April 29, 2023 - Proverbs 17:22

“A joyful, cheerful heart brings healing to both body and soul. But the one whose heart is crushed struggles with sickness and depression.” Proverbs 17:22 TPT

Lord, how different would life be if we really put the truth of this verse into practice? Open our eyes and minds to the full revelation of this truth. Show us places in our lives where we are allowing the troubles of this world to drag us down and crush us. Lord, you never said that we would not suffer in this world. We will go through trials. We will walk through the valley of the shadow of death. We will experience betrayal, heartbreak, and pain. We all face situations that make us want to settle in worry and anxiety. What sets us apart as your followers is that we don’t face those things alone. Those things when turned over to you don’t have the power to destroy us. When we walk through them with our eyes set on you and walk in your truth, even as we are surrounded by them, we can walk in your perfect peace and full of heavenly joy. It is only possible in you. It doesn’t mean that the pain isn’t there, it just means that we have a deep-seated joy that abounds even through the pain. It means that we cling to hope and peace even when the circumstances look hopeless.

Lord, when we allow the pain, hurt, and worry to consume us it will pull us down and not just imprison our spirit, but it will destroy us physically. Open our eyes to any places where we are living that brings destruction and death into our lives. Help us turn those areas over to you and allow you to shine your light into us. Help us to let go and turn the hurt or worry over to you. Show us how to not bury, but to walk through them in your light and allow you to bring healing. Teach us how to have a grateful and joy filled heart no matter what we face. Allow your joy and peace to bring healing to our body.

In Jesus name, amen.