Cheerful Heart

For Thursday, February 2, 2006
Proverbs 15:13

A glad heart makes a cheerful face,
but by sorrow of heart the spirit is crushed.

This proverb can be taken as both descriptive and prescriptive. It describes the effect of the heart on the outer being and welfare of its owner. A glad heart cheers up the face and the spirit. It promotes well being. Sorrow, on the other hand, crushes the spirit, makes the face downcast, and adversely affects a person's health. We can read the same information in scientific studies.

The proverb is also, then, prescribing what is good for us. It is good for us to be cheerful. We cannot manufacture cheer, but we can choose to focus on what is encouraging rather than what weighes us down. We can be guilty of dwelling on our failures and losses, refusing to acknowledge the blessings that God has given. We can be guilty of focusing on the negative - what is wrong with others and bothersome in our lives - rather than looking for the good. We can choose cynicism over observing what is good.

What will you see today? There is always both good and bad. What will you look for?