Be Glad!

"Be happy [in your faith] and rejoice and be glad-hearted continually (always)."
1 Thessalonians 5:16 AMP

The movie Pollyanna captured the hearts of young girls in the early 1960's. With her innocent charm and infectious spirit, young Pollyanna Whittier confronted the bitter attitudes in her aunt Polly's town by always seeking the best in life. I remember how Pollyanna inspired people to stop complaining and embrace a more positive outlook. They were inspired by Pollyanna's ability to see the upside of everyone and everything. 

In the movie, Pollyanna tells Reverend Ford, "There are eight hundred happy texts. Did you know that?

When the preacher said he didn't know, Pollyanna replied, "Yes, well, there are. And do you know, my father said that if God took the trouble to tell us eight hundred times to be glad and rejoice, He must have wanted us to do it."

Pollyanna's father, a missionary, taught her the Glad Game before he died. The goal of the game was to look for the blessing in every circumstance - the silver lining in every cloud. 

"You see," Pollyanna said, "when you're hunting for the glad things, you sort of forget the other kind."

People sometimes ridicule a Pollyanna attitude, describing the choice to be happy as wearing "rose-colored glasses." Sure, we're not supposed to be naive as Christians - we need to be realists - but shouldn't Christians be glad? Through the Word of God, we view life through the Father's lens and understand that we have forgiveness, security, peace, life, and joy in Christ.

It's like going to the optometrist. When the doctor tests your eyes, he puts in various lenses and then asks, "Can you see better now - or with this?" But the Word of God is a superior lens.

So, can you see better with your lens or God's?

The apostle Paul tells us to give thanks in all circumstances, not because of the situation, necessarily, but because God is going to work in us and through our circumstances if we yield to His control and respond in the power of the Holy Spirit.

What is your struggle today? Can you be thankful and glad for God's presence and love? Go ahead, put on those God-colored glasses. 

Dear Lord, I rejoice in You, Lord, for You make my heart glad. Amen.

Look up these verses for some extra smiles, and say "Thank You, Lord!"

Psalm 5:11

Psalm 16:11

Psalm 118:24

Psalm 126:3

PS want to text a friend today's Bible Verse? Here it is in a fun "text" way

B gld-hrtd cntnuly.