HOW IS YOUR HEART?

Proverbs 15:13 NLT A glad heart makes a happy face …

Proverbs 15:15 NLT For the despondent, every day brings trouble; for the happy heart, life is a continual feast.

So often the heart is depicted in the media as romantic emotion, or the medical profession major on keeping our hearts healthy by exercise etc. They’re all different aspects of thinking about the heart but scripture talks about our heart as being our inner selves, our inner spirit.

It reminds us that when our hearts are cheerful then it will show up on our faces. Have you ever caught your reflection in a shop window and realised you looked a bit glum, that your smile has disappeared? Scripture says that if we have a merry heart, a happy heart, life is a continual feast! We might not feel like that all the time but a heart resting in God can be that way because it’s feasting on all He has given us in Jesus.😊

Does the heart affect the way we speak? Proverbs 15:28 NLT The heart of the godly thinks carefully before speaking; ... Jesus said whatever is in our hearts will come out of our mouths, so we need to give our hearts a check up and see what’s in there so we can remove it if we don’t want it to come out at inappropriate moments!😊

What about the things we read or watch? Proverbs 15:14 NIV The discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly. Another version says the fool feeds on trash! What is our heart feeding on, is it seeking knowledge or is it feeding on trash? 

Scripture says there’s a lot the heart tells us about ourselves and God wants our hearts to be seeking after Him. He wants our hearts to be full of His love and kindness so that what pops out of our mouths builds people up and doesn’t tear them down; to be full of His joy and peace so we can smile and not look miserable as we go about our day. In fact, just knowing God loves us does our hearts good, so we can smile!😊 Amen.

Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash

TIME FOR AN UPLIFT

Philippians 4:8 NLT And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

On the days when you look in the mirror and think you could do with a face lift why not turn your thoughts to something that gives you peace, that makes you smile and you’ll have an instant facelift.😊

I love positive input, those words and thoughts that lift our spirits and help us see things from a better perspective. It’s always good to counteract the things that pull us down with God’s thoughts because God is never depressed or scratching His head wondering how it will all turn out. We serve a God who knows the end from the beginning, who promises us a future and a hope when our trust is in Jesus.

So I thought I’d pass on some encouraging, uplifting thoughts:

It’s good to take it one day at a time. Jesus said not to worry about tomorrow because God knows what you need and promised to provide it.

You’re doing better than you think. God loves you. He says you are His masterpiece, so you are amazing.

Better days are coming because God knows the plans He has for you which are to prosper you and not to harm you.

Every small step forward brings you closer to all God has for you.You have come further than you realise.

You’ve survived 100% of your bad days with God’s help and He will make all things work together for good to those who love Him.

It’s ok to be yourself because God made you and He says you are His special treasure, you’re precious in His sight and you matter.

You are stronger than you think so keep going and God promises to hold you up and help you as He takes you into the next season because His heart is to bless you.

You are who God says you are, you can have all God says you can have, and you can do all God says you can do.

As we go into our new week I hope something in those God thoughts will lift us up to help us remember we are a wonderful work in progress and even on hard days we can still know the inner joy of God being with us no matter what comes, and that our faith in Jesus and all He’s done overcomes the world each day. Amen. 😊