Enjoying Life!!

(Prov 17:22 NLT) A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person's strength.

Here Solomon teaches us a lesson that I hope more Christian learn: the importance of have a cheerful heart. The message in this verse is that a merry heart or a joyful attitude (internally) can actually work healing externally (in your physical man). Simply put, the condition of your inner man will directly affect the condition of your outer man. Back in chapter 12 Solomon told us that “An anxious heart weighs a man down” (12:25).

Have you ever met someone who worries all the time? Unfortunately, there are even many Christians who are caught up in excessive worry. You can’t worry and trust at the same time. These people obviously have a trust problem (they are not trusting God) and they have a faith problem (they are not living by faith). The result is that they excessively worry about everything and anxiety can have detrimental affects to your body and your soul.

The Good News Bible reads: “Being cheerful keeps you healthy. It is slow death to be gloomy all the time.” Did you catch that? Those that live with a doom and gloom mentality are actually dying a slow death. Jesus did not die so that we could live a slow death of doom and gloom; He came that we might have life and that we would have it more abundantly (John 10:10). He not only came so that we would make it to heaven; Jesus wants us to enjoy the ride!

We already read what Solomon told us in chapter 12, in chapter 15 he gives us that other side of the story. Solomon said, “A cheerful heart brings a smile to your face” (15:13). This is the way that the Father wants us to live. Jehovah wants us to have and enjoy His life, the God-type of life. The Message Bible paraphrase of this verse reads: “A cheerful disposition is good for your health; gloom and doom leave you bone-tired.”

Here is a simple question: do you want to be healthy and happy or sick and tired? While the answer is obvious many allow the enemy to get them to focus on the wrong things. If the enemy can get your attention for five seconds, he will have your mind for five minutes (or more). Taking control of your thoughts is utterly important. Your thoughts give birth to images. Those images influence your words and actions. Your words and actions help shape your habits. Your habits help develop your character. Your character will ultimately determine where you end up in life.

It all starts with thoughts.

If you think the wrong things you will become the wrong person. That is why it is so important for every believer to fix his or her mind on the Word of God. Your mind must be renewed to think about things in the way that the Father desires for us to think. We must see ourselves the way He sees us. We must make our opinion of ourselves to line up with His opinion of us. If we do, we WILL NOT fall into the trap of stress, struggle and strain. If we don’t, not only will negative and ungodly thoughts rob us of God’s desired future for our lives, but they can actually make us sick along the way. Wouldn’t it be a shame to be miserable through life only to find out that you didn’t need to?

So what does this mean to you?

It means that you need to have fun!

I am tired of people that don’t want to give their hearts to God saying, “I don’t want to become a Christian yet, because I still want to have fun.” Why are they saying that? They are saying it because too many believers walk around lifeless. If you are in God and He is in you then you should enter every day with a spring in your step, a song in your heart, a smile on your face, and an attitude that enables you to whistle while you work! If you keep this attitude, then God will shine through you, others will be drawn to the Christ in you, and you will live longer and stronger for God!

Don’t kill yourself from the inside out!
Father, I sincerely thank You for this Word this morning. I know that a merry heart works healing in my body. I take the medicine of Your Word today. I look up and not down. I look forward and not backward. I take control of my thoughts and I declare that I am the victor, not the victim. I look at every challenge through the lens of faith. I see myself overcoming ever obstacle. I will not rob myself of the victory You want me to have and the health You want me to enjoy. I live long, healthy, and strong, because I hide Your Word in my heart and I align my thinking with Your thoughts concerning me! I am excited about this day and the rest of my life! In Jesus’ name. Amen!