I ran across a little piece from Ord L. Morrow the other day and thought I’d share it. It’s entitled “Five Keys For Happiness.” Those five keys, along with the proof-text scriptures Morrow suggested, are as follows: (scriptures from the N.K.J.V.)

1. Give God the first hour of each day. This means pray as soon as you wake up. Even if you can’t pray for a literal hour, pray as long as you can. As Mark 1:35 says of Jesus: “Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.”
2.  Give God the first day of the week. This means become actively involved in a good local church and make church one of the foundations upon which you build your week. As the apostle Paul, in 1 Corinthians 16:2, instructed the Christians of Corinth: “On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come.”
3. Give God the first portion of your income. This means always be sure that God gets His proper share of your earnings. As Proverbs 3:9 says: “Honor the Lord with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase;”
4. Give God the first consideration in every decision. This means make God’s will your absolute top priority in all decisions. As Jesus says in Matthew 6:33: “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”
5. Give God’s Son first place in your heart always. This means make Jesus not just your Savior but also the LORD of every breath you take. As Paul says, in 2 Corinthians 8:5, concerning the way the devout Christians of Macedonia responded to him and his ministry team: “…but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God.”

I trust you will agree with me that these five keys are timeless. That’s why I cut the piece out and kept it for my files. Of course, if you can get that fifth one mastered you won’t have any trouble carrying out the other four. Like those Christians of Macedonia, first give yourself to the Lord and then mind Him as He leads you into His will for each and every situation.