Medicine for the Disheartened – Beloved Women – July 3, 2020
READ: “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” (Proverbs 17:22 ESV)
TODAY’S ENCOURAGEMENT: I sat under a heavy cloud. Bad news seemed to pour in from everywhere. My shoulders tightened, and my head began to ache. Glancing at my phone, I absentmindedly opened a video from my brother-in-law. It was only three minutes long, but by the end, I could feel the tension ease. Laughter has a way of doing that.
Studies expound the healing benefits of laughter—mental relaxation, lowered blood pressure and pain, and an improved immunity. However, it was in the Bible that we first learn of this gift from God. “A joyful heart is good medicine” expresses the restorative qualities of a cheerful mind and reminds us of its therapeutic effects when we are feeling ‘crushed’. No matter how dismal the outlook, one constant source of joy is remembering the good God has done for us. When we recall how He rescued us from the punishment we deserved, and restored us to peace through Christ, then our mouths fill with laughter and our tongues with shouts of joy. (Psalm 126:2)
So today, seek out ways to incorporate good, healthy laughs into your day and rejoice in the Lord for He has done great things for you.
PRAY: Dear Father in Heaven, Thank You for the gift of laughter. Thank You that my heart can rejoice in your goodness. When my days feel heavy or dry, please help me to look up and smile for You are a good God. Thank You for all that You have done for me.
In Jesus Christ’s Name, I pray, Amen.
REFLECT: What blessings bring a smile to your face today? How can you incorporate more laughter into your day?
CONNECT: Find more encouragement from Carla Lake on Instagram here.
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© 2020 by Carla Lake. All rights reserved.
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