Over the years, I’ve had many interesting conversations with people about life. We all think about how fleeting life is and how things can change in a single moment. We are surrounded by the evidence of living in a fallen world. People get horrible diseases and treat each other cruelly. There’s always a natural disaster and a war going on somewhere. This becomes very depressing if Jesus wasn’t in the world…but He is! The Bible reminds us to “always rejoice in the Lord.” We may not be happy about our circumstances, but we can always rejoice in Jesus. Today, let’s listen a passage from the Psalms that the late pastor and Bible teacher Ern Baxter once called “The Christian’s Secret Formula for a Happy Life.”

Which of you wants a full life? Who would like to live long enough to enjoy good things? Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. Turn away from evil, and do good. Seek peace, and pursue it! (Psa. 34:12-14)

I like this! I can still hear Brother Ern’s thundering voice as he taught on this passage more than forty years ago. Let’s listen to verse 12 again: “Which of you wants to live a full life? Who would like to live long enough to enjoy good things?” Wow! Who wouldn’t want that! King David tells us three practical things we can do if we want to live a full life. First, don’t say hurtful things and don’t tell lies. Second, don’t keep doing what you know is wrong and start doing what you know is right. Finally, be intentional about seeking peace with those around you. Being intentional might include a willingness to be wronged for the sake of preserving a relationship, which can be far more important than being "right."

So, do you want to live a full life? Then watch your mouth, do the right thing, and seek peace with the people around you. That’s God’s secret formula for a happy life...and that is very Good News!