Because I’m Happy

Remember that Pharrell Williams smash hit? I do. I loved the video and upbeat words: Because I’m happy — clap along if you feel like a room without a roofBecause I’m happy — clap along if you feel like happiness is the truthBecause I’m happy — clap along if you know what happiness is to you, Because I’m happy — clap along if you feel like that’s what you wanna do!

We sure do need happy feet and happy hearts and minds! My first mistake yesterday morning was to scroll through some of my newsfeeds – not the place to go for “happy”. “Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott suffered a gruesome ankle injury that required surgery last night, Hurricane Delta left four hundred thousand people without power yesterday and “continued hostility and determination” between the donkeys and the elephants to win their political wars.” I thought “Ugh!” But that attitude changed: “Wait just a minute! I am a child of God and I know God is still in charge of it all! Suddenly, that Pharrell Williams’ song flashed through my mind. I knew God wanted stinkin’ thinkin’ to be replaced with a renewed “happy” mind and attitude!

AND, then that wonderful “Oh Happy Day” song, rang in my ears – a song that many artists recorded, and the movie “Sister Act”, made it popular again. “Oh, happy day — when Jesus washed my sins away! He taught me how to watch and pray and live rejoicing every day. Oh, happy day — when Jesus washed my sins away!”

Then, I remembered the lyrics of an old song that was sung by Mahalia Jackson, Whitney Houston, Lauren Daigle and many other artists:
“I sing because I’m happy / I sing because I’m free
His eye is on the sparrow / And I know He watches me.”

So there you go — the “rise and shine” words of those whose present and future isn’t dependent on politics, the weather, the economy or which football team will outlast them all. We are on the outwit, outlast and outlive team of champions because of our CHAMPION, Jesus Christ.

What’s going on in our world shouldn’t define our happiness. The negative thoughts pale in contrast to those of us who rise to the 30,000 feet view that our Father has when He looks at us and this world. I found a “happy days” scripture for us in Psalm 144:15 “Happy are the people whose God is the Lord!” Because of the resurrection of Christ and the good news that we will live in peace and harmony forever with Him, God’s people should be the happiest people on earth.

Life happens, problems come and go, but there is nothing that can’t be overcome with God’s help. He is an overcoming, death-defying, grace giving, problem-solving, all forgiving, amazingly awesome good God! Nothing is impossible for Him. As Christians, we should be ecstatic! We have been forgiven of all our sins by the wonderful grace of Jesus AND our future is so bright in heaven with Him forever! If we know the Son of God in a real and intimate way, we have a reason to be living HAPPY and singing continuously, “Oh Happy Day….when Jesus washed my sins away!”