May 11:  Cheerfulness and Contentment.

Happiness and Contentment Found in Godliness.
Well, religion does make us very rich, if we are satisfied with what we have.--1 Timothy 6:6, GNT

FAITH IN GOD'S LOVE and overruling providence lightens the burdens of anxiety and care.  It fills the heart with joy and contentment in the highest or the lowest lot.  Religion tends directly to promote health, to lengthen life, and to heighten our enjoyment of all its blessings.  It opens to the soul a never-failing fountain of happiness.  Would that all who have not chosen Christ might realize that He has something vastly better to offer them than they are seeking for themselves.  Man is doing the greatest injury and injustice to his own soul when he thinks and acts contrary to the will of God.--Patriarchs and Prophets, 600.

In order to be happy, we must strive to attain to that character which Christ exhibited.  One marked peculiarity of Christ was His self-denial and benevolence.  He came not to seek His own.  He went about doing good, and this was His meat and drink.  We may, by following the example of the Saviour, be in holy communion with Him, and by daily seeking to imitate His character and follow His example, we shall be a blessing to the world and shall secure for ourselves contentment here and an eternal reward hereafter.--Testimonies for the Church, vol. 4, 227.

                              Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith,
                         who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross,
                                           despising the shame, and has sat down
                                          at the right hand of the throne of God.
                                                                                      --Hebrews 12:2, NKJV

May 10:  Cheerfulness and Contentment.

Good Words Gladden the Heart.
Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad.--Proverbs 12:25, NKJV

LET US NOT GATHER TOGETHER all the unpleasant pictures--the iniquities and corruption and disappointments, the evidence of Satan's power--to hang in the halls of our memory, to talk over and mourn over until our souls are filled with discouragement....

There are, thank God, brighter and more cheering pictures which the Lord has presented to us.  Let us group together the blessed assurances of His love as precious treasures, that we may look upon them continually.  The Son of God leaving His Father's throne, clothing His divinity with humanity, that He might rescue man from the power of Satan; His triumph in our behalf, opening heaven to man, revealing to human vision the presence chamber where Deity unveils His glory; the fallen race uplifted from the pit of ruin which sin had plunged them, and brought again into connection with the infinite God, and, having endured the divine rest through faith in our Redeemer, clothed in the righteousness of Christ and exalted to His throne--these are the pictures with which God bids us gladden the chambers of the soul.--Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, 744 745.

                                       "The Lord your God in your midst,
                                              The Mighty One, will save;
                                        He will rejoice over you with gladness,
                                             He will quiet you with His love,
                                          He will rejoice over you with singing."
                                                                                           --Zephaniah 3:17, NKJV

                                    Finally, brethren, whatever things are true,
                                whatever things are noble, whatever things are just,
                               whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely,
                            whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue
                         and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things.
                              
                                                                 --Philippians 4:8, NKJV

May 9:  Cheerfulness and Contentment.

He Longs to Make His Children Glad.
"In the past he permitted all the nations to go their own ways, but he never left them without evidence of himself and his goodness.  For instance, he sends you rain and good crops and gives you food and joyful hearts."--Acts 14:16, 17, NLT

NATURE TESTIFIES that One infinite in power, great in goodness, mercy, and love, created the earth, and filled it with life and gladness....

...In earth and sea and sky, with their marvelous tint and color, varying in gorgeous contrast or blended in harmony, we behold His glory.  The everlasting hills tell us of His power.  The trees that wave their green banners in the sunlight, and the flowers in their delicate beauty, point to their Creator.  The living green that carpets the brown earth tells of God's care for the humblest of His creatures....

All things tell of His power that summer and winter, seedtime and harvest, day and night follow each other in their regular succession.  It is by His word that vegetation flourishes, that the leaves appear and the flowers bloom.  Every good thing we have, each ray of sunshine and shower of rain, every morsel of food, every moment of life, is a gift of love.--Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, 74.

           Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father,
      who created all the lights in the heavens.  He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.
                                                                                                 --James 1:17, NLT

                                      "You are worthy, O Lord our God,
                                    to receive glory and honor and power.
                                             For you created all things,
                          and they exist because you created what you pleased."
                              
                                                           --Revelation 4:11, NLT

May 8:  Cheerfulness and Contentment.

Reasons for Praise and Gladness.
He brought his people out with joy, his chosen ones with singing.  He gave them the lands of the nations, and they took possession of the wealth of the peoples, that they might keep his statutes and observe his laws.  Praise the Lord!--Psalm 105:43-45, NRSV

GOD SURROUNDED ISRAEL with every facility, gave them every privilege, that would make them an honor to His name and a blessing to surrounding nations.  If they would walk in the ways of obedience, He promised to make them "high above all nations which he hath made, in praise, and in name, and in honor."  "All people of the earth,"  He said, "shall hear that thou are called by the name of the Lord; and they shall be afraid of thee."  The nations which shall hear all these statues shall say, "Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people."  Deuteronomy 26:19; 28:10; Deuteronomy 4:6.--Education 40.

We are exhorted to call to "remembrance the former days...."  Hebrews 10:32.  For His people in this generation the Lord has wrought as a wonder-working God.--Testimonies for the Church, vol. 6, 364.

He has done for His chosen people that which should inspire every heart with thanksgiving, and it grieves Him that so little praise is offered.  He desires to have a stronger expression from His people, showing that they know they have reason for joy and gladness.--Testimonies for the Church, vol. 6, 364

                                             O Lord, you are my God;
                                 I will exalt you, I will praise your name;
                                       for you have done wonderful things,
                                    plans formed of old, faithful and sure.
                                                                                         --Isaiah 25:1, NRSV

May 7:  Cheerfulness and Contentment.

Life, Righteousness, and Honor.
Light shines on the godly, and joy on those whose hearts are right.  May all who are godly rejoice in the Lord and praise his holy name!--Psalm 97:11, 12, NLT

RIGHTEOUSNESS HAS ITS ROOT in godliness.  No human being is righteous any longer than he has faith in God and maintains a vital connection with Him.  As a flower of the field has its root in the soil; it must receive air, dew, showers, and sunshine, so must we receive from God that which ministers to the life of the soul.--Testimonies for the Church, vol. 7, 194.

Not by painful struggles or wearisome toil, not by gift or sacrifice, is righteousness obtained; but it is freely given to every soul who hungers and thirsts to receive it.--Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, 18.

Righteousness is love, and love is the light and the life of God.  The righteousness of God is embodied in Christ.  We receive righteousness by receiving Him.--Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, 18.

Many...build barriers between themselves and Jesus, so that His love cannot flow into their hearts, and then they complain that they do not see the Sun of Righteousness.  Let them forget self and live for Jesus, and the light of heaven will bring gladness to their souls.--Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, 232.

                                        He who follows righteousness and mercy
                                              finds life, righteousness, and honor.
                                                                                            --Proverbs 21:21, NKJV

                                         So it is God who decides to show mercy.
                                         We can neither choose it nor work for it.
                                                                                              --Romans 9:16, NLT

                           "Blessed are those who hunger and thirsts for righteousness,
                                                          For they shall be filled."
                              
                                                                 --Matthew 5:6, NKJV

May 6:  Cheerfulness and Contentment.

Be Glad for Salvation.
May all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who long for your saving help always say, "The Lord is great!"--Psalm 40:16, NIV

WITHOUT A CONNECTION with God no one can possibly be happy.  Fallen man is to learn that our Heavenly Father cannot be satisfied until His love embraces the repentant sinner, transformed through the merits of the spotless Lamb of God....

Jesus Christ laid hold on humanity, that with His human arm He might encircle the race, while with His divine arm He grasped the throne of the Infinite.  He planted His cross midway between earth and heaven, and said, "I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me."  The cross was to be the center of attraction.

It was to speak to all men, and draw them across the gulf that sin had made, to unite finite man with the infinite God....Those whose sins are forgiven, who love Jesus, will be united with Him.  They will bear the yoke of Christ.  This yoke is not to hamper them, not to make their religious life one of unsatisfying toil.  No; the yoke  of Christ is to be the very means by which the Christian life is to become one of pleasure and joy.  The Christian is to be joyful in contemplation of that which the Lord has done in giving His only-begotten Son to die for the world, "that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."--Messages to Young People, 137, 138.

                                       "Take my yoke upon you.  Let me teach you,
                                         because I am humble and gentle at heart,
                                              and you will find rest for your souls."
                              
                                                                --Matthew 11:29, NLT

May 5:  Cheerfulness and Contentment.

Communion With the Lord Brings Gladness.
I know the Lord is always with me.  I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.  No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice.  My body rests in safety.--Psalm 16:8, 9, NLT

IF WE KEEP THE LORD ever before us, allowing our hearts to go out in thanksgiving and praise to Him, we shall have a continual freshness in our religious life.  Our prayers will take the form of a conversation with God as we would talk with a friend.  He will speak His mysteries to us personally.  Often there will come to us a sweet joyful sense of the presence of Jesus.  Often our hearts  will burn within us as He draws nigh to commune with us as He did with Enoch.  When this is in truth the experience of the Christian, there is seen in his life a simplicity, a humility, meekness, and lowliness of heart, that show to all with whom he associates that he has been with Jesus and learned from Him.

In those who possess it, the religion of Christ will reveal itself as a vitalizing, pervading principle, a living, working, spiritual energy.  There will be manifest the freshness and power and joyousness of perpetual youth.  The heart that receives the word of God is not as a pool that evaporates, not like a broken cistern that loses its treasure.  It is like the mountain stream fed by unfailing springs, whose cool, sparkling waters leap from rock to rock, refreshing the weary, the thirsty, the heavy laden.--Christ's Object Lessons, 129, 130.

                                         With weeping they shall come,
                              and with consolations I will lead them back,
                                    I will let them walk by brooks of water,
                          in a straight path in which they shall not stumble.
                                                                         --Jeremiah 31:9, NRSV

May 4:  Cheerfulness and Contentment.

True Happiness Comes Only From God.
You have put gladness in my heart, more than in the season that their grain and wine increased.--Psalm 4:7, NKJV

THE CHRISTIAN SHOULD not set too high a value, or depend too much, upon a happy flight of feeling.  These feelings are not always true guides.  It should be the study of every Christian to serve God from principle, and not be ruled by feeling.  By so doing, faith will be brought into exercise, and will increase.--Testimonies for the Church, vol. 1, 161.

Feeling is not faith; the two are distinct.  Faith is ours to exercise, but joyful feeling and the blessing are God's to give.--Early Writings, 72.

If the Christian lives a humble, self-sacrificing life, peace and joy in the Lord will be the result.--Testimonies for the Christ, vol. 1, 161.

Happiness drawn from earthly sources is as changeable as varying circumstances can make it; but the peace of Christ is a constant and abiding peace.  It does not depend upon any circumstances in life, on the amount of worldly goods or the number of earthly friends.  Christ is the fountain of living water, and happiness drawn from Him can never fail.--Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, 16.

                    Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks;
                            for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
                                                                       --1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, NKJV

             Jesus answered and said to her, "Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again,
                       but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst.
                   But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water
                                              springing up into everlasting life."
                                                                                     --John 4:13, 14, NKJV

May 3:  Cheerfulness and Contentment.

God Always Keeps His Promises.
"Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me."--Acts 27:25, NKJV

SOME ARE ALWAYS FEARING, and borrowing trouble....Their minds are continually dwelling upon something disagreeable which they fear may come; or some difficulty may really exist which, though small, blinds their eyes to the many things that demand gratitude.  The difficulties they encounter, instead of driving them to God, the only source of their help, separate them from Him because they awaken unrest and repining.

Do we well to be thus unbelieving?  Why should we be ungrateful and distrustful?  Jesus is our friend; all heaven is interested in our welfare.  We should not allow the perplexities and worries of everyday life to fret the mind and cloud the brow.  If we do we shall always have something to vex and annoy.  We should not indulge a solicitude that only frets and wears us, but does not help us to bear trials.

You may be perplexed in business; your prospects may grow darker and darker, and you may be threatened with loss; but do not become discouraged; cast your care upon God, and remain calm and cheerful.  Pray for wisdom to manage your affairs with discretion, and thus prevent loss and disaster.  Do all you can on your part to bring about favorable results.  Jesus has promised His aid, but not apart from our effort.  When, relying upon our Helper, you have done all you can, accept the result cheerfully.--Steps to Christ, 121, 122.

May 2:  Cheerfulness and Contentment.

We Are His Witnesses.
The following night the Lord stood by him, and said, "Be of good cheer, Paul: for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome."--Acts 23:11, NKJV

THE PEOPLE OF GOD are His representatives upon the earth, and He intends that they shall be lights in the moral darkness of this world.  Scattered all over the country, in the towns, cities, and villages, they are God's witnesses, the channels through which He will communicate to an unbelieving world the knowledge of His will and the wonders of His grace.  It is His plan that all who are partakers of the great salvation shall be missionaries for Him.  The piety of the Christian constitutes the standard by which worldlings judge the gospel.  Trials patiently borne, blessings gratefully received, meekness, kindness, mercy, and love, habitually exhibited, are the lights that shine forth in the character before the world, revealing the contrast with the darkness that comes of the selfishness of the natural heart.--Patriarchs and Prophets, 134.

It is our duty to be very jealous for the glory of God and to bring no evil report, even by the sadness of the countenance or by ill-advised words, as if the requirements of God were a restriction upon our liberty.  Even in this world of sorrow, disappointment, and sin the Lord desires us to be cheerful, and strong in His strength.  The whole person is privileged to bear a decided testimony in every line.  In features, in temper, in words, in character, we are to witness that the service of God is good.--Testimonies for the Church, vol. 6, 365.

                                                 "Do not tremble; do not be afraid.
                               Did I not proclaim my purposes for you long ago?
                                   You are my witnesses--is there any other God?
                                          No!  There is no other Rock--not one!"
                              
                                                    --Isaiah 44:8, NLT