by Karen Blanchard
SHELBY TOWNSHIP – Have you ever been around someone who just radiates positivity? This type of person lights up the room with their presence and vibrance for life. I have a friend like this; she loves life and loves people. She makes it her mission to make people feel loved and cared for. My spirits are always lifted after spending time with her. I don’t know about you, but I like to be around people like this. Positive people have a way of helping others see the good in the world, which in turn helps to shift our perspective higher.
The Bible says,
A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
– Proverbs 17:22 NIV
When we surround ourselves with positive, Spirit-filled people, they begin to rub off on us and make a difference in our lives. Proverbs says, having a cheerful heart is good medicine. Do you ever wonder why you feel the way you do or act a certain way - whether good or bad? Below are a few suggestions on how to develop a cheerful heart.
1 – Take inventory
I am a firm believer that we need many different types of people in our lives. However, we need to be careful whom we allow in our inner circle. The people we allow to speak into our lives make a huge difference to the state of our hearts. Our inner circle of friends should be people who know the Lord, build us up, hold us accountable, and encourage us to be better.
Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.
– Proverbs 13:20 NIV
2 – Recognize negativity
Have you ever heard the saying, “Negativity breeds negativity?” This is true! Negativity does not come from God! The more you are around negativity, the more it seeps into your soul and will affect your heart. Negative people are draining and toxic. It is important that you recognize negativity as soon as possible and put a stop to it. Negative talk and behavior will spread like a cancer if not stopped!
Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation…
– Philippians 2:14-15a NIV
3 – Speak life
The words we say reflect the state of our hearts. Are you careful about what you share with others or do you allow whatever comes to mind come out of your mouth? This takes some training and discipline, but by the power of the Holy Spirit we can overcome it. We want to speak words that are life giving and not life sucking.
Do not let unwholesome talk come from your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
– Ephesians 4:29 NIV
4 – Stay connected
It is vital to the state of our hearts to stay connected to our true source of life, Jesus. We must make time to meet with God and read his Word. By reading God’s Word, he will teach us what we need to know and guide us down the right paths. When we take time to meet with him, he breathes new life into our dry bones. He lifts our spirit and gives us what we need to face the days ahead. As we go deeper into the Word and learn more about God, we begin to realize he is all we need.
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
– John 15:5 NIV
As we enter this season of thanksgiving, I pray you reflect on the state of your heart. Ask God to reveal to you anything in your heart that is keeping you from having a cheerful heart. Then pray and confess those things to God and ask him to give you a new heart, a cheerful heart.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Karen is married to Scott Blanchard, pastor of Lakepointe Church, and moved from Florida to Michigan in the summer of 2009 to plant Lakepointe Church in Shelby Township. She enjoys mentoring and discipling women and also leads women’s life groups through her church. She is passionate about helping women find their purpose in who God created them to be. She is on staff at Lakepointe Church and loves being part of what God is doing in the Metro Detroit area!