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The “World Happiness Report” indicates that Canadians have become considerably less happy over the last decade. COVID has also had a negative impact on our mental health. The world is currently in the grips of a mental health crisis! Our psychological and emotional well-being is at a low ebb. Put simply, many people are feeling unhappy these days.
Definition: Happiness is a state of well-being or contentment.
- GOD ___________________________________________________
1 Timothy 6:6 NLT “Godliness with contentment is itself great wealth.”
Proverbs 15:15 NLT “For the despondent, every day brings trouble; for the happy heart, life is a continual feast.”
Our _________________ and _______________ impact our happiness.
Matthew 5:3-9 GNT (The Beatitudes)
3 “Happy are those who know they are spiritually poor;
the Kingdom of heaven belongs to them!
4 “Happy are those who mourn;
God will comfort them!
5 “Happy are those who are humble;
they will receive what God has promised!
6 “Happy are those whose greatest desire is to do what God requires;
God will satisfy them fully!
7 “Happy are those who are merciful to others;
God will be merciful to them!
8 “Happy are the pure in heart;
they will see God!
9 “Happy are those who work for peace;
God will call them his children!
Psalm 118:24 NLT
“This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.”
Philippians 4:4 NCV “Be full of joy in the Lord always. I will say again, be full of joy.”
Romans 12:2 NLT
“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.”
- EXERCISE ______________________________________________
Genesis 2:15 NLT “The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it.”
In the time of Jesus, people got a lot of exercise. Their physical activity was built into their everyday lives. They didn’t need to go to the gym to work out. Their daily lives were a workout!
1 Timothy 4:8 NLT
“Physical training is good…”
1 Corinthians 9:27 NLT
“I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should.”
The Science of Exercise Happiness:
- Runner’s High
- Endorphins (“happy” chemicals)
Being Active Outdoors Makes Us Even Happier!
- The Forest Boosts Our Immune System
- Nature Recharges Our Batteries
- Being Active Outdoors Releases Feel-Good Hormones
- Memories Lead to Long-Lasting Happiness
- We Connect with Our Creator
Dr. Karmel Choi’s Research (Harvard’s School of Health): Exercise combats depression! JAMA Psychiatry, January, 2019
Next Step: How will you make regular exercise part of your daily life?
College Heights Seventh-day Adventist Church
Dr. Jeff Potts | pastorjeff@chsda.ca
