Healing Rays of Righteousness

(Part One of Two)

It has been rightly said that there are only two kinds of people in the world: those who wake up in the morning and say, “Good morning, Lord,” and those who wake up in the morning and say, “Good Lord, morning.”

The Book of Proverbs contains much wisdom regarding the heart. There are nearly fifty occurrences of the word “heart” in the Book of Proverbs.  And these “heart” Proverbs teach us that God has carefully designed us to function better physically, emotionally, and spiritually when we are cheerful.

Listen to these verses in 15:13-15; “A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit.  The discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.  All the days of the oppressed are wretched, but the cheerful heart has a continual feast.”

“…the cheerful heart has a continual feast.”  Sounds inviting, doesn’t it.  Do you feel that your life, day after day, is a continual feast?  Do you wake up in the morning and say, “Good morning, Lord,” or is it “Good Lord, morning?”

The word “heart” as used in Proverbs, refers to the thoughts, emotions, and attitudes of our personal life.  It refers to our mindset, the way we view and respond to life experiences.  Verses 13 and 15 observe how the condition of a person’s heart affects our spirit or morale, and indicate that both happiness and depression are issues of the heart.

In verses 20-23 of the fourth chapter, the writer appeals to his son, “My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words.  Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body.  Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”

Wow!  This is so consistent with the medical research studies done during the past couple of decades, which consistently show that the mind plays a significant role in our illnesses, such as high blood pressure, arthritis, and coronary heart disease.

These studies indicate that certain emotions cause changes in the brain’s physical state.  The brain then triggers changes in the regulation of other parts of the body, such as the heart and lungs.  And this, in turn, impacts the immune system, and thus our body’s health.

In March 1998, I attended the Mennonite Health Assembly, and one of the speakers, Dr. David Hilton, M.D., stated that medical science is discovering that negative feelings, such as anger, guilt, fear, are the greatest suppressant to the immune system, greater than HIV.  He further said that we are learning that long-term tension and stress has a very negative effect on a person’s future health, whether they are currently ill or well.

The studies since then continue to confirm that positive attitudes and happy feelings greatly enhance the body’s immune system; that what we think and believe, has a powerful ability to keep us well, as well as to promote healing.

And so, the ancient Scriptures and modern science agree that our spiritual, emotional, and physical health are uniquely related and must be seen as one whole in diagnosis and treatment.

This truth gives greater clarity to our understanding of Paul’s admonition in Romans 12:2, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”  And to the Chinese proverb which says, “Where the mind goes, the body follows.”

A parallel thought to 15:13 and 15 is expressed in Proverbs 14:30; “A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.”  And Proverbs 17:22 adds, “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”

The person who can see the good in a bad situation, who can find humor amidst trials, is a person who will be happy and contented; indeed, they will experience life as a continual feast. But the person who dwells on their disappointments, who feels that they always get the short end of the stick, is a person who is rarely happy and is usually discontented and critical.

The wisdom of Proverbs and all of scripture, declare that attitudes determine actions; and that our current attitudes define both our present and future experiences of life and health.  This wisdom also promises that changing our attitudes from negative to positive perspectives will definitely change our life experiences and body health.

And so, I try always to say, “Good morning, Lord!

“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – April 3, 2019