Tuesday, January 13, 2026

Reflection - Psalm 146 - How to Be Happy

Source (book): "My Soul Thirsts For God", Reflections on the Psalms from Our Daily Bread, Psalm 146, "How to Be Happy", Page 186.
By Richard DeHaan, Our Daily Bread Writer



Psalm 146
PHOTO: Psalm 146
Praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord, O my soul.
While I live, I will praise the Lord;
I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.

Do not put your trust in princes,
Nor in a son of man, in whom there is no help.
His spirit departs, he returns to his earth;
In that very day his plans perish.

Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help,
whose hope is in the Lord his God.
Who made heaven and earth,
The sea, and everything in them;
Who keeps truth forever,
Who executes justice for the oppressed,
Who gives food to the hungry.
The Lord gives freedom to the prisoners,

The Lord opens the eyes of the blind,
The Lord raises those who are bowed down,
The Lord loves the righteous.
The Lord watches over the strangers,
He relieves the fatherless and widow,
But the way of the wicked He turns upside down.

The Lord shall reign forever—
Your God, O Zion, to all generations.

Praise the Lord!
[
New King James Version (NKJV)]


How to Be Happy
Everyone wants to be happy. But many fail in their quest to find that elusive prize because they are looking in the wrong places.

Proverbs 16:20 tells us, "Whoever trusts in the Lord, happy is he." And Psalm 146:5 indicates that happiness comes to those who find their help and hope in God.

The foundation for happiness is a proper relationship with the Lord. But to fully experience that happiness, we must build on that foundation in practical ways. I found this list of
Ten Rules for Happier Living:

1. Give something away.
2. Do a kindness.
3. Give thanks always.
4. Work with vim and vigor (
enthusiasm).
5. Visit the elderly and learn from their experience.
6. Look intently into the face of a baby and marvel.
7. Laugh often - it's life's lubricant.
8. Pray to know God's way.
9. Plan as though you will live forever - you will.
10. Live as though today is your last day on earth.


These are excellent ideas for living a happy life.
Undergird (strengthen) each of these rules with praise, and your happiness will be complete. "Praise the Lord, O my soul! While I live I will praise the Lord" (Psalm 146:1-2).
- Richard DeHaan
Picture posted by Luciane Oliveira
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimJGVkIzkYsW8Xf5LUwNMGz9q6_qqrfRDNI8nmfNAyynyO-rEst6CSUifY6iy4ElA_FYfX7q8HOvtX7Pt9c6RVXQQlLl4iOT8yNcDEHmitS1j-0M-OpRV9tdwJoLTP36tbaQoXBcN-GBh6pDqIkf5z2aJxxUQtqS7raRUYDN0mScxQLFnbWb_AsUIhgAw/s1248/9a8bfcb7a4d6c04f6b46663031de8898_1.png
https://i.pinimg.com/1200x/9a/8b/fc/9a8bfcb7a4d6c04f6b46663031de8898.jpg
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/302233825014313623/
 
 
Psalm 146
Praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord, O my soul.
While I live, I will praise the Lord;
I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.

Do not put your trust in princes,
Nor in a son of man, in whom there is no help.
His spirit departs, he returns to his earth;
In that very day his plans perish.

Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help,
whose hope is in the Lord his God.
Who made heaven and earth,
The sea, and everything in them;
Who keeps truth forever,
Who executes justice for the oppressed,
Who gives food to the hungry.
The Lord gives freedom to the prisoners,

The Lord opens the eyes of the blind,
The Lord raises those who are bowed down,
The Lord loves the righteous.
The Lord watches over the strangers,
He relieves the fatherless and widow,
But the way of the wicked He turns upside down.

The Lord shall reign forever—
Your God, O Zion, to all generations.

Praise the Lord!
[
New King James Version (NKJV)]
How to Be Happy
Everyone wants to be happy. But many fail in their quest to find that elusive prize because they are looking in the wrong places.
https://live.staticflickr.com/4366/36093516720_5fbba6c63b_b.jpg - (2610570693-e1c7f9f8-af44-11f0-98c3-e6f9a22d6bf4_11_x3.2_Enhanced_14.png)
Proverbs 16:20 tells us, "Whoever trusts in the Lord, happy is he." And Psalm 146:5 indicates that happiness comes to those who find their help and hope in God.


Proverbs 16:20 tells us
PHOTO: Proverbs 16:20 tells us, "Whoever trusts in the Lord, happy is he." And Psalm 146:5 indicates that happiness comes to those who find their help and hope in God.
Picture posted by AR Rachel
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWRsOfC-hc4RHXhK8gScgviFR36E_89FJgP4g8bItgQnFSKZ5eaTt1OLoh9eNN7mXUd_9KBjvknvBs9iI7chIdre4oXBDM0nvEx9OUsFW2m82QrwhWbJRXCdRXkdcpnvomIucEdC0UkjK2gpKbT9nhGTUyebm-j9DEBVQKFjxsyv4gYDCmhpfjvtASsAs/s1536/55552b45e405b36fb3e9bc7dd70fb080_1.png
https://i.pinimg.com/1200x/55/55/2b/55552b45e405b36fb3e9bc7dd70fb080.jpg
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/408209153747213941/



The foundation for happiness is a proper relationship with the Lord. But to fully experience that happiness, we must build on that foundation in practical ways. I found this list of
Ten Rules for Happier Living:

1. Give something away.
2. Do a kindness.
3. Give thanks always.
4. Work with vim and vigor (
enthusiasm).
5. Visit the elderly and learn from their experience.
6. Look intently into the face of a baby and marvel.
7. Laugh often - it's life's lubricant.
8. Pray to know God's way.
9. Plan as though you will live forever - you will.
10. Live as though today is your last day on earth.
 

The foundation for happiness is a proper relationship with the Lord. But to fully experience that happiness, we must build on that foundation in practical ways.
PHOTO: The foundation for happiness is a proper relationship with the Lord. But to fully experience that happiness, we must build on that foundation in practical ways.
Picture posted by Emily Kotviski

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjufRdNHwoN4upcQkzta7wXJcFgpoTcXbBFyCfIIODaKPxH-Pwl1AQtjEq0yJQkoiYbZM-ePsjwFo4ANXrxqYOw-7wrLMy2Bh-TMAujxJdUl4DeZrXhqPSiKJE5M7eRJMFNKcivR4X6tFvP8ho7rbzJ8axg6V3os3YDv4J4Q3FF3ZdraD3kK2jT1TYoyqk/s2400/5a8cf75a87673cc6031569ec985c5c6a9f_11.png
https://i.pinimg.com/736x/8c/f7/5a/8cf75a87673cc6031569ec985c5c6a9f.jpg
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/207869339047755316/



These are excellent ideas for living a happy life.
Undergird (strengthen) each of these rules with praise, and your happiness will be complete. "Praise the Lord, O my soul! While I live I will praise the Lord" (Psalm 146:1-2).
- Richard DeHaan
 

Dear Lord
PHOTO: "Dear Lord, we pray that we have proper relationship with You. May we then fully experience that happiness which is build on that foundation in practical ways. With each rules, may we strengthen it with praise to the Lord.

Through Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.
"
Picture posted by Cathelyn Montenegro De La Rosa

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic5dWdiMZkNw9ANXQ_P11EOIMAwWMzVv6lb_PisgC9_B9biBoknMvtayYC5uZTRydpprDUdmOFf8KsDT8Khf-VDaVMSzpHbIvAbZDkb7TizghC-uRFby2dSsHZ4a6grV6EcIXPcZJVmiPXk4IDW17T3KiLF708K05xJSuIbZp2vuR9xZhzVdLefQEnZ1E/s1024/7c3428b8e6e6c3d5b002ab1c941bba11_3.png
https://i.pinimg.com/1200x/7c/34/28/7c3428b8e6e6c3d5b002ab1c941bba11.jpg
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/37999190601360657/


Reflection - Psalm 146 - How to Be Happy
Source (book): "My Soul Thirsts For God", Reflections on the Psalms from Our Daily Bread, Psalm 146, "How to Be Happy", Page 186.
By Richard DeHaan, Our Daily Bread Writer




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Reference
[1] From "My Soul Thirsts For God", Reflections on the Psalms from Our Daily Bread, Copyright @ 2009 by Discovery House Publishers, Psalm 146, "How to Be Happy", Page 186.

Links