Proverbs 17:22, A Happy Heart – A Hearty Heart!

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November 18, Proverbs 17:22

Revelation 5 “The joy of the Lord is thy strength.”

A Happy Heart – A Hearty Heart!

We have noted before the vital connection that exists between mind and body, between physical and spiritual health. It is also known that the one cannot suffer without affecting the other, or the contrary. Thus a merry heart, a cheerful mind, a spirit that is contented and at ease, will be a source of strength and stamina. When, however, the spirit is broken, the body and mind will both be laid low. A broken spirit drieth the bones. A distressed mind can cause a sickening and shattering of the body. How vital and valuable, then, is a merry heart. How does one secure this merry heart, and keep it, too?

1. A Cleansed Heart: From the Beatitudes we have these beautiful words from the lips of Jesus, Blessed are the pure in heart. Literally, Oh, the blessednesses of the pure in heart, blessings multiple, and many faceted! We know that happiness and sin cannot co-exist in a believer’s heart. We know that “the heart is deceitful and desperately wicked;” only God knows it (Jer. 17:9). We need changed, cleansed, hearts. How can this be done? Paul said that God put no difference between us (Jews) and them (Gentiles) purifying their hearts by faith (Acts 15:9). The Apostles preached faith in the finished work of Christ on Calvary’s cross. Christ shed His blood for our cleansing (1 Jn. 1:7). He speaks His word for our cleansing (Jn. 15:3). He sends His Spirit for our cleansing (1 Cor. 6:11).

2. A Connected Heart: David surely had a heart for God. He prayed, “I will walk in thy truth; unite my heart to fear thy name. I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore” (Ps. 86:11-12). To unite the heart is to make it one spiritually. The united heart for which David prayed was a heart that was not half-an’-half, but a heart wholly connected to God and for God. That is the secret of a life radiant with God’s happiness and health. How often we hear people, young and old, say they are stressed out! The only power that can give us connected hearts is the Lord Jesus. Paul tells the Colossians, By him all things consist (1:17), that is, are held together.

3. A Conformed Heart: Paul exhorts the Ephesian believers to “be filled with the Spirit, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” (5:18-19). A conformed heart is a heart singing in harmony with itself and God! A Spirit-filled life is one that is turned to God from idols (1 Thes. 1:9). Where there is separation from sin, there will also be separation unto God. Where there is the root, there will be the fruit. One such fruit is a new song, a merry heart. The Psalms sing of it (33:3; 40:3; 95:1; 96:1). The conformed heart is in training here for membership in the greatest choir ever assembled, even ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands. Then, one day, the redeemed will sing the New Song of the Lamb in Glory. “Salvation to our God” (Rev. 7:9-12).

Thought: “Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee” (S. of S. 4:7).

Prayer: Lord, tune my heart to sing Thy praise.