Happy Prayer, Happy Life: How To Contend For Personal Happiness

od’s desire is for his children to live a happy life.  When we look at the life of Jesus Christ, one of the things that stand out is the number of people that loved to be around him.  People flocked to him, not just because he performed miracles, but because they felt the love of God in him.  They were spiritually drawn to the love of God in him. 

The disciples absolutely adored Jesus.  He was their everything.  At the end of the book of John, whenever Jesus returns to the shore where the disciples are fishing, the disciple’s reaction to him is amazing.  Peter jumps out of the boat and swims almost 300 feet to see him! 

“Then I said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” At that, Simon Peter put on his tunic (for he was stripped to the waist) and jumped into the water and swam ashore. The rest of us stayed in the boat and pulled the loaded net to the beach, about 300 feet away.” (John 21:7,8)

Like the other disciples, Peter admonished Jesus.  For this reason, Peter tried to rebuke Jesus whenever he said that he was going to leave the earth and suffer a criminal’s death. 

“And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” (Matthew 16:22,23)

Jesus rebuked Peter for his lack of mindfulness on the things of God.  Momentarily, Peter put his own personal desires onto Jesus, and he was rebuked for it.  This speaks to the amount of love Peter had for Jesus.  He was his best friend.  Simply put, Jesus made him happy. 

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Happiness Belongs To Believers 

One of the trademarks for a Christian is happiness.  Happiness belongs to believers. Jesus, when speaking to a large mass of followers in Matthew chapter five, speaks into this.  

“Happy are those who long to be just and good, for they shall be completely satisfied.  Happy are the kind and merciful, for they shall be shown mercy.  Happy are those whose hearts are pure, for they shall see God. Happy are those who strive for peace—they shall be called the sons of God.   Happy are those who are persecuted because they are good, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.” (Matthew 5:6-10, The Living Bible)

Jesus taught that the by-product of a life connected with God is happiness.  It is the emotion that permeates the inner spirit of a follower of Jesus.  Because God is good, a Christian is connected to that goodness.  

Along with Jesus, Scripture is filled with many declarations of happiness belonging to those connected to God. 

“What happiness for those whose guilt has been forgiven! What joys when sins are covered over!” (Psalms 32:1)

When God set’s us free from the bondage a sin, a life is filled with freedom and happiness.  No one has discovered true happiness, unless they have found themselves forgiven by God through Christ Jesus. 

“May the Lord bless his people with peace and happiness and let them celebrate.” (Psalms 64:10)

The Psalmist declares that it is in God’s heart to bless His people with peace and happiness.  For this reason, there is much to celebrate in the life of a believer!  

“How happy are those who have learned how to praise You; those who journey through life by the light of Your face.” (Psalms 89:15)

Those who have made God their source of strength have educated themselves on how to praise God through difficult situations.  One of the things that permeate from a life that is set on praising God is happiness.  

“Wisdom is a life-giving tree, the source of happiness for all who hold on to her.” (Proverbs 3:18)

Happiness is a by-product of wisdom in the Lord.  This is a powerful concept.  As a person develops in wisdom, they increase their capacity for happiness.  That’s such a different concept of on is traditional taught on happiness.  

From the world’s perspective, happiness is in the possession you own and the status of your life.  The Bible says the opposite.  Happiness is found in your ability to increase in wisdom and the position of your heart through difficult situations.  

“Seek your happiness in the Lord, and he will give you your heart's desire.” (Psalms 34:7)

When a person seeks their happiness in the Lord, it is in his pleasure to give him the desires of His heart.  As a father of three young boys, it makes me happy to see the desires of my children fulfilled.  The same is true about our Heavenly Father, his heart leaps whenever our desires are reached because He loves us.  

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A Happy Prayer 

If happiness belongs to believers, they should pray happy prayers.  So much of the misconceptions of prayer stems from false beliefs about God.  Prayer doesn’t have to be the thing Christians dread to do.  The opposite is true, it is the life source of every believer!  

If have not been experiencing the happiness you are entitled to as a believer, then recite this prayer.  Now, this prayer is not meant to be a magic pill for your life.  It is an onramp to discover the heartbeat of God in your prayer life.  If you would like to grow more in your personal prayer life and would like to learn how to pray, read this post on prayer.  

“Dear God I thank you that you designed my life to be happy.  Please forgive me for neglecting my right as a believer to happiness.  I no longer want to live a life outside of your Word.  Your Word is clear - happiness belongs to me!  Today, I posture my life around your goodness and I declare that today is going to be an amazing day.  Holy Spirit, please guide my heart and mind in the direction of joy and strength.  Lord Jesus, I find my happiness in you completely.   

Father in heaven, I speak to this day and call it blessed.  I declare that I serve a good God who will do exceedingly and abundantly beyond all that I can ask or think (Ephesians 3:20).  I declare that you are a good God!  Dear Lord, today, I expect that I will be happy and take every thought captive that would come against this knowledge in Christ!  I declare that I have a covenant with God, and by the blood of Jesus I am entitled to happiness.  

Today, I seek the kingdom of God and it’s righteousness first in my life!  God my heart is filled with happiness! I come against the plans of the enemy today and declare that no weapon formed against me will prosper!  In Jesus name, I pray, Amen."