How To Be Happy

Psalm 146

1 Praise the LORD. [a]
Praise the LORD, O my soul.

2 I will praise the LORD all my life;
I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.

3 Do not put your trust in princes,
in mortal men, who cannot save.

4 When their spirit departs, they return to the ground;
on that very day their plans come to nothing.

5 Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the LORD his God,

6 the Maker of heaven and earth,
the sea, and everything in them—
the LORD, who remains faithful forever.

7 He upholds the cause of the oppressed
and gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets prisoners free,

8 the LORD gives sight to the blind,
the LORD lifts up those who are bowed down,
the LORD loves the righteous.

9 The LORD watches over the alien
and sustains the fatherless and the widow,
but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.

10 The LORD reigns forever,
your God, O Zion, for all generations.
Praise the LORD.

Reflection of Bee:

When I set my goal (not resolution) early this year, similar to the Ten Rules for Happier Living found in tonight's devotion, I seemed to be happier. For my goal is to be "a channel of God's peace", borrowing the prayer below:

Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.

grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.

- attributed to St. Francis of Assisi (1181-1226)

Yes, I am seeing things happening in my work place. My relationship with my colleagues improves. I find myself having many opportunities to share God's love with others. I feel better when I focus my attention on others rather than on myself and my loss.


Dear Lord,
Thank You for making me a channel of blessing, especially today. I pray that Your words which I shared with this particular brother-in-Christ will not return to You void. I pray that he will be stronger spiritually and physically after a good rest tonight. I pray that Your peace and rest will be in his heart. Guide him in his path, let him follow and trust in You.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen