A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones. Proverbs 17:22 Norman Cousins was a well-known author and teacher when he was diagnosed with several serious illnesses, including heart disease. Doctors gave him little hope of recovery. Rather than giving up, Cousins decided to try something unusual—he laughed. In his best-selling book Anatomy of an Illness, Cousins described the effect of finding ways to make himself laugh, including watching old comedies. He wrote, “I made the joyous discovery that ten minutes of genuine belly laughter had an anesthetic effect and would give me at least two hours of pain-free sleep. When the pain-killing effect of the laughter wore off, we would switch on the motion picture projector again and not infrequently, it would lead to another pain-free interval.” Cousins lived 36 years after his first diagnosis. He had discovered a powerful spiritual principle—our attitude has a major influence on our physical health and well-being. God does not intend for His children to live in misery and despair. If our spirits are broken we are not as effective in witnessing or serving God. Instead we should find our joy in the Lord regardless of what is happening around us. Circumstances may change, but He never does. When Ezra and Nehemiah led the people of Israel in celebrating the Feast of the Tabernacles after the wall of Jerusalem was rebuilt, the people mourned when they realized how they had violated the law of God. Yet Nehemiah encouraged them, reminding them that God was merciful and forgiving. “Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10). Keep your heart happy and enjoy the presence of God in your life every day. Do not let any circumstance or difficulty take the joy of the Lord away from you. By Paul Chappell
Posted on: Wed, 17 Jul 2013 12:30:19 +0000
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