Proverbs 15:15
All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.
What of Today’s Verse…
A person’s heart is a major concern of the Lord. God’s Word tells us that he doesn’t look at the things people look at. We look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart; that is, our “thoughts and intentions” (1 Samuel 16:7).
Today’s verse tells us that a happy, or cheerful, heart make life “a continual feast.” How do we obtain—and maintain—this happy heart? There are many clues throughout the book of Proverbs. We should not let our hearts be anxious or proud because anxiety and pride are deterrents to a cheerful heart (Proverbs 12:25; 16:5). Instead, God calls us to have pure hearts and to keep them on the right path (Proverbs 22:11; 23:19). These are positive steps to achieving a happy heart because when we are being obedient to God’s Word and experiencing his smile of approval, our hearts will be lighter, even in difficult times.
The Bibles gives us many other instructions about how to have “healthy” hearts, but a good place to start is to embrace the truth of Proverbs 15:15 and ask God to show us how to develop hearts that are happy, no matter what challenges we are facing.
A cheerful spirit…
“When I think of God, my heart is so full of joy that the notes leap and dance as they leave my pen; and since God has given me a cheerful heart, I serve Him with a cheerful spirit.”
Let us Pray:
FATHER, help me to have a happy heart. Remove the anxiety that sometimes weighs my heart down. Keep my heart from growing proud. Instead, give me a pure heart—a heart that is pleasing to you. Help me to hide your Word in my heart so that I can walk in your ways and enjoy life that is a continual feast.
Words of Wisdom
Opening your mind…
To fully experience the joy of life, we need to maintain an open mind. An open mind is curious and enjoys testing its limits. The open mind does not seek approval, but instead appreciates genuine feedback and constructive criticism from others. The open mind enjoys exercising its powers, and constantly wonders about the unknown. And the open mind is willing to take calculated risks.
An open mind never takes anything for granted, and is not burdened by limiting assumptions. In fact, an open mind recognizes limits as temporary and works to find ways around them.
