Nurturing a Happy Heart

Jun 19

by Victoria Robinson

King Solomon told us, “A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit.” Therefor it is important to nurture a happy heart. Yet can one have a happy heart when times are bad? A godly widow recently told me that on the day of her husband’s funeral, she had joy in her heart. She went on to say that she did not tell anyone because she feared how that would be perceived. Given the darkness of losing her husband, that concern was so understandable. However, as a christian we know how it is possible for her heart to have joy at such an unthinkable time. This precious widow understood God knew what was best in His providence.

I love what the following commentary says concerning Solomon’s words, “When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider: God has made the one as well as the other.”

God has balanced prosperity with adversity according to His providence so that man may be totally dependent upon Him. This trust in divine providence is the only sufficient protection against the evil which inevitably comes. 
Believer’s Study Bible

So how can we nurture a happy heart even when times are bad? First, it is important to make sure you are purging sin from your heart. The apostle Peter said, “Do you want to be happy? Then stop saying cruel things and quit telling lies. Give up your evil ways and do right, as you find and follow the road that leads to peace.” A heart at peace is a happy heart.

Praise and thanksgiving will also nurture a happy heart. The book of Philippians tells us that a thankful heart will bring us peace that will control the way we think and feel.

Girlfriends, King Solomon also taught us that we should enjoy life. The Believers Study Bible so eloquently says, “Enjoyment is godly cheerfulness of the heart which directly flows from gratitude for all that God provides.”

Dearest girlfriends, let us seek to nurture a happy heart and enjoy the life God has given us.

A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit. ~ Proverbs 15:13 NIV

… for the happy heart, life is a continual feast. ~ Proverbs 15:15 NLT

When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider: God has made the one as well as the other. … ~ Ecclesiastes 7:14 NIV 

Do you really love life? Do you want to be happy? Then stop saying cruel things and quit telling lies. Give up your evil ways and do right, as you find and follow the road that leads to peace. ~ 1 Peter 3:10-11 CEV
 
If you obey the Lord, you will be happy, but there is no future for the wicked. ~ Proverbs 10:28 CEV
 
Always be glad because of the Lord! I will say it again: Be glad. Always be gentle with others. The Lord will soon be here. Don’t worry about anything, but pray about everything. With thankful hearts offer up your prayers and requests to God. Then, because you belong to Christ Jesus, God will bless you with peace that no one can completely understand. And this peace will control the way you think and feel. ~ Philippians 4:4-7 CEV
 
So I recommend having fun, because there is nothing better for people to do in this world than to eat, drink, and enjoy life. That way they will experience some happiness along with all the hard work God gives them. ~ Ecclesiastes 8:15 NLT
 
Be happy and shout to God who makes us strong! Shout praises to the God of Jacob. ~ Psalm 81:1 CEV
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This entry was posted on Sunday, June 19th, 2011 at 9:00 pm and is filed under Encouragement, Spiritual Health. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

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