Proverbs 17:22 – “A joyful heart is good medicine, But a broken spirit dries up the bones.”

Smile a while and give your face a rest is an adage based on the theory that it takes more muscles to frown than to smile.   After extensive research, the scientific community has no consistent conclusion on how many are required for either. 

However, the smile—transmitted consciously or subconsciously—is viewed across cultures as a sign of friendliness, especially when greeting others. Frowns are considered an expression of disapproval, sadness, or rejection. Therefore, a smile elicits a far better response than a frown.

There are forty-three muscles in the face; most are controlled by the seventh cranial nerve (facial nerve).  That nerve exits the cerebral cortex and emerges from the skull just in front of our ears.  It splits into five primary branches: temporal, zygomatic, buccal, mandibular, and cervical.  Those branches impact different portions of the face and enervate muscles that allow the face to twist and contort into various expressions. 

The Bible says that a merry heart does good, like medicine. (Proverbs 17:22).  It also says a broken spirit dries the bones.   Ezekiel spoke of the Valley of Dry Bones, but what about in the natural body when the bones are dry? What does that mean?  It is an indication of an unhealthy condition that can lead to many worse things. 

We need healthy bones just as we need healthy spirits.  Our bones provide support and structure for our bodies.  Our spirits do the same for our lives.  Our bones protect our vital organs, such as the brain, heart, and lungs, from impact and injury.  Our spirits do the same thing for our inner man.  

Our bones store essential minerals such as calcium and phosphorus, which are necessary for various bodily functions, including muscle contraction and never transmission.  Our spirits likewise enable us to function spiritually.  Our bones produce blood cells in the bone marrow, which are vital in fighting infections and keeping us healthy.  Our spirits keep us connected to the Blood of Jesus, which keeps us whole.

We do not want dry bones in the natural or the spiritual. Therefore, we need a Merry Heart and should follow Paul’s prescription in Philippians 4 and Ephesians 5:19. We should be like David and encourage ourselves in the LORD (1 Samuel 30:6).

Today, rather than succumbing to the mulligrubs and throwing a pity party, why not focus on God and choose to rejoice?  Why not choose to be glad in this day the Lord has made?   Why not let the inward smile reach the face and, no matter what comes, keep our focus on God and let the Joy of our hearts reach our faces even in the middle of a trial?  Why Not?  It is a Choice!  

I believe the Bible says that Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever and that God will Never Ever leave or forsake us.  God Does Not Fail!  Therefore, I choose to Rejoice and Trust Him!   I’m smiling right now!

Let the joy of the Lord flood your hearts and minds today, and receive the healing from having a merry heart.

Psalm 73:1-5 – “TRULY God is good to Israel, and to those who are pure in heart.² But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.³ For I was envious of the wicked when I saw the prosperity of the ungodly.⁴ For there is no end to their death, and their folly is great.”

This is both a warning and an encouragement.   This Psalm begins with confession and lamentation that he had been comparing himself to others.  The apostle Paul warned us not to compare ourselves with others.  Others are not our standard of measure, nor are others evidence of God’s favor or love – God is impartial and deals with everyone separately.  We never know what He is doing in any life but ours.

Paraphrasing, the Psalmist said, “I had just about reached the point of no return as I saw how the wicked prospered and got away with murder.”  In his eyes, the wicked did not seem to have any repercussions for their sin and wickedness.  Who among us has not done that at some point in our lives? 

A few verses later, the light came on, and he gained a revelation that produced victory through a proper perspective.  In verses 15 forward, he addressed the temptation to recount or rehearse what he saw, making it his view of life and God.

His confession was, this is what I was doing, and the end of that would have been my destruction.  I would have been finished and lost my faith.   He admitted that what he was doing was wrong.  It was a destructive mindset.  Then the light came on, and he declared, “When I came into the Throne Room, “my mind was enlightened.  I was set free!”

Notice that it was there that he understood that there would be a payday someday.  He understood that God is faithful and never forsakes His children.  He knew that his situation was his situation and that he was not to be judged or compared to anyone else.  He understood that God was working on him and working on him.   It was a path that no other human could walk for him.   He came to the revelation that it was God and him.  At the end of the day, he would (because of God’s Grace) come forth victorious Eternally!

Remember, GOD does not fail to see our situation, but if we focus on others, we lose sight of God in us.  Christ in us is our Hope. 

We need to make God first, not others, circumstances, hindrances, or anything.   We need to determine in our hearts and minds that we will seek God, His Kingdom, and His Righteousness First!  If you do that, then fasten your seat belts, for in that condition, He has a superhighway to bring us His enrichment.

Victory is not tomorrow’s promise.  It is today!   Victory is today’s promise!   See it, believe it, receive it.

Have a fantastic day today, and keep looking up; redemption is nearer than we first believed!

Galatians 1:12 – “…for it was given to me directly by the unveiling of Jesus Christ.”

Paul’s declaration to the Galatians, as he said in 1:12, that the gospel he preached flowed out of the ‘unveiling of Christ’ in his heart and mind, is a powerful testament to the transformative power of Christ’s life in believers.  Christ’s life replaces self-life, and to the degree we are yielded, He is manifested in and through us, empowering us and giving us hope.

Galatians 2:20 –“My old identity HAS BEEN co-crucified with Christ and no longer lives…” Think about that. “AND NOW the essence of this NEW LIFE is NO LONGER mine, FOR the Anointed One LIVES HIS LIFE THROUGH ME – we live in union as one.”    [Emphasis mine]

Whose life and who is living it?  We have traded our old life for His new life, and in our surrender, He lives that life through us.  But not without our cooperation. He does not arbitrarily force us to live Him. ‘My New Life is empowered by the faith of the Son of God who loves me so much that He gave Himself for me, dispensing His life into mine!’  If that revelation becomes a reality in our hearts, we become totally free, liberated from the struggles and shortcomings, and at peace.

Paul’s prayer and desire for the Galatians and us was that “the Anointed One would be Fully Formed in our hearts!”

Galatians 5:16 – “Let me emphasize this: AS you yield to the dynamic life and power of the Holy Spirit, you will abandon the cravings of your self-life.” 

Galatians 5:18 – “But when you yield to the life of the Spirit, you will no longer be living under the law, but soaring over it!”

Galatians 5:25 – “IF the Spirit is the source of our life, we must allow the Spirit to direct every aspect of our lives.”   

Therein is the Key – a yielded exchanged life. We gave Him our old life, and He gives us His new life. Not only that, but He comes in and lives His life through us.  But only with our Full Surrender and Cooperation!  If we are tired of struggling and falling short, it is time to embrace the Cross and see ourselves crucified and fully immersed in Him. Christ IN us! Christ Through us! Christ, instead of us!

 That life is a life of victory, peace, power, and love.  It is ours!  Do you want it?  Then, give up and let Jesus take over!  Have a fantastic day!

Deuteronomy 8:3 – “And He humbled you and let you be hungry and fed you with manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, THAT He might make you to know that man does not live by bread alone, but by EVERYTHING that proceeds out of the mouth of Yahweh.”

As I read, prayed, and pondered the Word of God, something moving was quickened to my heart. The revelation of trials or the revelation in trials.

In Deuteronomy 8:3, Moses rehearsed the journey from bondage to the precipice of victory in the Place of Promise and reminded them of their difficulties.

God allowed difficulties, and those difficulties created a condition and mindset that brought revelation. God is our source, nothing nor anyone else. Without the difficulty, they would have continued to view themselves as inherently special, which would produce the stench of arrogance. Instead, in a situation they could not solve, they SAW God’s power and love.

Every trial contains a revelation if we allow it to surface and have its designed effect. Paul’s thorn in the flesh spoke to that truth.  2 Corinthians 12:7-10 is worthy of in-depth consideration and meditation. Speculation runs rampant about what that was. Not to create debate, but Paul told us what it was or who it was, “the messenger of satan” to harass him.

The lesson or revelation is not that this was to keep Paul humble but that in it, he saw the revelation that when he could not, God’s Grace and power were his strength and covering.

I love this rendering of verse 10 – “So, I’m not defeated by my weakness, but delighted! FOR when I feel my weakness and endure mistreatment-when I’m surrounded with troubles on every side and persecution because of my love for Christ-I am made yet stronger. FOR my weakness becomes a portal to God’s power.”

Trials can truly make us stronger if we see the Christ who strengthens us through the problem. Realizing our human weakness opens a portal to God’s power through total surrender. We see our true source.

2 Corinthians 13:3b – “Christ IS NOT weak or feeble in His dealings with you, BUT mighty and powerful WITHIN you.”

Recognizing our inability opens the door to His ability and releases His power in and through us. We don’t look for or desire trials, but in them, there is the opportunity to SEE Him as He is, us as we are, and tap into His Grace, Power, and Provision.

I am not suggesting that we desire difficulties, trials, and tribulations. I am saying: You are weak only in your own strength, but you are strong in Him when you become weak in you! Let your Weakness be enveloped into His Strength and Soar Like the Eagle!

Have a fantastic day, and remember Who you are, Whose you are, and that All things are possible for you through Faith!

2 Corinthians 6:17 – “Come out from among them and be separate…”

I am praying that God’s overflowing grace will manifest in everything you do.  May the crooked places be made straight and all obstacles obliterated.   May discernment be your garment and love your covering.

The download from the Holy Spirit was overwhelming as I read, prayed, pondered, and considered the Word. Now, I am trying to draw out of all that is filling my heart and present the specific thing I feel I am to share. That is a daunting task!

In 2 Corinthians 6:16b, we have the incredible promise of God to make us His home or habitation. He promised to be our God. That blows my mind when I allow the incredibleness of that truth to enter my consciousness. In 2 Corinthians 6:17, we have the call, command, and invitation, “Come out from among them and be separate…” Not isolationism but separation (sanctification).

That was at the heart of God’s directive to Israel in Numbers 33:50-56. He told them to dispossess the occupants that occupied their place of promise. They were to destroy the idols and places of worship. The warning was, “If you don’t, THEN…” They will be pricks in your eyes and thorns in your sides. That was only half of it, for in verse 56 – “And it will be as I plan to do to them, so I will do to you.”

There can be no cohabitation with sin and rebellion. The children of Israel were the carriers of the Seed of Redemption. We are the fruit of Redemption. Neither they nor we can co-mingle with sin or rebellion.

The Last Days will be characterized by deception, demanding that we be inordinately tolerant and inclusive. God wants everyone to be saved. Salvation is incredibly costly, and though grace is free, it is not cheap.

Be Holy because I Am Holy is not a suggestion but a life-saving directive. In God, we have Life!  As we become one with Him and He fills us completely, we become lights to the world and channels through which He can love and bless others. We are His love letters to people. Some see Dear John letters, not love letters. Our heritage is Hope and to bring Hope to others!

Today, we need to heed the directive of Deuteronomy 2:3 – “You have circled this mountain (whatever that is in your life) long enough, NOW turn north (symbolic of head toward the Promise.)”

This is day one of your new victorious life in ALL THINGS!  Rejoice, be glad, and embrace the promises of God!

2 Corinthians 1:6 – “If troubles weigh us down, that just means that we will receive even more comfort to pass on to you for your deliverance! For the comfort pouring into us empowers us to bring comfort to you. And with this comfort upholding you, you can endure victoriously the same suffering we experience.”

As I read, prayed, and meditated upon the Word, something unshakable gripped my heart in Numbers 23 and the story of Balaam and Balak. Balaam made a powerful declaration “God is not a man that He should lie, nor a son of man that He should repent; has He not said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not establish it?” (v. 19).

He spoke absolutes! 

• God is… that is the first principle of life.
• God is not a man… He is other than us, not limited but unlimited.
• God’s words (promises or commands) are done before they are heard.

We need to grasp those absolutes.   If we do, we can embrace the revelation of suffering, difficulty, and trial Paul revealed in 2 Corinthians.

2 Cor. 1:6 – Is a Game Changer!  That attitude and perspective make it impossible to fail but guarantee a victorious attitude in every situation.   In verse 9, Paul reveals the true lesson of trials in our lives. “It HAS taught us to lose all faith in ourselves and to place our trust in the God who raises from the dead.”   We need to shift our focus from self and receive God’s Grace!

In 2 Cor. 4:7-18 his discourse gives a clear, simple pattern and mindset for continual victory.   Troubles are temporary, but Grace is eternal. Our difficulties empower us to empower others to endure with hope.

In verse 13, he gives a needed revelation: “First I believed, then I spoke.”  Notice the order. It is first believing, then speaking, or declaring. It is not declaring trying to believe.  He is not saying it to convince himself, others, or God. It is declaring because we have believed.

Our focus shifts from what we see, the temporal earthly to the invisible eternal.  If we focus on God’s promise, not our seemingly present reality, we will walk in a victory otherwise impossible, and trials will shipwreck us.

We need to embrace the absolutes and realize the value of trials, the power of grace, and the reality of God’s kingdom realm. We need to shift our focus from living in absorbed self-centeredness and desire to be poured out for Him. In that place, His power and provision are released in a dynamic beyond our dreams.

It’s available to you!  Seize the Promise and the Day and Rejoice in Jesus.  Today is your day to shine in God’s Grace and Provision!