22 A cheerful heart is good medicine,
but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. Proverbs 17 NIV
22 If you are cheerful,
you feel good;
if you are sad,
you hurt all over. Contemporary English Version, CEV
22 Being cheerful keeps you healthy. It is slow death to be gloomy all the time. Good News Translation, GNT
22 A joy-filled heart is curative balm,
but a broken spirit hurts all the way to the bone. The VOICE
Both the Old and New Testaments give a clear link between our inner heart attitudes and physical well-being. Some of the modern translations make very strong statements about being continually sad of heart, ‘It is SLOW DEATH to be gloomy all the time’ (GNT). Derek Prince battled Depression for a long time in His early Ministry. He memorised scripture and quoted it continually to counter a negative mindset, however in the end the Holy Spirit revealed to him that it was a spirit behind his condition. Isaiah 61:3 He soon told it to get out and was relieved of his negative thoughts. (His full testimony is available on YouTube)
3 Further, my brothers and sisters, REJOICE IN THE LORD! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you. Philippians 3:1
4 REJOICE IN THE LORD ALWAYS. I WILL SAY IT AGAIN: REJOICE! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4
Paul had a great deal to be anxious about, but by the Spirit he said,’TO KEEP HANDING IT OVER TO GOD IN PRAYER, WITH THANKSGIVING’. As Believers we have to battle against allowing the enemy to insert thoughts of fear and negativity into our minds. A huge atmosphere of fear was created during the recent pandemic to control the general populace but as Philippa Hanna’s Song (posted on Saturday) says, ‘You still reign and you’re still God’.
If we’re prone to negative thoughts then we can make it our practice BEFORE going to sleep to thank the Lord for His blessings during our day. It should result in sweeter dreams than carrying the burdens of the day in our last thoughts before sleep.
24 “‘“The Lord bless you
and keep you;
25 the Lord make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;
26 the Lord turn his face toward you
and give you peace.”’
27 “So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.” Numbers 6