Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be. – Abraham Lincoln

Do you wait until all of the external circumstances of life are positive before you experience “happiness”? If so, you are rarely happy.

Happiness is not something that just overtakes you without notice and causes you to float on “cloud 9″. It is more the result of a decision. You decide…be happy…or not…

God has blessed us with the ability to choose. When we fail to choose, we fail to experience the blessings that God has given us. To not choose is to choose.

God’s word tells us to choose to think on the positive things. (see Phillipians 4) And when we set our mind on His word and His promises we are choosing to be happy. How could we ever remain sad or discouraged while being thankful for all that God has done for us and given us.

As much negative influence as we face each day, there is always more positive influence available to us. We choose.

I like to be informed by watching and listening to the news, but the moment that I begin to feel down and depressed by what I am hearing and seeing, I turn the radio or TV off. I choose.

So don’t worry, be happy! Choose to think on God’s promises and the feelings associated with happiness will follow.