Are you truly happy? Selah (pause and think on that for a moment).
That’s a huge question. For most Christians, if they’re honest, they’d
have to admit that their happiness is very conditional. 
<p>
It’s sad, but
it’s true. Circumstances control most people’s happiness. But that’s
the problem: True joy and happiness don’t come from circumstances.
<p>
The Apostle Paul gave us a great example of this. He had a vision from
God that he was supposed to go minister to the people in Macedonia.
<p>
And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of
Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help
us. [10] And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured
to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us
for to preach the gospel unto them.

 Acts 16:9-10 
<p>
Even though Paul and his companion Silas had a divine mandate from God
to go and minister there, everything didn’t go perfectly. Within just a
few days, they were beaten and thrown in the worst part of the prison
with their feet and hands in stocks ( Acts 16:16-24 ).
<p>
But look at Paul and Silas’s response to this:
<br>
And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and
the prisoners heard them.

 Acts 16:25 
<p>
This is awesome! After the awful treatment that these two men endured,
they were giving thanks—praying and singing praises unto God. They were
so loud, in fact, that the other prisoners could hear them. And if you
look this up in the Greek, it literally means that the prisoners hung
on every word Paul and Silas were singing. 
<p>
They weren’t just listening
with their physical ears; they were listening with their hearts. Their
praise ministered to the prisoners. 
When was the last time your praise
in a terrible situation ministered to someone?
<p>
The prisoners were so blessed by Paul and Silas that when an earthquake
came and the prison doors were opened and all of the chains fell off,
none of them left:
<p>
And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of
the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and
every one’s bands were loosed. [27] And the keeper of the prison
awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out
his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners
had been fled. [28] 
<p>
But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do
thyself no harm: for we are all here.

 Acts 16:26-28 
<p>
Paul and Silas’s praise released God’s power. You see, praise to God
blesses you, drives away the devil, and blesses God (check out my book
The Effects of Praise). When you find yourself in an adverse situation
and you offer genuine praises to God, you put yourself in a position to
receive from Him! Praise is the key that unlocks God’s treasures.
<p>
Just as praise was a key to Paul’s success, it has been a huge part of
my life. When my son died, I believe my decision to praise the Lord
anyway was a major factor in him being raised from the dead. Thank You,
Jesus! Praise is powerful!
<p>
Paul wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to <b><i>rejoice in the
Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice</i></b> ( Phil. 4:4 ). This is such a
radical concept, and I believe it’s the reason he repeated it. He
didn’t want anyone to think this was a mistake. Rejoicing is a command.
<p>
The whole world needs to hear this. People are doing everything within
their power to be happy, but it’s still elusive to most. We have more
suicide and drug usage than ever before because people aren’t happy.
True joy can only be found in the Lord ( Ps. 16:11 ).
<p>
The Scripture says,
<br>
I will bless the Lord at all times.

 Psalm 34:1
<p>
It says <b><i>all times.</i></b> That means you can rejoice when circumstances are
good and when they aren’t. You can look at people who appear to have
the ideal circumstances—politicians, movie stars, athletes, etc. They
have plenty of money, fame, recognition, and even the praises of some
people. Many idolize them. 
<p>
Yet while they’re in possession of
everything in the natural, many of them are miserable. They aren’t
happy people. 
<p>
I’m telling you, happiness is not dependent upon
circumstances. It is a state of mind, not a state of being. Paul
understood this. Some people have never thought of him as a happy
person, because of all the terrible circumstances he endured, but he
was. He knew the secrets to happiness.
<p>
I’ve identified twenty things from Paul’s own writings that were keys
to his happiness. These are timeless truths that will work for you
today just as they did for him. I’ve made a new teaching on this
entitled Paul’s Secrets to Happiness. Paul said he had learned to be
content ( Phil. 4:11 ). You can too.
<p>
Really, these aren’t secrets. They are hidden in plain sight in Paul’s
letter to the Philippians. This letter was written by Paul when he was
in prison, facing possible execution, yet the book of Philippians
mentions joy and rejoicing more than any other letter Paul wrote.
<p>
-- Andrew Wommack<br>
Capitalization of keywords by Randy Lucas 