“This is how I spend my life: obeying your commandments.” (Psalm 119:56 NLT)

 

What makes you happy? What brings you peace? Where do you find meaning, purpose, and a sense of fulfillment in your life? One of the biggest tragedies of our modern culture is that many people can’t answer these questions. They may find moments of excitement or distraction. They may have fun. But those moments are fleeting and surfacy. There’s nothing deep or lasting about them.

Philosopher Eric Hoffer wrote, “The search for happiness is one of the chief sources of unhappiness.” Someone else once said, “There are two sources of unhappiness in life. One is not getting what you want and the other is getting it.”

So, for many people today who are searching for happiness, the cold hard truth is that they will never find it. The news stories we see about celebrities seem to confirm it. For all their accomplishments, fame, and money, many of them lead miserable and empty lives. And that’s because they’re searching for happiness in the wrong way.

The psalmist revealed the key to the search when he wrote, “This is how I spend my life: obeying your commandments” (Psalm 119:56 NLT). Genuine happiness is always a byproduct of holiness. Get your life right with God and happiness will soon follow.

Several other passages in Scripture confirm this:

“You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever” (Psalm 16:11 NLT).

“Joyful is the person who finds wisdom, the one who gains understanding. For wisdom is more profitable than silver, and her wages are better than gold. Wisdom is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. She offers you long life in her right hand, and riches and honor in her left. She will guide you down delightful paths; all her ways are satisfying. Wisdom is a tree of life to those who embrace her; happy are those who hold her tightly” (Proverbs 3:13–18 NLT).

“Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires” (Psalm 37:4 NLT).

“Those who listen to instruction will prosper; those who trust the Lord will be joyful” (Proverbs 16:20 NLT).

“So I decided there is nothing better than to enjoy food and drink and to find satisfaction in work. Then I realized that these pleasures are from the hand of God. For who can eat or enjoy anything apart from him?” (Ecclesiastes 2:24–25 NLT).

Unfortunately, unbelievers will never know true happiness. Instead, they will pursue the devil’s cheap counterfeits, facsimiles that seem to offer what they desire. They won’t recognize until it’s too late that the counterfeits are shallow, because they possess no deep well from which to draw. The world’s concept of happiness is dependent on good things happening. The Christian concept of happiness depends on a good God.

Choose God’s way.

 

Reflection question: How can you help unbelievers in your life recognize where genuine happiness can be found? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship!

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The audio production of the podcast "Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known."

 

All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie.

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&ldquo;This is how I spend my life: obeying your commandments.&rdquo; (Psalm 119:56 NLT)
&nbsp;
What makes you happy? What brings you peace? Where do you find meaning, purpose, and a sense of fulfillment in your life? One of the biggest tragedies of our modern culture is that many people can&rsquo;t answer these questions. They may find moments of excitement or distraction. They may have fun. But those moments are fleeting and surfacy. There&rsquo;s nothing deep or lasting about them.
Philosopher Eric Hoffer wrote, &ldquo;The search for happiness is one of the chief sources of unhappiness.&rdquo; Someone else once said, &ldquo;There are two sources of unhappiness in life. One is not getting what you want and the other is getting it.&rdquo;
So, for many people today who are searching for happiness, the cold hard truth is that they will never find it. The news stories we see about celebrities seem to confirm it. For all their accomplishments, fame, and money, many of them lead miserable and empty lives. And that&rsquo;s because they&rsquo;re searching for happiness in the wrong way.
The psalmist revealed the key to the search when he wrote, &ldquo;This is how I spend my life: obeying your commandments&rdquo; (Psalm 119:56 NLT). Genuine happiness is always a byproduct of holiness. Get your life right with God and happiness will soon follow.
Several other passages in Scripture confirm this:
&ldquo;You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever&rdquo; (Psalm 16:11 NLT).
&ldquo;Joyful is the person who finds wisdom,&nbsp;the one who gains understanding.&nbsp;For wisdom is more profitable than silver, and her wages are better than gold.&nbsp;Wisdom is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. She offers you long life in her right hand, and riches and honor in her left.&nbsp;She will guide you down delightful paths; all her ways are satisfying.&nbsp;Wisdom is a tree of life to those who embrace her; happy are those who hold her tightly&rdquo; (Proverbs 3:13&ndash;18 NLT).
&ldquo;Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart&rsquo;s desires&rdquo; (Psalm 37:4 NLT).
&ldquo;Those who listen to instruction will prosper; those who trust the Lord will be joyful&rdquo; (Proverbs 16:20 NLT).
&ldquo;So I decided there is nothing better than to enjoy food and drink and to find satisfaction in work. Then I realized that these pleasures are from the hand of God.&nbsp;For who can eat or enjoy anything apart from him?&rdquo; (Ecclesiastes 2:24&ndash;25 NLT).
Unfortunately, unbelievers will never know true happiness. Instead, they will pursue the devil&rsquo;s cheap counterfeits, facsimiles that seem to offer what they desire. They won&rsquo;t recognize until it&rsquo;s too late that the counterfeits are shallow, because they possess no deep well from which to draw. The world&rsquo;s concept of happiness is dependent on good things happening. The Christian concept of happiness depends on a good God.
Choose God&rsquo;s way.
&nbsp;
Reflection question: How can you help unbelievers in your life recognize where genuine happiness can be found?&nbsp;<a href="https://disciple.harvest.org/spaces/17592429/feed?utm_source=DD&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_campaign=HarvestDiscipleship">Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship!</a>
&mdash;
The audio production of the podcast "Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions" utilizes Generative AI technology.&nbsp;This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known."
&nbsp;
All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie.
<a href="https://go.pddr.app/glpodcast">Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast</a>
<a href="https://harvest.org/harvest-partner/?utm_source=DD&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_campaign=HarvestPartners">Become a Harvest Partner</a>

If you want to be successful in the Christian life, you must have a mind full of God’s Word. Refresh your mind with it daily, right here. Each day, you'll receive a verse and commentary from Pastor Greg Laurie, who offers biblical insight through humor, personal stories, and cultural commentary. Start listening and hear what God has to say to you. 

*The audio production of this podcast utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known."

All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie.

If you want to be successful in the Christian life, you must have a mind full of God&rsquo;s Word. Refresh your mind with it daily, right here. Each day, you'll receive a verse and commentary from&nbsp;<a href="https://harvest.org/about-greg-laurie/">Pastor Greg Laurie</a>, who offers biblical insight through humor, personal stories, and cultural commentary. Start listening and hear what God has to say to you.&nbsp;
*The audio production of this podcast utilizes Generative AI technology.&nbsp;This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known." All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie.

Greg Laurie provides commentary on the day's Bible verse.

Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions

Genuine happiness is the byproduct of holiness.