The newness of the year will quickly wear off as people will soon be back to work or school, and their everyday lives. For Christian believers, this New Year – 2022 – can be more exciting than ever as you seek to accomplish more for God. It could also be the year that Christ comes back and takes us Home!

Think about it, Christian – this year could be the best and last opportunity you have to serve God like you should. It would be a shame to get to Heaven and have a lot of regrets and what-ifs!

On the other hand, what glory awaits those people that serve God faithfully! The apostle Paul hints at the fact that we can’t even begin to imagine what glories await those who are faithful! I want to be one of those that God will say: “Well done, thou good and faithful servant!” (Mt. 25:21).

Since this is the first day of the New Year, why not recommit to serve God better this year than last year? It will mean going to church regularly, reading your Bible every day, praying, and witnessing, and seeking to fulfill the will of God for your life. It could be the year of personal revival.

It is pointless to live for self because only what is done for Christ will last. No faithful believer has ever told me that he or she was sorry that they served God! I am sure that if you are saved that you will find the same things to be true.

Remember, though, that the cost of discipleship has never changed: “And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me” (Mark 8:34).

God loves you and He takes care of His own. Trust God wherever He leads and He will use you: “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths” (Pr. 3:5,6).

If you are reading this and are not saved, why not make this the day of your salvation?

I have also mentioned how the Holy Spirit gives the obedient believer an internal joy that cannot easily be shaken. However, today I need to talk about how to maintain that joy because it is fragile. The reason it is fragile is because there are so many distractions in this world that can cause you to take your eyes off of God and His will for you. An example of this is Peter walking on the water: he was successful and safe as long as he kept his eyes on Jesus. The same is true with the joy of the Spirit.

Christian, I will now present to you a way that God intended to help you keep your eyes on Him. The Bible often uses the word “blessed” – and it means “happy.”

Now look at Psalm 1:1. Note that this verse starts out with the word “blessed”: “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.” The verse says that the one who is blessed by God does not follow the advice or ways of sinful people (unbelievers).

The next two verses reveal what this “blessed” person does instead: “But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.“ Did you see the key in these verses to being “blessed”?

It says that meditation on the law of the Lord (the Bible) is the key to prospering (spiritually). If you want to know how to live a happy life, as was mentioned yesterday, it is in obedience to the Bible and your walk with God. You cannot obey the Bible, however, if you do not know what it says and keep it in your mind. This is what God wants you to do.

Meditation in the Bible means keeping your mind focused on God and His Word. You do this by reading some of it faithfully every day, memorizing important verses, thinking on them through the day, and doing it as opportunity rises. This will lead to praise to God, a focus on the will of God, and joy in knowing that you are doing His will.

God has given many promises in the Bible that ensure that you can walk with Him successfully. Yes, there are obstacles – Satan and the world will throw them at you. Remember what God promised: “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world” (I John 4:4). God can give you overcoming power to do His will.

Christian, since 2022 starts tomorrow, why not make a commitment now to start reading the Word daily and meditating on it? You also want to get in a Bible-teaching church – if you are not already attending one – to have friends that will help you learn more about the Bible and serve God.

I offer some books that I believe can help you get started and be happier next year. They will teach you about the Bible and enable you to grow in grace and your walk with God.

While there is no doubt that many of the suggestions will help people to be happier, there is a dimension that nearly all of them are missing – the spiritual dimension. The spiritual aspect of happiness is the most important – if those tips are to be based on the Bible. After all, the Bible is God’s blueprint for life and happiness, as well as for forgiveness, salvation, and eternal life.

There are several reasons why people remain unhappy. Here are four of them:

1. They carry guilt for past wrongs.
2. They do not know the Source of life and happiness.
3. They do not understand the Bible’s principles for happiness.
4. They believe happiness is the goal – and not a by-product of right living.

True happiness – which the Bible refers to as joy – is not obtained from things. Most people know that the happiness that comes from new things at Christmas quickly wears off. Then, they have to look for some new toy or gadget to try and get that same level of happiness back. Even love from a relationship cannot fully satisfy – because God never intended for people to obtain complete and lasting satisfaction from anything or anyone apart from Him.

There is a common misunderstood difference between happiness and Biblical joy. As has already been mentioned, happiness usually comes from external things, people, or circumstances. Biblical joy, however, comes from God and being right with Him. The joy that comes from Him can endure even in the worst of circumstances and keep that believer in peace – and happy – while they trust God and serve Him.

The Bible reveals that believers should not expect to be joyous all the time. There will be seasons of trials and testing. These help to mature the believer, but David reminds us in Psalm 30:5: “For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.”

For people that want to know how to find happiness, you need to get saved first. God will forgive you of all of your sins and take away the guilt, too! Follow this link to learn more about Bible salvation.

Believers without joy also need to come before God and be cleansed of their sin. Confess the sin, surrender to the will of God afresh, and pray like David in Psalm 51:12: “Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.”

Then, believer, remember that joy is a fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22). As long as you seek first His Kingdom and do His will (Mt. 6:33) and not grieve the Holy Spirit, you can continue to walk in His joy – and power. Remember, too, that “the joy of the LORD is your strength“ (Neh. 8:10).

More on the topic of how to live a happy life tomorrow!