A Cheerful Heart is Good Medicine

A Devotional by Margot Cioccio 

I really should have just recorded the phone call with my friend Karen and turned it into a devotional. Sometimes it is just good to be able to laugh even when things seem to be difficult. Even when things appear to be a bit dark and scary as we look ahead. It is good to have friends who remind us how blessed we are and how good God is. Sure there is stuff we don't understand or know how it will all pan out in the end. It is a blessing to have friends who have known us through many many years. 


What a blessing to have a friend who can remember me wearing lacy socks as part of my outfit for the Christian concerts we did in our early 20's. We sang at a number of Christian coffee houses back in the day. Me and my guitar and Karen with her piano. We were writing and singing songs and we called our little music act Faith Walk. Its funny we had no idea at that time some of the things we would end up having to walk by faith through. It has been quite a journey. We lost track of each other for a long time. Sometimes you think those special people have vanished from our lives and then suddenly God brings them back and you pick up right were you left off. 

I have moved so often through the years and lost touch of so many wonderful people. I am finding that sometimes God brings them back across our paths. I have to say that I have been blessed through the years to share this life journey with some wonderful people. I suppose we all have our little tribe of people that we connect with in a special way, mine is scattered all over the place.  It is nice to be able to pick up the phone and talk and laugh and pray for one another. E-mail and face book have made keeping in touch with people so quick and easy. Anyway here is the verse for today. Proverbs 17:22

A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

We can become so burdened down trying to solve the things we are facing in our lives. A lot of the time we don't have an answer or even know what we could do to fix things. Yesterday my car was stuck in the snow and there was nothing that we could do but wait for help to arrive. In those times its good to stop and share lunch with friends. Its good to pick up the phone and laugh and remember all the things God has gotten us through. If we can just set the worry aside we might be surprised to find out that God has provided a measure of grace. Little gifts of hope and reassurance that he is with us in spite of the things we are struggling with. If you think about it that thing last year that you were so concerned about has long since faded into memories. You got through it and you will get through the things you are facing presently. 

We can be so busy trying to solve things when sometimes what God is asking is that we just sit still and allow him to take care of things. 

Prayer:
I pray that the Lord will in this instant quiet your troubled mind and spirit and give you his peace. I pray that he will give you clarity of thought and mind. That as you sit with him in His presence that he will help you untangle your thoughts and help you to see His plans and purposes for the things you have been going through. 

A Cheerful Heart is Good Medicine. - Take some time to laugh I pray the Lord will fill you with joy in His presence.