Episode 119: be of good cheer - choose happiness this christmas!
Be of good cheer - choose happiness this christmas! - Episode 119
“ I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.” Today’s Christmas message is to remind myself and all of you to be of good cheer and be happy. For the Savior of the World has come and He fulfilled his promises. I share how it is easy for us to choose to be miserable but that we can remember what this Christmas season really means. We can have hope and good cheer. I share a handful of scriptures which remind us to be of good cheer and to fear not. So as a challenge for all of you this Christmas season - Be of good cheer - choose happiness and hope because we the Messiah has come!
Show Notes: Hi Friends! I hope you enjoyed listening to this episode. Below are all the references.
Things I learned this week: I think it is easy as humans to choose to miserable. Sometimes we think we need to have to earn our happiness in some way or qualify for it. So this week I thought a lot about how we can choose happiness because the Savior came into the World. And then I also thought about how many times we are told to be of good cheer and to not be afraid. I will list all the scriptures below.
Scriptures that say to be of good cheer:
Acts 27:25 Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that is shall be even as it was told me. (Paul on a perilous journey and even gets shipwrecked later in the chapter)
3 Nephi 1:13 Lift up your head and be of good cheer; for behold the time is at hand, and on this night shall the sign be given, and on the morrow come I into the world, to show unto the world that I will fulfill all that which I have caused to be spoken by the mouth of my holy prophets.
D&C 78:18 And ye cannot bear all things now; nevertheless be of good cheer, for I will lead you along. The kingdom is yours and the blessings thereof are yours, and the riches of eternity are yours.
Matthew 14:27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. (when Jesus was coming and walked on water)
Matt. 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
D&C 68:6 Wherefore, be of good cheer and do not fear, for I the Lord am with you, and will stand by you: and ye shall bear record of me, even Jesus Christ, that I am the Son of the living God, that I was, that I am and that I am to come.
D&C 112:4 Let thy heart be of good cheer before my face; and thou shalt bear record of my name, not only unto the Gentiles, but also unto the Jews; and thou shalt send forth my word unto the ends of the earth.
Mark 6:50 For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid.
Scriptures telling us to not be afraid:
Ezekiel 2:6 And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee, and thou does dwell among the scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.
Joshua 1:9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD they God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
Acts 18:9 Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace.
Luke 12:4-7 And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.
But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell: yea, I say unto you, Fear him.
Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?
But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.
D&C 6:33, 34, 36 (33) Feat not to do good, my sons, for whatsoever ye sow, that shall ye also reap, therefore, if ye sow good ye shall also reap good for your reward.
(34) Therefore, fear not, little flock; do good; let earth and hell combine against you, ,for if ye are built upon my rock they cannot prevail.
(36) Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not.
Luke Chapter 2: 10-14
10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you agood tidings of great bjoy, which shall be to all people.
11 For unto you is aborn this day in the city of David a bSaviour, which is Christ the cLord.
12 And this shall be a asign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14 aGlory to God in the highest, and on earth bpeace, good will toward men.
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?' Actually, who are you not to be?"
Marianne Williamson - from Return to Love
No matter how capable, educated, brilliant, or strong we are, we cannot cleanse ourselves from our sins, change our bodies to an immortal state, or exalt ourselves. It is only possible through the Savior Jesus Christ and His infinite Atonement. “There is none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God.”2 It is His atoning blood that cleanses us and sanctifies us.3 _- Paul V Johnson
