We are all looking for the secret to being happy. As someone who has done MANY things in her life (most of them are not something that I want to talk about here), I have found that there are few things that lead to true joy and happiness.

Solomon, I find, had a TRUE revelation of this matter. He sought happiness in many forms, yet even after having all of the money, women, and power that he could have ever wanted, he found that the secret to true joy is this.

Ecclesiastes 12

12But beyond this, my son, be warned: the writing of many books is endless, and excessive devotion to books is wearying to the body. 13The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. 14For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.

When we fear (respectfully fear Him knowing that our lives and livelihood depend on Him) and obey Him, we find that our joy expands exponentially! This is the key to joy! I know it sounds silly to many people, but after 26 years of serving Him (sometimes being fully dedicated and sometimes not as dedicated as I should have been), I have learned that life is so much brighter when we love, trust, and obey Him.

It’s quite likely that this may not make complete sense to you. That’s ok. God wants you to just give Him a chance to show you how much He loves you! He invites you to try His love and see if it isn’t as GREAT as He says it is. He wants you to give Him the opportunity to show you just how good He is. He tells us this specifically in Malachi Chapter 3.

⁸ “Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings [you have withheld]. ⁹ You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing Me, this whole nation! ¹⁰ Bring all the tithes (the tenth) into the ^[c]storehouse, so that there may be ^[d]food in My house, and test Me now in this,” says the Lord of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you [so great] a blessing until there is no more room to receive it. ¹¹ Then I will rebuke the ^[e]devourer (insects, plague) for your sake and he will not destroy the fruits of the ground, nor will your vine in the field drop its grapes [before harvest],” says the Lord of hosts. ¹² “All nations shall call you happy and blessed, for you shall be a land of delight,” says the Lord of hosts. * I have emphasized this part of the text in red so that you will not miss what God has to say about what He will do if you obey Him in your giving.

If we will just trust Him and give to Him what is His, then He will pour out blessings that will completely AMAZE us!!! Let’s try it! I can tell you that this is exactly how God works!! He is true!! Seek Him FIRST and He WILL be sure that you are provided for. Give Him the first fruits of your income and He will make sure that ALL of your needs are met. All the He requires is that you do it with a grateful heart and in obedience. Do it without expecting the praise of men. The Word states this very plainly in Matthew chapter 6.

Matthew 6:1Amplified Bible (AMP)

Giving to the Poor and Prayer

6 “Be [very] careful not to do your ^[a]good deeds publicly, to be seen by men; otherwise you will have no reward [prepared and awaiting you] with I your Father who is in heaven.

It is clearly stated here that we must give without expecting or looking for credit, praise, or glory so that God is free to reward us in His own way. In this way, we are laying up our treasure in Heaven. I encourage you to read Matthew 6. It will help to put all of this into perspective for you.

As a Bible Teacher, I am blessed to have this time with you and I pray that this post will bless you as you strive to further your walk with our Heavenly Father.

Thanks for being a part of my life. You are truly a blessing!!

All my love,

Nikki

Oh here is the link to a song that goes along with this teaching! I pray that you’ll listen and be blessed!!!  First by Lauren Daigle