“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed
spirit dries up the bones.”
This is not superstition - it is a biblical and medical
fact.
Research confirms that optimism influences healthiness. Studies show
that cheerful people appear to have better cardiovascular health - and optimism
(as measured by the Optimism-Pessimism scale of the MMPI) can improve recovery rates in medical patients by nearly 20%.
Science validates what God said nearly 3,000 years ago in
Proverbs... That our attitude impacts our well-being.
Our culture likes to reverse that… we use circumstances as an excuse for
our bad attitudes - but this verse indicates that our attitude may be
contributing to our difficult circumstances.
Each of us have struggles in our lives. Some more than others - but we
all have problems. Conversely, we all have a list of things for which we can be
thankful… Choose today to focus on that list.
On good Friday I decided to spend some time only thanking God for all He
has done for me. I am embarrassed to say that it was difficult to pray without
falling back into the usual routine of listing my requests. But I restricted
myself to giving thanks only - and I cannot tell you how powerful it was.
I was amazed at the things that flooded my mind – the answered prayers I
had missed – remembering the storms God has carried me through - the amazing
people God has placed in my life.
I was shocked by how much of my prayer life has been spent telling God what
I want Him to do next …and what little time I have spent asking for guidance
and thanking Him for His blessings.
Scripture says the “Joy of the Lord is our strength’ - and instructs us
to “rejoice in the Lord always” …That doesn’t mean we are ignorant of problems -
it just means we won’t allow them to rule us.
Let me challenge you today to spend some time in prayer dedicated only
to giving thanks. Spend the day
cheerfully acknowledging God’s gracious love for you.
Choose to have a cheerful heart based on the faith you have in your
Heavenly Father. It is great medicine - with
no harmful side effects.
“The unselfish effort to bring cheer to others will be the beginning of
a happier life for ourselves.” —Helen Keller
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