Proverbs 15:15
“All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.”
As I walked around the corner from a hallway the lady at the front desk said to me, “I heard you coming.” I was curious as to how she knew that it was me, so I asked her how she knew this. She responded, “You have a happy laugh that sets you apart from my other customers.” She said, “You have a way of brightening someone’s day with your laughter.”
That is exactly what God was talking about when He talks about having a merry heart. Three times in the Book of Proverbs we are told about the affects of a merry heart. A merry heart most certainly affects one’s own countenance. There are many Christians who need to let their face know what happened in their heart when they got saved. Moreover, a merry heart will also have a good outlook on life no matter what one may face. God says, “…a merry heart hath a continual feast.” In other words, it doesn’t matter what you face, if you have a merry heart you will still have a good outlook. Furthermore, a merry heart helps others have a better day. God says a merry heart is like medicine. If you have a merry heart, then you will help brighten another’s day in their tough times.
If a merry heart has these affects on a person and on others, then how do we get this merry heart? First, you get a merry heart by being at peace above. In other words, you will never have a merry heart if you are not right with God. First, you must be saved. It is hard to be right with God if you are not saved. Second, you need to be sure you are living according to the Word of God. When you are right with God, it will most certainly affect your heart and cause you to be at peace above.
Second, you get a merry heart by being at peace within. Not only must you be right with God, but you need to be right with yourself. Stop comparing yourself with others and be at peace with who you are. God made you the way you are, and when you accept yourself for who God made you to be then you will not find it hard to have a merry heart. Stop comparing your physical features to others and accept yourself the way you are. Stop comparing your talents with others and accept your own talents or lack there of. You will only get a merry heart if you are at peace within.
Third, you get a merry heart by being at peace without. When you are not right with others, you will find it hard to have a merry heart. Nobody’s presence should ever trouble you. If you have wronged someone and haven’t got it right, then if you are going to have a merry heart you must get that wrong right. A merry heart is a result of knowing that there is nobody with whom you are not comfortable with their presence because of an action you have done.
Do you have a merry heart? You live in a world that needs someone who faces life with a merry heart. You will influence more people for God if you have a merry heart. The only way you will have a merry heart is if you are at peace above, within and without. When you are at peace in all three of these areas, you will find that a merry heart will come naturally. You will find that with a merry heart the places you go will be brightened because of your presence.