Good Morning World I'm Alive

Christians, are we "thriving" yet?

I hear more negative and gloom than hope or adventure on the airwaves, in conversations and most places I go. Believing that God is in control I have all hope to live a passionate faith-filled Christian life, but I will have to know I may not have a majority of folks agreeing with me.

Scientific experts say that there are many health benefits to hopeful living with optimism. I tripped onto a Scripture today "A cheerful heart is a good medicine, but a downcast spirit dries up the'bones'." Proverbs 17:22 RSV.

If I focused on some issues in my life I could feel like a modern Job. He felt his stresses and losses so that his "friends" said that sin of the spirit and bones: tremble so badly that all his bones shook Job 4:14; his bones would cleave to his skin (19:20; he had continual strife with his bones (33:19). But Job proclaimed that those who are blessed by God, will enjoy good health..."wholly at ease and secure, his body full of fat and marrow of his bones moist" (21:24).

Thriving in gratitude for life is my choice. St. Paul commanded his disciples: "Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things."Phi. 4:8.

Some days this is a mind struggle for me. The worries and "what if's" want to hang around my thinking. I've read that many scientific studies hold it to be true that those patients who have hope and a healthy approach to illness, chaos, and stressors heal easier, and there is less susceptibility to disease.

So bones...I'm not trusting in "my" ability to embrace the goodness of this day. No, I rely on the Spirit of the Lord to empower and direct me. In Christ I can hope for all that Scripture promises. Again Paul lights up my fire: "Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and "body" be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." I Thess 5:23

To all of you reading this post take your Rx from the Lord and delight yourself in Him. Your "bones" will thank you.