"A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength." Proverbs 17:2 NLT
According to a new review by leading exercise researcher Zhen Yan, PhD, of the University of Virginia School of Medicine, running may actually prevent or at least reduce the severity of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), a major cause of death in patients with Covid-19. "Regular exercise has far more health benefits than we know," he said. "The protection against this severe respiratory disease condition is just one of the many examples." Yan’s findings further support the benefits of exercising regularly, proving exercise is indeed good medicine.
And if medicine can be defined as a healing substance used for the treatment or prevention of a disease or ailment, the best medicine by far is a "cheerful heart" which the Bible tells us is "good medicine." Why? Because a person who is joyous and cheerful, who chooses to trust the Lord with all their heart, has a positive outlook on the future no matter their current circumstances. And as such, a person with a “cheerful heart” has the power to build up, strengthen, encourage and bring hope to those around them with their words and by their attitude and actions - something that is more important than ever right now as the depression and suicide rates rise due to the pandemic.
So remember this my friends. As followers of Jesus Christ, you and I have nothing to fear and nothing to be anxious about. But let us remember that not everyone knows this. So let it be our goal each and every day to tell somebody about Jesus... about all the good things He has done. And to let our words, attitude and actions be "good medicine" to all those we come in contact with. After all, a "cheerful heart" literally has the power to prevent, treat and even heal pain, heartache, loneliness, anxiety and fear.
Heavenly Father, thank You for the promise of Romans 8:28 that provides absolute certainty that You are always working things for the good of those who love you. Help us to hold tight to that promise that we would have cheerful hearts that would lift others up in their time of need and inspire the lost to seek You. Help us to be bold in our witness and obedient when we are prompted to reach out to someone. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen.
Happy Running!!!
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