Devotion's by Deborah

Devotion 3-16-24, Proverbs 17:11- "A happy heart is good medicine and a cheerful mind works healing, but a broken spirit dries up the bones." Are you more cheerful and happy or more grumpy? Have you allowed your broken heart to alter who you are? Children are good barometers of who you are, really. They are usually honest, attracted to a nice, cheerful, happy person, and repelled by grumpiness. Children sense a broken heart and seek to "kiss it and make it better." God wants us to come to Him, as children, with our joys and defeats, our grief and our gladness. He wants it all. But, He also wants us to benefit from His presence. He is able to heal the broken hearted. It takes time and willingness on our part. He is able to take the sadness of the world and turn it into joy. He is a God of joy. If we are not experiencing His joy, then we need to take time to come sit in His presence praising Him. Joy will flow out from Him into you. Praise Him, in spite of the problems. Praise Him for who He is, the Creator, God, your Savior, the Holy Spirit, living in you. Praising Him, no matter what, it changes your perspective from yourself to others. It changes from self to God - where we find all we need. Psalms 119:2 says, "How blessed are those who observe His testimonies, who seek Him with all their heart." No matter where you start, cheerful, happy, brokenhearted, if you draw close to God, praise Him, lean into His love, trust His word, acting on His commandment to love - He will change you for the better. He will do it, but you must cooperate. God will do it because He loves you. Do you love Him enough to let Him?