Archive for February, 2023
You’ll Get a Kick Out of This
“A merry heart does good, like medicine ….” Proverbs 17: 22
All the problems in the world compounded by our personal ones creates a time needing a merry heart. Can I get a witness?
According to the Mayo Clinic laughter is a powerful form of stress relief which works in a number of different ways, including increasing endorphins released by the brain; decreasing your stress response; and alleviating tension.
Without knowing all of the capacities and work of the pituitary and hypothalamus and everything else, Solomon, under the power of the Holy Spirit, made an observation that a merry heart is good like a medicine. It is needed because our bodies are under a biochemical onslaught. It is not coming from a toxic waste dump. Or is it? If so, it is coming from an internal one known as the mind. This biochemical rush suppresses the immune system to various infections and diseases.
A merry heart plays a key role in good health and longevity. It can positively affect diseases and conditions as diverse as high blood pressure, flu, heart disease, arthritis, and diabetes. It raises the spirits, invigorates the body, and fits it for service and business. It can even help you live longer!
A heart full of spiritual joy, a peaceful conscience, a rejoicing in Christ Jesus and His righteousness, and in hope of the glory of God, affect even the outward person.
Plan how you can cultivate a heart that is more merry. What will you read, view, listen to, and the people you will associate with? Import humor, and enjoy it. Prayerfully work at it.
Health is no laughing matter, but it does matter if you laugh. Laughter is nature’s health.
Emulate God. He laughed: “He who sits in heaven laughs.” ( If you doubt that just look in the mirror).
The book of averages states the average American laughs 15 times a day. How are you doing? Why not upgrade your average?
All this sounds complex. It isn’t. Dr. Seuss had it right, from there to here, from here to there, funny things are everywhere.” Look for them.
Feed your mind on Scripture passages that lift your spirit. Make it a point to systematically memorize some of these and repeat them often to yourself. Nothing can make a person more cheerful than knowing they live with God’s grace, love, and compassion.
Here is the big bonus of a merry heart: “The gladness of the heart is the life of man, and the joyfulness of a man prolongs his days.” (Ecclesiastes 30: 22)
The Victory Is Near
In March 1915, during World War I (1914-18), British and French forces launched a naval attack on Turkish forces in the Dardanelles in northwestern Turkey, hoping to take control of the strategically vital strait separating Europe from Asia.
As the only waterway between the Black Sea in the east and the Mediterranean Sea in the west, the Dardanelles was a much-contested area from the beginning of World War I.
A climatic battle between the Turkish land forces and the British sea forces raged at great cause to both sides. The British commander of the fleet concluded it was futile to continue the combat and sailed away. He did so not realizing the Turkish land force had only minutes of ammunition remaining which would have resulted in a British victory.
Have you ever had a personal conflict in one or more ways? It may have seemed to continue to resist your opposition would be costly for you and you were inclined to no longer resist your opposition.
It may be a temptation to end your resistance to sexual allurement. Compromise seemed to be reasonable and you were tempted to no longer resist.
It may have been an appeal to avoid a shady financial situation and you have been successful, but have grown weary and tempted to compromise.
It may be your combat is with the world regarding any one of many moral issues.
Pause now and identify an issue in your life on which you have stood strong knowing there was much to be gained. However, the efforts have become draining and you are feeling the costs of resistance to be too great. It would be easier to go along to get along. To do so is to lose the victory that could be yours.
Your victory may be closer than you realize. Continue the fray.
Here is your battle strategy: “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints….” (Ephesians 6:13-18) Analyze that for application.
There is strength and victory to be gained by the struggle even if it is lifelong: “Knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.” (James 1:3)