Proverbs 15:13-14
13 A glad heart makes a happy face;
a broken heart crushes the spirit.
We must first look at what makes a person truly joyful. True joy comes from a heart at rest, a heart that has found in Jesus a Savior who gives daily satisfaction, who takes our anxiety and gives us peace, even in the midst of the storms. And true joy comes from knowing our sins are forgiven. Matthew 9:2. . .Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “Be encouraged, my child! Your sins are forgiven.” Joy!! (Big huge smiley emoticon right here)!
I am surrounded by friends that emanate this kind of joy. Even with hard circumstances they have learned to cast all their cares on God. But on the other hand, I also know those who try to carry their own burdens and sorrows and are loaded down by cares of this world. Their spirits are crushed. We are reminded in Philippians 4 to not “worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand.”
14 A wise person is hungry for knowledge,
while the fool feeds on trash.
I’m sure you have heard the saying, “You are what you eat.” The same is true in our spiritual life. We are going to become what we feed on. The people who value knowledge and devote themselves to it are wise. It builds true character and draws them away from evil ways. The evil ways of sin, (sin that is pleasurable for a short time) that Satan uses to entice us away from God.
As children of God we must think about this, and ask ourselves, “Do I desire Christ? Do I crave him and His word above the trash the world offers? Jeremiah puts it so well, “When I discovered your words, I devoured them. They are my joy and my heart’s delight. . .” Jerimiah 15:16
I have experienced this joy in discovering God’s word! He has taken my broken spirit and given me a glad heart! I want to encourage you, right now to open God’s word, let Him heal you through his words, let him speak joy into your life! If you have a discouraged, crushed spirit, let HIM renew it! Let His words be your heart’s delight!