March 16

All the days of the oppressed are wretched, but the cheerful heart has a continual feast.  Proverbs 15:15

Throughout the book of Proverbs, Solomon contrasts two different ways of living: the way of wisdom (righteousness) and the way of folly (wickedness).  In this verse, Solomon makes a distinction between two different ways of experiencing time and circumstances.  “Oppressed” used here refers to someone who is afflicted, downcast (Psalm 42:5a), or burdened in spirit - the mental state of a person.  For someone in this mental state of being/feeling overwhelmed, their days feel heavy and “wretched.”  The person with a heavy heart can easily feel broken or dysfunctional.  When the heart is in this state, even days filled with sunshine can feel cloudy and bleak.  We can’t control our days or whether external things “oppress” us, but we can influence our hearts and where we turn our focus.

While our control over what happens to us is limited, we can lead our heart to be cheerful.  A heart that is right with God, is a heart that is cheerful.  It is a heart that feels good and full of joy.  As Solomon writes, it is a heart that has a continual feast.  In ancient times, a feast was a time to celebrate God’s goodness, His provision, and His protection.  Feasting was done in community and was a time of great joy and celebration for what God had done.  Regardless of what was happening in the people’s lives or whether they felt like it or not, God instructed them to feast.  It wasn’t about the people - it was about God’s presence in their lives.  When a heart is right with God, there is a continual feasting and celebration.  

This doesn’t mean that life is literally a party and there is an absence of difficult things.  Rather, it’s choosing every day to focus on God’s goodness.  The cheerful heart recognizes and celebrates the abundant life - found in Christ - not in the external circumstances of their life.  Circumstances and situations are always changing.  God’s love, grace, faithfulness, and goodness do not.  These anchor the heart and soul.  A cheerful heart is focused on the unchanging and permanent presence of God which results in a continual feast for the heart.  Is your heart cheerful?  Is it continually feasting on God’s goodness?  If not, what needs to change?  What needs to be surrendered?

Father - Thank You that my quality of life is not determined by shifting and changing external circumstances, but by the state of my heart in You.  Give me the gift of a cheerful heart that is based on Your goodness, love, and forgiveness.  On those days when life feels like a burden, and I feel “wretched,” may I be reminded of Your unchanging presence and praise You as David did in Psalm 23.  You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.  You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.  Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.  In Your name we pray.  Amen