Thanksgiving -- the act of and not the holiday -- may very well be the secret of happiness for many people.

Psalm 100 -- (subtitled by the author as A Psalm for Giving Thanks) -- says that we are to enter His gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; we are to give thanks to Him and praise his Name. It reminds us that the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations.

And yet, just the other day I heard someone ask, "What do I have to be thankful for?"

I believe if we take the time to look around and see just how wonderfully we are blessed, we would never ask that question. We over look so many blessings, and we do it on a daily basis. We can't find happiness because we are always focusing on the negatives and forgetting to praise God.

The secret of happiness in the Bible is to praise the Lord always, giving thanks to him constantly with joy, in all circumstances.

It is actually that simple. Praise the Lord, and give thanks to God, with joy, always, for everything, in all circumstances:

On a sunny day: Thanks be to God. On a rainy day: Thanks be to God. On a stormy day: Thanks be to God -- the lightening and thunder are also gifts of God for you. When you eat or work or play: Thanks be to God.

As silly as it sounds, even if you're you sick, or in need, or with big problems, you should give thanks to God. God cares so much about you that, according to scriptures, even the hairs of your head have been numbered. The truth is, every good thing in your life is a gift of God.

To give thanks to God always, with joy, praising God, is the secret of happiness.

But, sadly, some people do the opposite. Instead of giving thanks to God always, they are complaining constantly.

If it snows, they have to shovel it. If it rains, they get wet. Even if it is a beautiful sunshine day, they complain because they are working and can't enjoy it. Instead of always praying, they are always slandering God -- as if He would always prepare just the wrong thing for them -- and this why they are always sad, instead of being happy.

And, if they are not true believers, after being always sad on earth, they may find they are forever separated from God.

While those who know the Lord -- and who live their lives on this earth giving thanks to God constantly and praising the Lord always -- will go on to spend eternity in the presence of the Most High God.

Alleluia!

The truly sad part of al this is that some believers still walk around acting like they have never experienced even one blessing from God. They slander God by talking and acting as if He has a grudge against them and would never cut them a break.

They may end up in heaven -- because of their faith in Jesus as Savior -- but what a miserable life they will live on this earth in the meantime.

I don't want to be like that. What about you?

Have a great Thanksgiving!