Two-minute read.
When my dad battled lung cancer during my teens, I did my best to make him smile. I bought him a clown figurine, which sat by his bed. Although I could do nothing about the disease steadily growing inside of him, I could do my best to bring him joy.
What we think and feel has a significant impact on our physical condition. When the Bible refers to stiff-necked people, it describes stubborn, hard-hearted individuals who refuse to bend. Because they dig their heels into the sand, they experience physical stiffness in their necks.
Maintaining a positive and healthy outlook on life promotes good health, as our psychological state has a significant impact on our physical well-being. The more we keep our eyes on Jesus and the hope He offers, it not only affects us emotionally but also physically.
“Broken heart syndrome is real,” a friend said to me at lunch, telling me about her recent heart attack. After having a heart-wrenching conversation, she had a temporary condition that causes the heart muscle to weaken and bulge. Although the exact cause eludes doctors, they believe it comes from the release of stress hormones in intense situations that damage the heart muscle.
Helping people maintain a positive attitude by pointing them to the Savior and the hope He offers can contribute to their overall well-being. Our pastor shared a story about a dying man visited by his father, who brought him a loaf of his mother’s homemade bread. That one act of love changed the man’s attitude, and he began to improve, eventually leading to recovery because his father had given him hope.
Spread cheer wherever you go, encouraging people’s hearts and bringing health to their bones. One smile, one hug, could turn a crushed spirit into a hopeful one that breathes life into a tired soul.
Journal Question:
Who do you think of when you think of a cheerful heart?
In what ways do you need encouragement today?
How can you bring joy to someone with a crushed spirit?
Prayer:
Lord, thank You for giving us hope in Jesus. Please fill our hearts with Your joy and help us share it with the world, one person at a time. Lift the crushed in spirit and renew their hearts with cheer.
IJNIP. Amen
