“A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones.” Proverbs 17:22. 

Ruut Veenhoven, a Dutch researcher, carefully reviewed and analyzed 30 separate studies on the relationship between joy and health. 

Joyful people, Veenhoven concluded from his studies-
– are less likely to fall sick, and joy, he discovered, actually adds more years to a person’s life. 

Numerous health studies have proven that joy-
– boosts the immune system, 
– lowers stress hormones, 
– decreases pain, 
– relaxes the muscles and 
– prevents heart disease. 

The human system, in its fallen state-
– is certain to regress under the stress and strain of life.

Our physical frame cannot hold up if our mental, emotional and spiritual states of being are dampened. 
Nothing strengthens our emotions and mental state like the spiritual force of joy. 

The Bible says, “The joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10. 

The joy of the Lord is not-
– an ephemeral emotion that is dependent on the availability of the fine material things of life. 

The joy of the Lord is-
– that boundless energy the Holy Spirit works through our human spirit,
– welling up into eternal gladness. 

This joy is a wellspring of life-
– giving strength to every part of our being, 
– and keeping us in sound health. 

The same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead is in us indeed, quickening our mortal bodies to the glory of God.
So, we have a spiritual force of joy this world knows nothing of, and it is our strength and continual source of good health. 

A cheerful spirit and gladness of heart in the natural produces tremendous health effects; how much more the spiritual force of joy we possess by the Spirit. 

We can trust the joy of the Lord to sustain our health-
– just as we can trust it to give us strength and raise us up from sickness. 

The Bible records that the Lord gave the Israelites great joy-
– after they had made a commitment to obedience and adherence to the Word of God. Nehemiah 12. 

We can activate and preserve the joy of the Lord-
– by an attitude of continuous praise and singing, 
– and also by studying and adhering to the Word of God. 

This will be health to our flesh and life to our bones. 

“Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our LORD: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10.

(PA)