A Glad Heart, revisited

Shake, shake, rattle, a splash of water hits glass, you tip your head back and swallow. You sigh and close your eyes as you wait for the medicine to take effect. For the headache to leave, the back pain to ease or the fever abate. We've all done it; people will continue to need and use medicine always. And the relief is extreme. You can lift your head, you can focus your eyes, and see the beauty around you.

“A glad heart doeth good like medicine” Truly did Solomon through God’s wisdom know what he was talking about! How important it is for our hearts to be glad. Our attitudes are reflected by the condition of our hearts. When we have brushed the dust of apathy or coping out of the corners of our hearts and filled it afresh with the gladness of God’s salvation, the relief will be tangible.

Sometimes we need to put a little effort, “gird up the loins of our minds” and shape up our hearts. It’s up to each person to cultivate the heart.

First: Count your blessings. There is always something to be thankful for! Pollyanna had it right when she played the ‘glad game’. Do you have food? Be glad. Be thankful. Do you have clothes on? Be thankful. Be glad. Write them down, say them out loud, do something to remind yourself of your blessings. How quickly our minds will react because our souls are thankful for even small things: sometimes it just needs reminded.

Second: Look out your window and view something beautiful. Is it winter out there? Cold and gray? God made grays and brown along with the greens, reds and yellows. Do you live on a busy street in town? Lift your head up to the skies and glory in the blue. Raining? That’s ok, the people before the flood never experienced that first beautiful spring rain- scented, soft, gentle and sparkily.

Third: Thank God for His grace and long-suffering. I wish it wasn't so easy as Christians to get busy with life and almost forget how blessed we are to have salvation. “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some count slackness; but is longsuffering to you-ward, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” II Peter 3:9

Does the sun shine more brightly when our hearts are glad? Or do we see the same sun out of beautified hearts? Fill your heart with gladness. Shine your glad heart into you life and see once again how beautiful God has made your life. Feel the relief of trusting God with a glad heart.

Have a beautiful day!