A MERRY HEART

The Benefits

Proverbs 17:22 “A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones”.

We can always find things in this world to make us sad. Things that cause us to be less hopeful. However, these are not the things that the Lord would have us dwell on in our thinking. The scripture tells us to dwell on positive, pure, things of good report. Things worthy of praise, virtuous things (Philippians 4:8).

I can recall challenges that I have been through. Challenges that caused me to feel stress…Times when I worried about the impact and what the outcome would be. One thing I have regretted, in retrospect, is that I did not stay in peace, trusting God to see me through. I allowed the challenges to impact the amount of positivity I felt as I faced them. Now, when challenges come, I have the ability to look back at all the things the Lord has successfully brought me through and tell myself, God will also successfully bring you through this challenge as well.

There is a difference between worrying about something and thinking it through. Worrying usually entails going over and over in our minds the worst-case scenario and thinking that is where we are headed. We can instead remind ourselves of God’s promises as detailed in the scriptures, as well as the personal promises that He has made to us.

Focusing on the positive is a way to keep the negativity at bay. Find things that you enjoy doing and do them. It is important to have a balance in our lives. It should not be all work and no play. Enjoying our lives is a part of the abundant life. Laughter is therapeutic. So, when the devil tells you that all hope is lost, tell him that he is speaking of his own fate.

Our promise is for an abundant life; a life full of grace and joy.