While the big pharmaceutical companies are busy spending billions of dollars on research to discover new medications to help fight off and cure sickness and disease, the Bible has a special medicine, that if used, can often not only prevent many illnesses, but prolong life. And the wonderful thing about this medicine is that it is free and can wart off a multitude of diseases.
Just what is this wonder cure? It is none other than joy! A. B. Simpson gives us a wonderful snapshot of just how medicinal joy is when he shared: “Begin to rejoice in the Lord, and your bones will flourish like an herb, and your cheeks will glow with the bloom of health and freshness. Worry, fear, distrust, care – all are poisonous! Joy is balm and healing, and if you will but rejoice, God will give power.”1
And just as worry, fear, distrust, and care are poisonous to our well-being, a joyful heart is, in my opinion, a great balm and healing agent. The Scriptures are quite clear on this point for we read in (Proverbs 17:22): “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.” While a good diet is important to our overall health, the thoughts we think are also critical to our well-being. The book of Proverbs is full of wisdom on this point. For example, we read: “Pleasant words are a honeycomb, Sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” (Proverbs 16:24). “Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down, but a good word makes it glad.” (Proverbs 12:25). “A soothing tongue is a tree of life, but perversion in it crushes the spirit.” (Proverbs 15:4). And, “A tranquil heart is life to the body, but passion is rottenness to the bones. (Proverbs 14:30).
I believe that the joy of the Lord is the overarching condition of the heart that makes good health possible and life a wonderful and fulfilling adventure. And the most amazing thing about joy is that it doesn’t depend upon circumstances but on our relationship with the Lord. As we stay close to the Lord, obey His commands, and do His will, joy will automatically be dispensed to our hearts. And this special balm will shield us from all the negative energy around us and the trials of life we all go through.
When you take your focus off the negative circumstances of life and place your heart on our all-powerful and positive God, no trial can steal your joy. Knowing that we are doing God’s will brings joy. Knowing that our actions are advancing God’s kingdom brings joy. And knowing when we are standing up for Jesus that we are accumulating treasures in heaven – this too brings joy. And in closing if you don’t think joy is possible in all situations just meditate on (Matthew 5:11-12): “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
1 TOP 25 QUOTES BY A. B. SIMPSON (of 79) | A-Z Quotes (azquotes.com)
Devotion quote:
“As we stay close to the Lord, obey His commands, and do His will, joy will automatically be dispensed to our hearts.”
Random response:
“Joy is not a feeling in us. Joy does not enter into us. We enter into joy: ‘Enter into the joy of your Lord’
“To get the full value of joy you must have someone to divide it with.” Twain