A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. PROVERBS 17:22 

One of my favorite things is when someone ahead of me in line at the coffee shop pays for my drink. It’s a simple little joy that keeps spreading as I then pay for the car behind me and it keeps on going. 

Often on bad days we live with a cloud over our heads, and it’s hard to see any joy in the day. When we are feeling down, sometimes it helps to try to spread some joy to others. The example above is simple, but it feels great when we know we have made someone’s day through a random act of kindness. 

We have two choices: We can either look at a situation as one that can bring joy, or we can do the opposite. On those days that we feel our joy has been taken away, let’s challenge each other to spread joy to others instead. Simple acts of kindness can go a long way. Even if it’s hard to smile, we can give a smile to a stranger anyway, or let a car go in front of us. There are plenty of different ways to spread some joy to others. Their joy can be what brings us joy! 

And on the days when we are having a good day, let’s multiply it to others! We could say “hello!” to an old friend with a phone call or send some surprise snail mail (aka an actual card!) to a loved one with a gift card for some ice cream, or even spend some extra time in prayer for them. 

GO FOR IT! 

Proverbs 17:22 says that a joyful heart is good medicine. How can you spread some joy to others today? Bringing some joy to others can bring joy to your own heart too. Let’s have some goodness today! 

This is an excerpt from Go For It: Boldly Live the Life God Created For You by Melissa Horvath – a new devotional journal now available for pre-order on DaySpring.com. Shop all books, journals, and devotions from DaySpring here.