by Marilynn Chadwick

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

Can practicing thankfulness actually improve your health? Some think so. I read about a study in which participants were asked to list the things for which they were thankful. They were instructed to write their gratitude list and sustain this exercise for exactly five minutes. The results of the study showed that those who practiced gratitude for five minutes experienced a sharp rise in their disease fighting antibodies. These antibodies remained elevated for several hours!

Being thankful can improve our mental health as well. The Bible teaches us that a thankful heart is a joyful heart. And as Proverbs 17:22 points out, a joyful or cheerful heart is "good medicine." I like this paraphrase from the Message Bible: "A cheerful disposition is good for your health; gloom and doom leave you bone-tired" (Proverbs 17:22 MSG).

The Bible promises joy when we spend time with Jesus: "You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence" (Acts 2:28 NIV). The Greek word for "joy," euphrosune, comes from two words that mean "well" and "mind." Said another way, a sound mind. Joy springs from a sound or healthy mind when we're connected to Jesus. Just spending time in his presence can be healing. That's good news!

When we practice being thankful, we become more aware of Jesus and all his blessings. This naturally (and supernaturally) increases our joy. And who doesn't want more joy? Joy is a language anyone can understand.

The story is told of missionaries who went to a tiny village in a faraway place. Even before the missionaries became fluent in the village's native language, some villagers approached them wanting to hear more about "this Jesus" after hearing the sounds of joyful laughter coming from the missionaries' tent.

So today, let's exercise our "thank you muscles." A thankful, joyful attitude promotes physical and emotional health. This, in turn, will help us be filled with more joy. We can pray that thirsty people—especially those who may not even know what they're thirsty for—will be drawn to our joy. Above all, let's pray they are drawn to our Jesus who gives us this joy!

Our Favorite Proverbs: Proverbs 17:22, Joy is Good for Your Health