Daily Encounter: A Week-day Devotional by a staff of ACTS International.

Tuesday, January 31, 2017

"A joyful heart is good medicine, But a broken spirit dries up the bones. A joyful heart makes a cheerful face, But when the heart is sad, the spirit is broken."¹

Another pretty little black and white bird that is found where I grew up is appropriately named a willie-wag-tail. This is because these birds continually wag their long, feathered tail. Like a dog with a wagging tail, willie-wag-tails project a bright, cheery spirit wherever they go and are a delight to see.

Have you ever noticed in a group of people when a certain person walks into the room, the entire group lights up with pleasure, obviously delighted to see the person who just walked in? And then there are those who, when they walk into a room full of people, the room goes quiet because of the negative vibes that person projects.

In light of today's and the previous two Daily Encounters, the question to ask myself is this: "Am I a wheel-kicker with a negative, critical attitude looking for pegs to hang my anger on; a magpie that, when it pecks at others, is projecting a reflection of his or her own self-image; or am I a willie-wag-tail projecting an attitude of joy and contentment wherever I go?"

"If it's going to be, it's up to me"â€"regardless of my past. I can choose to stay as I am and blame my parents, society, God or the devil for the type of person I am and the attitude I have. Or with God's help I can choose to overcome my past, grow towards wholeness, and become the person God wants me to beâ€"thereby allowing his love, peace and joy to be reflected by me in some way to every life I touch.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank You that You have a wonderful plan for my lifeâ€"not only to save me for all eternity, but also to make me whole, so that my life will reflect Your glory, and bring 'Son-shine' into the life of others everywhere I go. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus's name, amen."

1. Proverbs 17:22 and 15:13 (NASB).

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