Garwood Presbyterian Church

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How To Be Happy and Successful In Life

1. Jesus said that He wants us to have a fully wonderful life.
   "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." John 10:10
2. The way to experience this fully wonderful life and be happy and successful is not what we would at first think.
   ³⁴Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. ³⁵ For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it." Mark 8:34-35
3. We lose our life by not living it for ourself, but for God and others.
   ²⁸ One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?" ²⁹ "The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. ³⁰ Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' ³¹ The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these." Mark 12:28-31
4. We love God directly by worshipping Him (from a heart of thanksgiving for who He is and what He's done for us). We also love God by doing what He wants us to do.
   Jesus said, ¹⁵ "If you love me, you will obey what I command." John 14:15
5. When we obey Jesus' commands, He says that we will experience His love and joy in our life.
   ¹⁰ "If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. ¹¹ I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete." John 15:10-11
6. Having Jesus' love and joy in our life will make us happy and successful!