Ever feel a little down, or perhaps just “off” and need a little pick me up? Thanks to the suggestion of one of our readers we have created a new page on happiness quotes. Some are from the Bible and some are not, and most are in our Bible or Not online game.

With today being Sunday let’s reflect on the many things the Lord has done for the sake of our happiness. And also, let’s remember to keep an attitude of happiness in our hearts and minds – after all, you are what you think. And if you’re thinking happy thoughts, don’t be surprised if you start to feel good about it. Remember what gave Peter Pan the ability to fly? Yes, only one happy thought!

Now to quote Jesus: “If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.” – John 13:17 KJV

Think happy…do happy…be happy!

I’m sure most of us at one time in our lives have used the famous quote, “the grass is always greener on the other side.” At the very least, we’ve heard our parents say it. This happiness quote has been said much more eloquently by the American poet James Oppenheim:

“The foolish person seeks happiness in the distance; the wise person grows it under their feet.”

In the Declaration of Independence our founding fathers listed a number of God-given rights, and among them was the pursuit of happiness. It is also within our human nature to seek out and pursue happiness, and pursue it we do. But, are we wise in our pursuits, or foolish according to Oppenheim?

The Bible teaches us that it is God’s desire that we be happy, being filled with His joy. We live in a world where the attainment of happiness is defined by worldy experience and  the acquiring of ”stuff”, yet we see it over and over again: these things do not bring lasting happiness. True happiness comes from the spritual experience of knowing and loving God.

“Happy is that people, whose God is the LORD.” – Psalm 144:15 KJV

And that happiness is here, and now, and not in the distance of space or time. Oppenheim is correct: if we look to be happy by looking outside of ourselves, by only changing our circumstances, by acquiring what others have, then we are indeed fools. Jesus said:

“Behold, the kingdom of God is within you.” – Luke 17:21 KJV

“Know this, that the kingdom of God has come near you.” – Luke 10:11 NKJV

I will be the first to admit that circumstances and the daily things of life can sometimes make it hard to be happy. But let’s look under our feet and count our blessings. Strip away all of the “stuff” that you think makes you happy and draw your attention to the blessed thought that God loves you. His Kingdom is near to you, if we could only learn to reach out and embrace that fact.

God has created us that we would have joy, but that joy comes in knowing and focusing on The One who died that we might live. Don’t worry, be happy, remember that God loves you more than you know. And He is here now.

This is a very powerful quote, not just about survival as a nation but survival as an individual. I would even go as far to say that not only is it hard to survive without this attitude, it is impossible to thrive and be successful in any aspect of your life without it. So who said this famous quote? Was it Martin Luther King Jr., or the Bible, or maybe MLK quoting the Bible? It’s all the above. Let me give you the full Bible verse:

Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he. – Proverbs 29:18 KJV

What I find most interesting about this verse is the correlation of “vision” and “law”. If you have no vision, you will be restrained from reaching your God-given potential. But how do you have vision? It’s all in this verse. God wants us to become all He has intended us to be knowing that the end of His will for us is happiness. He wants us to be happy, and He wants us to have a vision of that happiness.

So what does that have to do with keeping the law? Isn’t the law of Moses fulfilled in Christ? The connection is that true vision comes in knowing the law of God and thus His will, and then keeping it. If we continue in the path that God has set for us, and keep his teachings in following His Son Jesus, then we truly have vision. And that vision will result in a full and happy life.