Happiness Comes from Following God’s Word
The Bible tells us that those who follow God’s Word are happy. Who or what is your standard of life and living? As Creator of all that is and ever was, God knows how His creation is designed to operate for His greatest glory and my greatest good. The wisest choice is to follow His instructions found in His Word.
A Bit of Background
Have you ever paused to consider the fact that the whole Bible is a parenting book illustrating how God parents His children? Often, we chuckle when we tell new parents that babies do not come with an instruction manual. But in actuality, God has preserved and presented His divine example of how He perfectly parents His children. As we stammer and stumble while trying to pray because we wonder “how to do it right,” we also neglect the truth that the entire Bible is about communicating, relating, and connecting to our Father. The whole Bible is a book about parenting and prayer.
Parenting and prayer share common ground – both deal with the developmental growth process between parent and child. It could even be argued that prayer is what a child does, and answering prayer is what a parent does. Consider it this way: prayer is my conversation with God as my Father as I relate to Him as His child.
God has designed a developmental process for our spiritual maturity. “Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him because we will see Him just as He is” (1 John 3:2 NASB). To grow us up, He has initiated a process of communicating, communing, and relating to Him, which we have named “prayer.” Through prayer, our relationship with Him is developed and maintained so that we can understand His plans as He leads and guides us on the journey He has prepared for us.
Let’s consider what one of these conversations between The Father and His Child might be like. Today’s lesson: Those Who Follow God’s Word Are Happy.
The Father states:
And now, children, listen to me; those who keep my ways are happy. Listen to instruction and be wise; don’t ignore it. Anyone who listens to me is happy, watching at my doors every day, waiting by the posts of my doorway. For the one who finds me finds life and obtains favor from the Lord, but the one who misses me harms himself; all who hate me love death.
Proverbs 8:32–36 CSB
His Child emphasizes:
How happy are those whose way is blameless, who walk according to the Lord’s instruction! Happy are those who keep his decrees and seek him with all their heart.
Psalm 119:1–2 CSB
The Father teaches:
Happy is a man who finds wisdom and who acquires understanding, for she is more profitable than silver, and her revenue is better than gold. She is more precious than jewels; nothing you desire can equal her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left, riches and honor. Her ways are pleasant, and all her paths, peaceful. She is a tree of life to those who embrace her, and those who hold on to her are happy. The Lord founded the earth by wisdom and established the heavens by understanding. By his knowledge the watery depths broke open, and the clouds dripped with dew. Maintain sound wisdom and discretion. My son, don’t lose sight of them. They will be life for youand adornment for your neck. Then you will go safely on your way; your foot will not stumble. When you lie down, you will not be afraid; you will lie down, and your sleep will be pleasant.
Proverbs 3:13–24 CSB
His Child remembers:
When I was a child with my father, tender and precious to my mother, he taught me and said, “Your heart must hold on to my words. Keep my commands and live. Get wisdom, get understanding; don’t forget or turn away from the words from my mouth. Don’t abandon wisdom, and she will watch over you; love her, and she will guard you. Wisdom is supreme—so get wisdom. And whatever else you get, get understanding. Cherish her, and she will exalt you; if you embrace her, she will honor you. She will place a garland of favor on your head; she will give you a crown of beauty.”
Proverbs 4:3–9 CSB
The Father reminds:
Listen, my child. Accept my words, and you will live many years. I am teaching you the way of wisdom; I am guiding you on straight paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hindered; when you run, you will not stumble. Hold on to instruction; don’t let go. Guard it, for it is your life.
Proverbs 4:10–13 CSB
Are You Listening?
How is The Father speaking to you? How are you, as His Child, responding? The Father desires an intimate relationship with you. Do you desire to have a close relationship with Him? You can be happy by following God’s Word and connecting to Him through prayer. Are you finding your happiness through following God’s Word?
How about you parents and grandparents? Are you teaching your children how to connect to God’s Word? Use God’s model to train up all the children in whose lives you have influence!
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Excerpts from As a Little Child: A Model of Prayer and Parenting by Melanie and J. Kirk Lewis.
