Bear Your Cross & Wear Your Crown

God-Given

Happiness

God is the only one who can give us true and genuine happiness. The happiness He supplies is permanent, natural, free (no strings attached), and cannot be taken away unless we choose to reject it. Examples include, compassion, faith, forgiveness, grace, love, mercy, patience, understanding, wisdom, and so on. Everything on this list is free, permanent, and natural, meaning, it comes from the heart.

Those of us who call Jesus our Lord and Savior ought to apply God’s principles to our lives daily. As we do so, we grow closer to God and become more effective witnesses for Christ. This is especially important to those hurting individuals who may be praying for a godly person to come across their path with some genuine encouragement and compassion.

When people are suffering, they appreciate and more readily receive the genuine. And once they have experienced godly compassion and encouragement, they understand the importance of sharing this gift with others. In the gospel of Matthew, we read: "Freely you have received, freely give" (10:8). God’s will is that His children (those who have accepted Christ as Savior) engage in prayer, encouragement, fasting, and intercession for one another.

The purpose of this book is twofold: First, it was written to persuade readers to believe that God has chosen them to receive unlimited blessings from heaven. Second, its purpose is to show them how to receive and claim those blessings and promises.

My desire is that as you study and apply the principles explained in this book, they will initiate positive and productive changes in your life. Others no doubt will be greatly influenced as they witness your godly life as it is brought into compliance with standards backed and supported by the Word of God.

This book will explore many important yet crucial areas of life. For instance, you will find yourself examining your heart and thoughts with regard to grace, forgiveness, love, fear of rejection, failure of modern psychology, psychobabble, accountability, sowing and reaping, tithing, judging others, conscience, emotions, use of time, use of the tongue, friendships, fellowship, giving, pride, self-righteousness, selfishness, self-centeredness, hypocrisy, and many other equally important issues.

Now, let us start this journey by raising the standard of God’s Word, which, when applied, can transform every aspect of our lives. The ultimate goal or desire is for us to find true peace and happiness. We need to understand that no man can give that which only God provides.

Therefore, let us pour out all of our heart’s desire to the Lord who can bless us with true and genuine peace and happiness, something for which we have been yearning for ages. As you read this book, please meditate on the apostle John’s statements: "You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free," and "Therefore, if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed" (John 8:32, 36).

My sincere prayer is that God will shine His mercy and grace on everyone who comes across this book. I wish all its readers and their families the best. May you find true peace, joy, and happiness. God Bless.