07/09/2026
Viewpoint Daily Devotional
September 7, 2026
How to Choose Happiness Today
“If God gives us wealth and property and lets us enjoy them, we should be grateful and enjoy what we have worked for. It is a gift from God.” Ecclesiastes 5:19 (GNT)
The Bible says in 1 Timothy 6:17 that God “richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment” (NIV). That’s the kind of God we serve. He gave us the world for our enjoyment! But here is the problem: We are so busy getting more that we do not enjoy what we have. The secret of contentment is to learn to enjoy what God has given you. Ecclesiastes 5:19 says, “If God gives us wealth and property and lets us enjoy them, we should be grateful and enjoy what we have worked for. It is a gift from God” (GNT).
Instead of grasping for more, pay attention to what you have now. Open your eyes, appreciate what God has already given you, and enjoy what you already have. One of my favorite things to do when we were in the province is to watch the sunrise from our yard. I put a plastic chair out there many years and would watch the sun rises. Watching the sun rises gives me jot. It gives me great pleasure! Would I have any more joy watching the sunrise if I were sitting in a diamond-encrusted recliner instead of my cheap plastic chair? No, it would not increase my joy one bit. In fact, there is an advantage to not having a diamond-encrusted recliner and instead being content with my old chair: No one will steal it!
You need to ask yourself, “What am I not enjoying right now?” Most of us get into what I call “when and then” thinking: “When this happens, then I’ll be happy.” “When I get a boyfriend, then I will be happy.” “When I get married, then I’ll be happy.” “When I have children, then I will be happy.” “When I have a better job, then I will be happy.” “When I get married again, then I will be happy.” But here is the truth: You are as happy as you choose to be. If you are not happy now, you are not going to be happy later. Happiness is a choice!
We can go and visit some of the poorest places in the world and see two people living right next door to each other. One is miserable, and one is happy. Why? Happiness has nothing to do with your circumstances and everything to do with your attitude. If you are not happy with what you are living on right now, I can guarantee that you are not going to be happy with more. Because no matter what you have, you are always going to want a little bit more. Happiness is a choice. Choose right now to enjoy what God has given you!
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
✅ What has God blessed you with that you have not been enjoying to the fullest?
✅ What have you been waiting for to be happy?
✅ If happiness is a choice, why do people choose to be unhappy? See less