Entertainment fills a large portion of people’s lives today. It comes in many forms – often with the simple purpose to provide mental distractions.

Entertainment is also very time-consuming. Get started with one kind – it does not matter which kind – and before you know it – hours have gone by. Do this day after day – and much of your life has been wasted!

Now, I am not against entertainment altogether, but I do believe that most Christians could make much better use of their time. It is robbing you of precious time with God and of service for Him.

Most believers claim that they do not have a regular time to read the Bible or pray daily. The simple reason: they fill that time with entertainment and then excuse it by saying they are too busy.

Think about it. The Creator of the universe stooped to take time to die for you and me. He could have gone on to be amused with the human race and watch us continue to sin and mess up our lives – but He didn’t. No. He came to die for our sins that He might enable us to live with Him forever. What a sacrifice He made for you and me!

Most likely, if you would swap out more of your entertainment time for time with God, your life would be much happier as a Christian. After all, the Bible reveals that the “blessed man” – the happy man – is the one that meditated on God’s Word throughout the day and sought to apply it (Ps.1:1-3).

Why not start reducing your entertainment time today and get in more prayer closet time? After all, there are no rewards in Heaven for entertainment time. God will not say “Well done, thou good and faithful servant” to those that had no time for Him. He loves you and wants to spend time with you – will you let Him?

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.