A joyful heart will do wonders in your life

A joyful heart is good medicine, But a broken spirit dries up the bones. (Prov. 17:22 NAS)

Joy in our hearts is a mystery. There are few things that directly impact the health of the spirit like joy. When the spirit and soul are full of joy, the body responds to that joy. The scripture above makes is abundantly clear, that a “joyful heart is good medicine” but a spirit that is “broken”, crushed, bitter, or offended “dries up the bones. ” The phrase “dries up the bones” is a description of sickness in the body. Joy is God’s medication to heal your body and keep it healthy.

Man is searching for joy in his heart. Real joy, not a fleeting monetary pleasure or happiness, comes from the spirit. We are trying to obtain a fruit of the spirit (Gal. 5:22), and a heavenly treasure, with things on earth. If there was a physical medication called “joy”, I would have prescribed it to all of my patients with endless, non-stop refills! We sometimes wish joy could be bought with success, fame, money, and possessions. God has a pill that produces joy in our lives. He says in Jer. 15:16 “Thy words were found and I ate them, and Thy words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart“. Are you looking for a practical way to increase joy in your heart? Feed your spirit with His Word. Live perpetually in God’s presence for “in His presence is fullness of joy”( Ps.16:11). Spiritual joy is not dependent on our physical circumstances, but He changes our circumstances to “make our joy full” (Jn.15:11). You cannot fabricate joy. You cannot wait to have a joyful heart only when you have what you want. It is the joyful heart that will change your world, and bring what you are looking for. Rejoice always in the Lord!

MEDITATE

Think on the Word above carefully. Look inside and see the state of your heart. Is it joyful? Take His Word in as you meditate and realize that joy springs forth whenever the Word of God enters the spirit of man.

PRAY

Thank God for the blessing of joy that has been brought to us in Christ Jesus. Ask the Lord to help you jealously guard your joy.

APPLY THE WORD TODAY!

Joy is a seed in your heart, planted heart by the Holy Spirit. God says “rejoice always” (1 Thes.5:16). Plant the seed by His Word by cultivating God’s presence in your life. Then act on that seed by maintaining your joy outwardly. Many believers “try” to “rejoice always” by “acting joyful in faith”, without first nurturing the seed of joy inside their heart. God’s Word and Presence are our armory of joy. Rejoice always! Nurture the seed, and act on it. Do not make the mistake of waiting for “things to get better” before you rejoice in the Lord. Rejoice right now! The Word from the Lord in this devotional will bring joy in your spirit, because His Word is joy to our hearts. Start rejoicing, and continue to rejoice. Refuse to let anyone or anything take away your joy!