Days of Heaven Upon Earth

Devotional For

April 8

      "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine" (Prov. xvii. 22).
      
      King Solomon left among his wise sayings a prescription for sick and sad hearts, and it is one that we can safely take. "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine." Joy is the great restorer and healer. Gladness of spirit will bring health to the bones and vitality to the nerves when all other tonics fail, and all other sedatives cease to quiet. Sick one, begin to rejoice in the Lord, and your bones will flourish like an herb, and your cheeks will glow with the bloom of health and freshness. Worry, fear, distrust, care, are all poison drops; joy is balm and healing; and if you will but rejoice, God will give power. He has commanded you to be glad and rejoice; and He never fails to sustain His children in keeping His commandments. Rejoice in the Lord always, He says; which means no matter how sad, how tempted, how sick, how suffering you are, rejoice in the Lord just where you are, and begin this moment.
      
      The joy of the Lord is the strength of our body,
          The gladness of Jesus, the balm for our pain,
      His life and His fulness, our fountain of healing,
          His joy, our elixir for body and brain.