Need to Live Happy

“God loved the world so much that He gave His one and only Son so that whoever believes in Him may not be lost, but have eternal life. God did not send His Son into the world to judge the world guilty, but to save the world through Him.”

John 3:16–17 (NCV)

Father, You not only knew my greatest need but You provided Jesus to meet that need. I was lost and broken by sin, selfish and without hope. And even after You saved me from slavery to sin, I can still be like the grumbling Israelites. But still, You forgive me again and again.

Your love overwhelms me! If You never gave me another thing, the gift of Jesus would be enough! Through Him I have life. Through Him I am free.

Happy is the person
    whose sins are forgiven,
    whose wrongs are pardoned.
Happy is the person
    whom the Lord does not consider guilty
    and in whom there is nothing false.

Psalm 32:1–2 (NCV)

Father, You forgive me! You forgive my grumbling and complaining. You forgive my selfishness and foolishness. Because of Jesus, I can bring all of my guilt and shame to You and receive the blessing of unconditional love and forgiveness. You don’t see my guilt and shame. You see Your Son in me making me clean and redeemed.

Happy is the person whose sins are forgiven! Thank you!

Give me understanding and I will obey Your instructions; I will put them into practice with all my heart. Make me walk along the path of Your commands, for that is where my happiness is found.

Psalm 119:34–35

Father, by Your grace and with the help of Your Spirit, please help me SEEK to know, trust, and obey Your will. Give me wisdom and understanding to know what to do, when to do it, and when to stay out of the way and leave it to You.

I will study Your Word to know Your commands. I will follow wherever You lead me – trusting that You will always go with me, giving me whatever I need one day at a time. And having what I need each day … that is where true happiness is found. Please help me remember and appreciate all I have in You that I might live happy for Your glory.

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:38–39

Father, Your love is my source of joy and happiness. That is Your will for me. And this promise, that nothing, absolutely nothing, can separate me from Your love gives me peace and everything I need to live with hope.

I am Yours no matter what I’m worried about or what frightens me. I am Yours no matter what happens. Thank you, Father. In You, I am secure today, tomorrow, and always and that is the perfect reason for me to live happy. By Your grace, help me keep my eyes on You.

Be happy in your faith at all times. Never stop praying. Be thankful, whatever the circumstances may be. If you follow this advice you will be working out the will of God expressed to you in Jesus Christ.

1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 (Phillips)

Father, forgive me for failing to celebrate my faith each day. It’s so easy for me to get distracted by stuff and people and circumstances. Once again, I come to You in prayer, thanking You for Your grace, mercy, and love. You have walked with me through painful and difficult times. You have forgiven me and given me strength and indescribable peace. Thank you!

Please help me live happy in ways that give You glory. Help me be so happy in You that others want to know You … my source of peace and joy! In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

It's impossible to live happy 100% of the time. With God's help, we can rest in His truth and trust His promises having everything we need to live with hope. #Faith #Hope #WWGGG #CountingMyBlessings #LiveHappy

Something I’ve realized lately is that many of my attitude issues have to do with my perspective.

Before you get the wrong idea … you need to know that my life is far from perfect. I have relationships that are not even close to what I’d like them to be. I have family members struggling with difficult health issues. I have aches and pains that gnaw at me. And plenty of additional things that nip at me trying to get me to settle in to worry and anxiety.

But God…

Two of my favorite words … words that speak a life-changing truth for people of faith.

But God:

  • loves.
  • forgives.
  • delivers.
  • strengthens.
  • comforts.
  • cares.
  • provides.
  • guides.
  • helps.
  • renews.
  • transforms.

God gives us hope.

And the hope He gives changes everything!

When you and I have hope, we can count on the truth that whatever is happening in our lives today, whatever is not perfect, whatever is painful, whatever is missing … God is able to give us everything we need because He is faithful to keep His promises.

Promises like…

My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; He is mine forever.

Psalm 73:26

And…

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and He will give you everything you need.

Luke 12:31

Everything includes all we need to live happy!

God bless you! Have a wonderful day in the Lord!

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16 Comments

  1. Phyllis Sullivan says:

    I opened this email tonight to see WHY I was getting it. I was about to try to stop it. It keeps turning up and I don’t know why, but GOD…used your words and these very Scriptures to fill a hole in my heart tonight.
    Thank you so much for your faithfulness! and for your ministry to me.

    1. Oh, Phyllis, what a kind and encouraging comment. Thank you for blessing me with this. You made my day! God bless you!

  2. Norman Haslop says:

    Looking to God for His constant, consistent seeking to have me know Him and His mercy and Love – not only for me, but for all His children has been helping me more every day. I find happiness and joy when I see His hand in all the events of the day. Thanks, Deb, for your faith and insight.

    1. Thank you, Norman! I so appreciate your kind encouragement! I love the way you said – “I find happiness and joy when I see His hand in all the events of the day!” Amen! God bless you!

  3. Denise Anderson-Wetrich says:

    Deb, I’m curious. I agree and understand what you say the Bible tells us about having hope and faith in God, and the verse that reminds us God is our strength and he will be with us for all eternity so we should be happy in that knowledge. However, how is that cause enough now—here on earth-for people struggling through Horrible things. We pray and are suppose to be happy because, well, We get to spend eternity with God, so I can ignore this stuff going on here right now in my life on earth. I guess I don’t understand how to explain that to people when they ask me. When they say what good is praying going to do, or being happy? And when the ask how it it going to help them now? Will it heal them? Bring their child back? I’m very perplexed about this.

    1. Thank you so much for this, Denise. I’m going to write about that in my next post. I don’t think we can explain it! All we can do is demonstrate it in our own lives. It’s a personal thing, found in a growing relationship with the Lord. We’ll most likely never live out our faith perfectly but being able to show people the difference God is making in us is the best way to show others what He wants for us. In future weeks, I’m going to talk about sadness, disappointment, grief – etc. I began with happiness because I believe that helps me focus on the Lord. But we do live in a broken world … one that includes heartache and loss. So, I want to look at what the Bible says about handling all of my emotions – the good ones and the bad ones. I agree – there are lots of questions and I want to dig into God’s Word and seek His help. Thanks again! God bless you!

  4. Inspiring message as always, Deb! Thank you for reminding us that God is all we need to live happy, healthy, hope-filled lives.
    Blessings!

    1. Thank you, Martha! Praying to stay focused on Him – the source of our strength, hope, and joy! Blessings, my friend!

  5. I loved this! I can relate so well, when discontentment rears it’s ugly head if I stop and count my blessings I can focus on being content with God and it puts life in perspective. Just the blessing of his unending presence is enough. Thank you for sharing????

    1. Thanks, Cathy! That is our goal, isn’t it? To stop and remember His faithfulness and all He has done in the past – giving us hope and happiness today. God bless you!

  6. KellyRBaker says:

    Amen, Deb! We can and should be happy and even that will bring God glory. Have a great weekend!

  7. Tammy L Kennington says:

    Such encouraging words, Deb!

    Peace and grace,
    Tammy

  8. Andria Thompson says:

    Deb, thank you so much for your faithfulness in Gods word. Your posts are helping me understand God’s word. I love how you encourage us to trust God through all our everyday circumstances, which can be very challenging at times. I sent this post to my daughter, and encouraged her to scribe so that she can be blessed through your encouraging messages. Thank you so much for your service to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and to all of us.

    Andria
    California

    1. Thank you so much for your kind encouragement, Andria! I love sharing my journey and I’m glad to know it blessed you! Thank you for visiting and for taking the time to say “hello.” God bless you!

  9. Dana M Smith says:

    Your words uplift me all the time. Thank you Deb! I thank God for you!

    1. What a kind thing to say, Dana! I so appreciate your encouragement! God bless you!