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Proverbs 17:22 - A Cheerful Heart Is Like Medicine.

Proverbs 17:22 (NIV) A cheerful heart is 
good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the 
bones. 

Proverbs 17:22 (NLT) A cheerful heart is 
good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a 
persons strength. 

INTRODUCTION

The face glows with joy when the heart is 
full of light and peace. But the spirit is broken 
by continued sorrow of heart. When anxiety is 
permitted to reign, resilience is steadily weakened, 
until at last the resistance of the mind may be 
broken. The mental trouble is reflected in the 
physical condition of the body. [SDA Bible 
Commentary] 

COMMENTARY PEARL

   Morning sunshine streamed through the 
entry window. I squinted and yawned and headed for 
the kitchen and the coffee maker. Some people 
wake up perky. Not me. 
   Even though I wasn't all in for the day 
yet, those sunbeams shined with hope. It was the 
first morning in several when my cold symptoms 
weren't dragging me down. Carrying a steaming mug to 
the front porch, I sank onto an Adirondack chair 
and drank in the warmth of the sun and the 
brew. 
   Thank You, Jesus. I'm making it a 
priority to reacquaint myself with simple pleasures - 
namely, the pursuit of joy. Every moment has 
potential for joy, and I'm determined to find all the 
happiness I can. 
   Jesus didn't let happy times pass Him by 
either. In fact, it's easy to envision Jesus 
enjoying a great party. Luke 7:34 states that the Son 
of Man came eating and drinking, which sounds 
to me like someone who enjoyed life and 
everyday pleasures. 
   I gazed into our yard and drank it all in 
as I sipped my steaming brew with flavored 
creamer - a gentle breeze, birds singing in the 
trees, squirrels scurrying, flowers in bloom, 
sidewalks for meandering, bike paths for exploring, 
and my cold symptoms subsiding. 
   I finished my coffee and smiled. My body 
inched toward healing as my heart expanded with 
happiness over an ordinary day. Finding joy really is 
medicinal. Erin Keeley Marshall 
   Faith Step: What are some of your 
favorite simple joys? Write them on a sheet of paper 
and list ways they are good medicine for your 
heart. [Mornings With Jesus 2023 Devotional by 
Guideposts and Zondervan] 

COMMENTARY

Emotional Health Leads to Healthy 
Relationships 
   When you need to be physically recharged, 
your body gives you various signs. If your 
stomach growls, its time to eat. If your eyelids 
get heavy, its time to sleep. 
   We tend to notice those signs, but we 
often overlook the other signs that say we need 
emotional recharging, such as a sense of being 
overwhelmed, a short fuse, an impatient outburst, or 
avoiding people. You also have no desire to love 
people when your emotional tank is running low. 
   To keep on loving well and doing the 
things Gods called you to do, keep your 
emotional tank full. How do you do that? 
   First, get some time alone. Even Jesus 
withdrew from crowds when he needed to recharge 
himself emotionally. Mark 6:31 says, Then Jesus 
suggested, Lets get away from the crowds for a 
while and rest. For so many people were coming 
and going that they scarcely had time to eat 
(TLB). People who are available all the time 
arent really fully available unless they set aside 
time to rest. 
   Then figure out what activities recreate 
energy in your life and recharge you. Each one of 
us has different things that recharge us 
because were all made differently. It may be 
hobbies, a sport, a craft, or games for you. Find out 
what recharges you emotionally, and then make 
time for it. 
   Jesus was the most intensive, 
ministry-oriented person who ever lived, yet the Bible says, 
The Son of Man came, enjoying life (Matthew 
11:19 Phillips). You werent made to be 
exhausted all the time. You were made to be more like 
Jesus. 
   Finally, develop the habit of laughter. 
The Bible says, Being cheerful keeps you 
healthy (Proverbs 17:22 GNT). Laughter increases the 
number of T-cells in your body, which raises your 
immunity and releases endorphins in your brain. 
Laughter is good for your health! Its Gods gift 
to you that doesnt just make you enjoy life 
more; it also helps you love others well. [Daily 
Devotional by Rick Warren: 
https://pastorrick.com/devotional/] 

LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY

Proverbs 17:22 - A Cheerful Heart Is Like 
Medicine. 

http://www.abible.com/devotions/2022/20220917-1028.html 

Proverbs 17:22a - A Merry, Joyful, Happy, 
Cheerful Heart Is Like Medicine. 

http://www.abible.com/devotions/2016/20160331-1405.html 

http://www.abible.com/devotions/2003/20030801-1035.html 

LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT

https://abible.com/links/