Chapter & Living Lesson 24

“A Joyful Heart”

“A joyful heart is good medicine,
but a broken spirit dries up the bones.”
—Proverbs 17:22

 

“Why are the nations in an uproar and the peoples devising a vain thing? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers take counsel together against the LORD and against His Anointed . . . He who sits in the heavens laughs, the Lord scoffs at them” (Ps. 2:1–4).

Last week I shared my contentment with never going out, choosing instead to remain home. Like always I’d written the weekly message a few weeks ahead, so when I read it again before posting it, I had to laugh again because recently I’ve been going out almost every day. And when I realized this, that I was laughing, I remembered this opening verse above. I didn’t remember all of it, only “He who sits in the heavens laughs.” Isn’t it nice to know that when we’re laughing, He’s right there laughing with us? Hopefully, it makes your heart light and at other times makes you feel like your heart could just burst it’s so full of joy!

“A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones” (Prov. 17:22).

After I contemplated this, I read how the verse began (the portion I didn't highlight). I've meditated on that portion a lot recently because it gives me comfort and it's probably another reason my HH had me go find it for this weekly message because He’s just so sweet that way to make sure there's the truth that I can carry with me.

Even though I wasn’t feeling my “best” every day, nevertheless, He set up outings, many that included my grandsons, since we now all live in one big house together. “And He has said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.’ Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore, I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9– 10). "And finally He said to me, 'My grace is enough to cover and sustain you. My power is made perfect in weakness.' So ask me about my thorn, inquire about my weaknesses, and I will gladly go on and on—I would rather stake my claim in these and have the power of the Anointed One at home within me. I am at peace and even take pleasure in any weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and afflictions for the sake of the Anointed because when I am at my weakest, He makes me strong."

Whether my going out again was due to having Him want me to share my utter contentment with my thorn or weakness or because it was the “appointed time” for me to no longer remain a homebody. One thing is sure—He won’t fail to keep His promises. So today, take comfort in this truth dear bride.

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1 thought on “wLL 24 “A Joyful Heart””

  1. As I reread the lesson, I was happy with what was shared. And the highlighted points such as “He who is in the heavens laughs” and “when I am weak, I am strong”, reinvigorated my strength!
    After a day in which I poured myself out to Him through my weakness, reading this LL was truly precious! Once again our dear Erin helping us to reinvigorate and renew our minds in Him!!
    It helped me reaffirm His love for me, and where does my help come from… Just like in the verse I read this morning, “I lift up my eyes to the mountains and ask: Where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, who made the heavens and the earth.” Psalms 121:1-2
    When we receive this help, we are strengthened and consequently our hearts rejoice and Love surrounds us so that we can forget our afflictions and weaknesses, as we are sure that we are not alone!
    The best way to apply the principles learned in this lesson is to affirm the verses contained in it daily, so that our heart and mind are always protected, and even if discouragement and trials come, we can be sure that we will not be shaken, as we have His truth in us!

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