A Merry Heart

We all want a merry heart, but the truth is that the circumstances of life can beat us down, and our hearts become anything but merry.  Have you ever thought to yourself, How can my heart not merry in undesirable circumstances?  I have.  The Bible tells us that a merry heart is good like a medicine.  Medicines are healing agents; therefore, a merry heart is a healing agent according to the Word of God.  Recently the sweet Lord led me to read Proverbs 17:22–A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones—and I meditated on that verse desiring to know the how of possessing a merry heart.  I thought, how did my husband have a merry heart when his wife Pam was sick for 28 ½ years?  I thought about his response—My God isn’t sick— when people asked him how he could be so merry in light of his wife’s situation.  Not to say that he was continuously merry; he was, after all,  made of flesh like you and me, but more often than not, he was merry.  He made people laugh.  He made an entire room “come alive” by his larger than life presence.  He had found the secret, and he had put it into practice in his life.  He looked unto Jesus more than he looked at his life situation that had been dealt to him.  He remembered his place and portion in Christ, which caused his joy to overflow.  He chose to be thankful which gave him a joyful spirit.  He chose to rejoice in the Lord, which produced a merry heart. He chose to believe the Word of God—that the Lord is sovereign and in absolute control, which kept him from melancholy and gloom.  He exercised an humble spirit which kept him from questioning God’s goodness, doubting His control, and placed Him on the throne of his life.  He chose to believe that the Lord knew better than he did how his circumstances should unfold.  

Listen to this segment of one of Dr. Williams' sermons, There is a Rock that is Higher than I:

Segment

When we rejoice in the Lord, we are lifted up above what would depress and weigh down the soul.  A merry heart is available to every child of God.  It’s a choice that we make to look unto Jesus, to keep our minds upon Him, to think on things that are true from His Word, to say, Yes, to His will and to His way, to submit ourselves unto Him and resist the devil, and in everything to give thanks.  I recently read the following, If I am not listening to the truth and promises of God, then I am listening to the lies of the devil.  When our hearts are sorrowing we are susceptible to listening to the devil’s lies.  Let’s commit to pray for one another to make the choices that will lead us to possessing a merry heart.  Do you know someone who is walking the path of sorrow right now, or maybe you are presently walking in that path of sorrow?  Below is a prayer that you could pray for someone that you know is in sorrow right now. Take a moment to pray this prayer, or your own, for them right now.  If you are someone, like me, navigating that path of sorrow, would you please pray for me, and then give me the privilege to pray for you by letting me know you would like us to pray for you?  I and the wonderful ladies laboring with me in this ministry would be honored to pray for you.

Our Father, lead my friend, by Your grace, to keep looking unto Jesus.  Guide them, by Your Spirit, to think on the truth of Your Word.  Help them, by Your grace,  to choose thanksgiving over complaining.  Cover them with the shadow of Your wings and protect them from the devil’s cunningness.  Let Christ’s power rest upon them in their weakness.  Make Your presence known to them in a specific way today and shine your face upon them.  Give them that merry heart in the very midst of their sorrow.  Keep them by the power of Your might and love them to Yourself.  In Jesus Name, Amen. 

Listen to the full sermon here:

Sermon

Reflections:

• Look unto Jesus: When circumstances feel overwhelming, what is one thing you can choose to focus on today that will turn your heart toward Jesus instead of your circumstances?

• Choose thanksgiving: Name three things you can thank God for today—even in the midst of your difficult circumstances.

Leave a heart in the comments if this encouraged you!