“A cheerful heart is a good medicine, but a downcast spirit dries up the bones.” (Pro. 17:22)
In the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, I was asked to become the Interim Director of a department at work. The previous director had been removed for misbehaving and bullying the staff, and I was installed to put the team back together.
By the end of the first week, it was painfully clear that the members of this department were depressed, anxious, and afraid. It felt like I’d joined a community with PTSD (post-traumatic stress syndrome).
One night while asking for the Lord’s guidance about how I could lead and mend this staff, I was given today’s scripture lesson.
Because the previous director’s “downcast spirit” had indeed dried “up the bones” of those people, I began to say the following prayer driving to work: “Lord, so fill my heart with your good cheer, that I may be good medicine for them.”
Our moods, attitudes, and even the expressions on our faces are contagious and infectious—either for good or ill. What kind of mood, attitude, and face are we sharing with those around us?
After a few weeks of saying the prayer, I was given confirmation that the Lord had been answering it. A person on the staff said, “It seems to us that you’re actually glad to be here, actually glad to see us, actually glad to be doing this work with us. Is that true?”
I said, “Yes, it’s absolutely true.”
She was quiet for a few moments and then said, “Your being happy sure makes it easier for us to be happy. It’s nice to be happy at work again.”
Today I encourage you to pray with today’s scripture. I don’t know what you are driving into at the beginning of the day or driving home to at the end of the day, but I do know that with God’s good cheer, you can be good medicine wherever you go.
Reflection Questions:
- What kind of mood, attitude, and face do you share with others? Are you happy or unhappy with your impact on others?
- Is your heart more like good medicine or a toxin to yourself and others? What adjustments could God be asking you to make?
- Daily I prayed: “Lord, so fill my heart with good cheer, that I may be good medicine for them.” What prayer would help you to be good medicine to others?
One of the guys I coached with for years quoted this scripture all the time. As always reminding us that attitude drives all of us. So why not make things happy and upbeat. Thanks as always