December 30 – Smile

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Do not be carried away by varied and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, through which those who were so occupied were not benefited. Hebrews 13:8-9 

You hear so much about foods that are good for the heart…or bad for the heart. Most of the “good” heart foods are those found in rainbow colors like blue – blueberries, red – salmon, yellow/orange – squash and sweet potatoes, green – broccoli or spinach, and in the earth color of tan – oatmeal and other whole grains. Of course the foods that “bad” for the heart include almost anything white – sugar, refined flour, fried potatoes, hydrogenated oil, whole milk, and fatty foods.

He (God) causes the grass to grow for the cattle, and vegetation for the labor of man, so that he may bring forth food from the earth, and wine which makes man's heart glad, so that he may make his face glisten with oil, and food which sustains man's heart. - Psalm 104:14-15

Do you ever consider heart food—food that strengthens the heart, spiritually?

Paul taught about spiritual food. In this passage below he was using an example of the Hebrew people in their exodus from Egypt.

For I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea; and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and all ate the same spiritual food; and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ. 1 Corinthians 10:1-4.

That spiritual food was from Christ…it was Christ. Things haven’t changed from the times of the Exodus…Christ is still our spiritual rock and provides our spiritual food. Eat heartily at His table—feast today and everyday from His word. Allow it to change your attitude and perspective of life. Do let your heart be strengthened by grace, the unmerited favor of God. Attitude is the key to a great many problems and successes in life. We choose our attitude just as much as we choose the foods we eat or the clothes we wear. It is amazing how a smile can change the way you feel…even if you don’t feel like smiling. Try it and see if it works for you. There is an old song about smiling that says…

Smile, though your heart is aching
Smile, even though it's breaking
When there are clouds in the sky
You'll get by...

If you smile
With your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you just...smile…. 

God wants us to rely on Him…not on ourselves—so as you are “smiling” focus on the Lord. He is the one that makes life worth “smiling” about. There are always things that we can find to turn our smile upside down—but even then we can choose to look at the brighter side of things and remember that God is with us…He will never leave us or forsake us. Smile it will do your heart good, physically and spiritually.

 

I’m preaching to myself here…I just put my daughter, son-in-law, and three adorable little grandchildren on a plane to fly across the whole United States and live 3,000 miles away. It will be a good move for them…better for their health, but so far away that we can’t just drop over every so often to see them. I just pray for God’s blessing on them…that they find good Christian friends and make good decisions…and smile. I’ll try to, too.

Dear Lord, please protect and guide my family wherever they are. Thank you that they know and seek you. Please give them extra strength, encouragement, love and joy as they begin this New Year. May all our attitudes be pleasing to You and by Your grace my we give you the praise for all our blessings.

© 2012 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

All scripture quoted from the New American Standard Bible (NASB).