Tuesday, May 5, 2015

Smile and Praise God!




I have been trying to decide for a while what to write for a post. This morning, when I came across these paragraphs in the Ministry of Healing they really hit home, and I just had to share them. Praise God and Smile!


Nothing tends more to promote health of body and of soul than does a spirit of gratitude and praise. It is a positive duty to resist melancholy, discontented thoughts and feelings—as much a duty as it is to pray. If we are Heaven bound, how can we go as a band of mourners, groaning and complaining all along the was to our Father's house? {MH 251.1}

Those professed christians who are constantly complaining, and who seem to think cheerfulness and happiness a sin, have not genuine religion. Those who take a mournful pleasure in all that is melancholy in the natural worlds, who choose to look upon dead leaves rather than to gather the beautiful living flowers, who see no beauty in grand mountain heights and in valleys clothed with living green, who close their senses to the joyful voice which speaks to them in nature, and which sweet and musical to the listening ear—these are not in Christ. They are gathering to themselves gloom and darkness, when they might have brightness, even the Son of Righteousness arising in their hearts with healing in His Beams. {MH 251.3}

It is a law in nature that our thoughts and feelings are encouraged and strengthened as we give them utterance. While words express thoughts, it is also true that thoughts follow words. If we give more expression to our faith, rejoice more in the blessings that we have,--the face and love of God,-- We shall have more faith and greater joy. No tongue can express, no finite mind can conceive, the blessing that results from appreciating the goodness and love of God. Even on earth we may have joy as a wellspring, never failing, because fed by streams that flow from the throne of God. {MH 251. 4}

Then let us educate our hearts and lips to speak the praise of God for His matchless love. Let us educate our souls to be hopeful and to abide in the light shining from the cross of Calvary. Never should we forget that we are children of the heavenly King, sons and daughters of the Lord of hosts. It is our privilege to maintain a calm repose in God. {MH 253.1}