For a few weeks this summer we are looking at what Jesus taught us about the true secrets to living a happy life.
In the Beatitudes (Matthew 5), Jesus lays out eight standards for Christian living. You might call these the “8 Secrets of a Happy Life.” Everyone wants to be happy. But not everyone is eager to follow Jesus’ plan on how to find happiness. We need to pray and ask the Lord to help us live out these eight characteristics in our lives. The Beatitudes show us the way to be blessed and happy. They are also eight great things we need to pray become real in our own lives.
The fourth beatitude states, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” You and I need to pray continuously, “God, give me a deep desire to do the right thing and help me to actually do the right thing.” It is easy to put our lives on automatic pilot and not always give thought to what God wants. He is eager that we live “right” or righteously.
In our relationships, in our business dealings, in matters of personal integrity and character and conscience, may we not settle for mediocrity or compromise. But may we pray for and strive to live out righteousness. This will honor God and is another key to living a happy life.