How Can You Get a ‘Glad’ Heart Starting Today?

Have you ever wondered why some people seem so happy and joyful? Have you ever wondered what was going on in their mind or heart, or what circumstances they were experiencing that made them so happy? The more you watched them, the more intense your questions became. On the other hand, have you wondered why some people are so unhappy and practically never joyful at any time? Have you wondered what was going on in their mind or heart, or what awful circumstances they were experiencing that made them so unhappy or downcast?

The issue here: How does a person get a ‘glad’ heart? How can we say what the Psalmist wrote?: “Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices“. (Psalm 16:9)

Focus on Who God Is

God is our Creator and the maker of the heavens and the earth (Isaiah 51:13). Genesis 1 and 2 make it very clear that man was God’s idea, and God had the will and power to make it happen – and He did. The fact that God breathed into Adam the breath of life (Genesis 2:7) is amazing. God didn’t have to do what He did, God chose to do it. Because God created us, we have full confidence that He knows all there is to know about us, and He has a plan for our lives. He is the Potter, and we are the clay (Isaiah 64:8 “But now, O LORD, You are our Father, we are the clay, and You our potter; and all of us are the work of Your hand“). We, as the clay, do not tell the Potter what to do; the Potter tells us what to do (Romans 9:21 “Or does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use?“).

When we really focus on Who God is, we can rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory (1 Peter 1:8). Our joy comes in knowing that the Creator wants to have a relationship with us, and He wants that relationship to be growing stronger and better each day.

Focus on God’s Purpose

Since God is the Creator, we can look to Him for our purpose in life. His purpose is for us to bring glory to God as ‘image bearers’ of the One who created us. In all that we do, and all that we think, we can and should bring glory to God. We will find our joy in fulfilling His purpose for our lives, not our purpose (which is usually selfish and self-centered). If we are fulfilling the purpose for which the Creator created us, we can rejoice and be glad in it. We can have confidence that His way is the best way, and as we submit to Him, we will find joy in doing what the Creator designed us to do.

When we stop and think about what the God of the heavens is able to do, it’s not only overwhelming, it gives us great reason for a glad heart.

We don’t want to make the mistake of Romans 1:25 “For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen“. God is not only our Creator, He is our Lord, the only true and living God. He is faithful and loving; slow to anger and is willing to demonstrate plenty of mercy. He is a God of grace, and a God who is patient with our imperfections and in the process of our spiritual growth. He is holy (completely separate from sin, and does not have the ability to sin). He is loving and cares about our lives. He promised that He will never leave us nor forsake us as His children. He is sovereign and in total control of all the events in our lives.

Focus on What He is Able To Do

When we stop and think about what the God of the heavens is able to do, it’s not only overwhelming, it gives us great reason for a glad heart. Our God is able to do whatever He wants to do because He has the ability, and power, to do whatever He wants. That’s why the heavens declare the glory of God – they give the right opinion of God’s power! No matter what we are facing, we need to remember Ephesians 3:20 “Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us“. We can be glad and rejoice that God is omnipotent, and He is able to help us; He wants to help us bring glory to Him and fulfill His purpose for our lives.