PARTY ALL THE TIME!

PROVERBS 15:15 NKJ 
15 All the days of the afflicted are evil, 
But he who is of a merry heart has a continual feast. 

For those of you that may have thought I just opened the door and gave a pastoral blessing to non-stop partying, that's not what I had in mind.  Sorry to disappoint, but the title of this devotion is not misleading.   

This proverb is referring to a quality of life contrast.  On one hand, is the person with an afflicted attitude.  The one who is always having bad things happen to them. A victim.  The one who is worried and fearful and troubled in their soul. This perspective makes even good days difficult.  

This observation is by no means a condemnation or negative judgment but a message of hope.  There is another way, and that's the person with a merry, happy, or joy-filled heart.  To that person, every day is a continual feast.  Feasts in that day were the parties of today. They were centered around thanking God for His goodness, feast days were good days, party days.   

To the person who trusts God and believes things will turn out for good, their perspective makes every day good. Even if things are temporarily rough, in their hearts, there is joy.   

To the person who believes the worst and looks for things to take a bad turn, their perspective puts every day in a bad light.  I would rather have the party.   

APPLICATION 

Years ago, my natural inclination was to be a worrier and to be negative. It's not a good way to live.  My expectations were not for good things to happen, and it dampened my days.   

But thank God for His word, His Spirit, and good teaching and preaching because things began to change in my heart.  As I grew in my faith, my joy level began to rise, and my days got better.  Things change on the inside before we see change on the outside.   A merry heart is a great weapon against negative times.  And a merry heart just keeps the party going.   

PRAYER 

Dear Father, teach me how to have a faith-filled joy-filled, peaceful, merry heart.  I want to enjoy my days, not endure my days.