One of the greatest turning points in my life and faith was when I realized I don’t have to live a life of reactions: meaning when I speak and my words are favorably received, I’m happy; but when not, my smile quickly disappears.

No longer need I let people and circumstances dictate the inner joy of my heart, leaving me wounded by someone’s words or actions, or down because it’s raining again.

I can cultivate a cheerful heart.

Now maybe you’re thinking, “Life is hard right now. How can I possibly have a cheerful heart in these circumstances?”

Jesus tells us in this present life we will have trouble:

These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.  (John 16:33)

But because He has overcome the world, we can be of good cheer. Even in the midst of great difficulty or sorrow, beneath the pain there is peace, because the Lord is present. I can experience deep-seated joy, because Jesus is my strength, and in Him, there is always hope.

In Him, my heart can be cheerful.

Other scriptures talk about the benefits of a cheerful or merry heart:

A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.  (Proverbs 15:13)

But he who is of a merry heart has a continual feast.  (Proverbs 15:15)

A merry heart does good, like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones.  (Proverbs 17:22)

Singing, praising God, and giving thanks lend themselves to a cheerful heart.

Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.  (Ephesians 5:19-20)

When your heart needs hope, and needs to find its happy place—its merry place—try this:

          Sing when you feel terrible. 

          Praise God in the midst of your difficulties. 

          Give thanks when you don’t feel like it.

Soon you’ll be smiling, encouraged by His ever-abiding presence and the peace and hope only He can give.

You will find yourself with a cheerful heart!
Copyright © 2018 Cheryl Elton

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“You’re not making me want to do this,” I uneasily laughed. The pre-op nurse stood before me reciting a litany of risks of surgery: from possible infection, to cardiac arrest . . . to death.

For a split second, fear gripped my heart. This was elective surgery. Do I really want to go through with this?

Let’s face it . . . surgery brings anxiety.

The uncertainties, the unknowns, the disruption of routines, the fear of pain . . . The hidden things in our hearts that leave us teetering on the brink of fear often surface during this time.

Last Tuesday morning, getting to the day surgery center was for me the most challenging part of the day.

Because of the newness of the procedure I was having on my foot, the closest doctor was 3 hours from my home. This left plenty of time on the drive over with my husband for anxieties to brew—exacerbated by an early departure on little sleep, the beginnings of a headache, and trying not to think about the restriction on food and drink—(tough for us breakfast people!)

Yet as I gazed out at the rising sun, a thought came: When was the last time the sun failed to come up?

A daily testament to God’s faithfulness, the sun rises each morning, signaling another new day—and not one of us has any control over it!

I considered the sky, the clouds, the trees, and reflected on the awesomeness of God’s creation.

Surely, I am part of that creation! Couldn’t the One who so awesomely and wonderfully made the amazing intricacies of my body—He who designed it to function and heal—see me through this time? 

In that moment, I started thanking God for the blessings all around me. I began praising Him for who He is, all He’s made, the life He’s given me.

Praise quickly gave rise to prayer, and one by one, I turned my anxious concerns over to Him, leaving each in His capable hands.

By the time we reached the surgery center, I realized my headache had lifted, my heart was at peace.

In Psalm 77, Asaph was consumed with distress, self-concern, worries, complaining. So troubled he could not speak, he wondered, where is God? “Will He be favorable no more?” 

But then he recalled times he had experienced the greatness and goodness of God:

“I will remember the works of the Lord; Surely I will remember Your wonders of old. I will also meditate on all Your work, And talk of Your deeds . . . Who is so great a God as our God?”  (Psalm 77:11-13)

Asaph found that as long as he looked within himself and let his mind ramble with worries and “what-ifs,” he would be miserable.

When his focus returned to God and His greatness, Asaph’s problems shrank into insignificance.

As I prepared for my surgery, I learned again that I could choose: to keep dwelling on my self-centered anxious thoughts, or to put my mind on “things above.”

God was with me. He would see me through this time, like He has so many others.

Is He not faithful to His promises?

“For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’” (Hebrews 13:5b)

No matter how big or small, how routine or complex your surgery is, remember—as you prepare—God is there to provide what you need and give you peace.

Thankfulness and praise open the doors to His presence. Prayer opens the floodgates to His peace.

^“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)

Copyright © 2017 Cheryl Elton

For related posts, click on Topic Tags for “training,” “worry,” “praise.”

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A feeling of finality came over me as I thumbed through, then closed my 2016 monthly planner.

December 31. Another year ended . . .

By the grace of God it had been a good year, despite some unexpected challenges and changes. He had seen us through.

We are grateful.

As I open my new 2017 calendar I pause to admire its clean pages. Each one an empty slate, soon to be filled in with day-to-day happenings, appointments, and special occasions.

A new year brings hope. A sense of new beginnings. A time to redefine goals and sharpen our focus on what is truly important.

To look ahead to new and better days . . .

Like the first blank page of a new calendar year, our new life in Christ is a new beginning—each and every day. 

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV) 

The same power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead is now the transforming power of Christ dwelling in us—enabling us to put away old deplorable behaviors, and change—becoming more and more like Him.

“For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.” (Romans 6:4 NLT) 

As we begin the New Year, may we take time to be still in His presence—allowing Him to strengthen us and give us direction for the days ahead—to fill us with His peace, His joy, His hope. 

“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13 NKJV) 

Each day, may we be transformed more and more into His likeness as we live in His presence.

Copyright © 2017 Cheryl Elton

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As we celebrate our national holiday of Thanksgiving, I’ve been coming across numerous articles about the countless benefits of cultivating an attitude of gratitude in our lives.

According to Scripture, an unthankful heart displeases God. He exhorts us to always give thanks, and to be thankful in all circumstances. It’s through praise and thanksgiving that we enter His presence.

A powerful way to build thanks and praise into our lives is to personalize scriptures and offer them to God as prayers and proclamations of our faith.

The Psalms are great for this. They are beloved by so many because they relate to a wide gamut of human emotions and conditions, and many express great praise and thanksgiving to God.

Here are some verses I’ve personalized from Psalms 100, 118, and 103, which can be used as a starting point:

Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth;                                                                          May I serve the Lord with gladness;                                                                               And come before Him with joyful singing.                                                                       I know Lord, that you are God;                                                                                              It is you that has made us, not we ourselves;

We are your people,                                                                                                           And the sheep of your pasture.                                                                                 Therefore I enter your gates with thanksgiving,                                                                And your courts with praise.                                                                                               I give thanks to you Lord,                                                                                                 And bless your name.

For the Lord is good,                                                                                                            His lovingkindness is everlasting.                                                                                         His faithfulness is to all generations.                                                                                  

In my distress I called upon you, Lord;                                                                          You answered me and set me in a large place.                                                              Lord, you are for me—I will not fear;                                                                                   What can man do to me?                                                                                                        It is better that I take refuge in you, Lord,                                                                    Than to trust in man. 

Bless the Lord, O my soul,                                                                                                    May all that is within me,                                                                                                   Bless your holy name.                                                                                                          Bless the Lord, O my soul,                                                                                                       I will not forget your benefits.

You pardon all my iniquities,                                                                                             You heal all my diseases,                                                                                                    You redeem my life from the pit,                                                                                         You crown me with lovingkindness and compassion;                                                       You satisfy my years with good things,                                                                                So that my youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

All praise, and honor, and glory be Yours Lord, today and every day, as we pause to give you thanks for our many blessings. Amen!

Copyright © 2016 Cheryl Elton

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Psalm 1 describes the person who doesn’t follow worldly methods and means, but who takes their greatest delight in the Lord.

Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do. (Psalm 1:1-3) 

Great joy, blessings, fruit, and prosperity follow this person. So how do I make the Lord my delight above all else?

Yes, I can quote Bible verses telling me to “praise the Lord,” to “be thankful,” and to “be joyful.” But there are times I just don’t feel like doing these things.

Yet I’m finding as I faithfully choose to spend time in His Word, praise Him despite how I feel, and seek His presence, He meets me right where I am and pulls me ever closer toward Him.

Delighting in God isn’t something I feel, it’s something I do.

Praising and delighting in God goes deeper than hearts swelling with emotion as hands rise upward during a stirring praise song. It dares us to step out of ourselves, and our souls’ emotions. It invites us to leave behind our own well-worn heart paths and reach for something beyond ourselves—the very heart of God. 

Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires. (Psalm 37:4) 

This command is also a promise. It confronts us when we’re weary, and calls our thinking to higher ground. As we decide to delight in the Lord, He not only gives us our heart’s desires (puts them there), He becomes our heart’s sweetest yearning and resting place.

Nothing matches the joy of His presence. With every effort we make to draw near to Him, He promises to be there. 

Come close to God, and God will come close to you. (James 4:8a)

He is only a thought, a heart-cry away. In His presence is fullness of joy. When discovered, it becomes our heart’s greatest desire to delight in God each day.

Copyright © 2015 Cheryl Elton

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Perhaps you’re familiar with the words to the hymn Great Is Thy Faithfulness[1]:

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
There is no shadow of turning with Thee,
Thou changest not, Thy compassions they fail not,
As Thou hast been, Thou forever wilt be. 

God doesn’t change. His compassions don’t fail.

What He said was, was . . .
          What He says is, is . . .
                    What He says will be, will be . . .

Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon, and stars in their courses above;
Join with all nature in manifold witness,
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love. 

All around us creation proclaims His abiding presence, yet most people rush past it without giving it thought.

A splendorous sunrise . . .
          A majestic mountain . . .
                    A towering tree . . .

The whole earth is filled with His glory!

The sun rises each morning; the moon and stars perpetually canopy the earth with nighttime sky.

God’s faithfulness.

The tides roll in, the tides flow out.

God’s faithfulness.

All of creation lends testimony to His enduring faithfulness.

Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me!

Because of God’s faithfulness we can trust and rest in His presence today—
no matter what our today may hold.

_________________________________________

[1] The words to this song are based on Lamentations 3:22-23.
Great Is Thy Faithfulness is a popular Christian hymn written by Thomas Chisholm (1866-1960).

Copyright © 2015 Cheryl Elton

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All smiles and laughter, two small boys ran across the yard, on a mission to find hidden “treasure.”

The instructions given by grandma had been clear: In the patch of tall ferns there would be four promised “gifts”—all the same item but in different colors. They were to search for them until they found them. Once discovered, they could trade colors if they wanted to.

Our job as adults was to follow and observe. Three-year-old Benjamin was the first to find a large packaged green glow stick. He raised it in the air shouting, “I found it!” with delight. Seconds later Jonathan, four, was jumping up and down with excitement as he discovered a blue glow stick in the tall grasses. Within a short time all four were exposed, packages torn open, the boys waving the brightly glowing sticks in the air as they ran and jumped with joy.

The eight of us adults returned to gather around the campfire. Our fellowship that night centered on a discussion of how to grow our faith and develop childlike trust.

We had observed that throughout Scripture God often addresses us as “little children,” never “little adults.” Could that mean God wants us to approach Him with the attitude of a child? What would that look like?

We talked about what we saw. When the trusted adult gave instructions, in this instance the children quickly obeyed. They were confident in what was told them, not arguing, questioning, complaining, or agonizing over what they were being asked to do. They didn’t ask for more, or less. Rather, without hesitation or doubt they took action quickly. The pure pleasure on their faces as the promise of “treasure” came to pass was undeniable and real.

What is God speaking to us today? Are the promises in His Word so living and real that we don’t question but simply take the appropriate action with unflinching faith?

Now faith is the confirmation of the things we hope for, being the proof of things we do not see and the conviction of their reality. (Hebrews 11:1 AMP)

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word [rhema, or speaking] of Christ. (Romans 10:17 NASB)

The takeaway from the evening for all of us was how important and necessary it is to spend time in His presence. Only then will we have ears to hear His instructions to us—both written and through the Spirit—providing the opportunity to grow in childlike trust and faith.

What are you doing to become more like a child in your faith today?

Copyright © 2015 Cheryl Elton

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In any struggle we face, praise can provide a path to victory. When problems are viewed as opportunities to praise God and see Him go to work, amazing things can happen. 

Perhaps no record shows this greater than 2 Chronicles 20:1-26—the story of King Jehoshaphat, who encountered a big problem and praised his way to victory. 

Here’s a quick paraphrase of the story:

A great multitude of the enemy was readying themselves for battle against the King and his people. With no obvious solution in sight, Jehoshaphat ordered everyone in Judah to begin fasting and coming together to seek the Lord’s help in the situation. 

Jehoshaphat recalled God’s power and might, and past experiences of His deliverance. Before any battle even began, he offered praises to God, beseeching His help, and declaring that He is able. 

Jehoshaphat poured out his heart to God, declaring that the enemy was trying to steal the possessions He had given them. With humble devotion the king cried out, admitting they didn’t have the knowledge, resources, or strength to defeat the mighty army set to attack them. 

As the people gathered together in praise and prayer, the Spirit of the Lord came upon them, declaring, “don’t be discouraged by this mighty army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.” 

They were told to take their positions on the battlefield the next day, then stand still and watch the Lord’s victory. 

What courage and trust! But even more impressive is what the King did next. 

Jehoshaphat appointed singers to walk ahead of the army, singing songs to the Lord and praising Him for His holy splendor. They headed onto the battlefield singing, “Give thanks to the LORD; His faithful love endures forever.” (verse 21)

The record goes on to say that when they began to sing praises, the Lord caused the enemy troops to start fighting among themselves—to the end they all perished and not one escaped! 

When King Jehoshaphat and his men went out to gather the plunder, they found huge amounts of equipment, clothing, and other valuables—so much that it took them three days to collect it all! 

They marched into Jerusalem to the sound of music, continuing to praise God for the deliverance He had brought. 

Amazing, huh? So what can we learn from this? 

Jehoshaphat didn’t turn to God as a last resort, after trying everything else, like many of us do. He didn’t have a cocky attitude that he could handle life on his own. At the first sign of trouble, he humbly sought the Lord’s help, admitting that he was powerless, and that God was able. 

He reminded himself of the times he’d seen God work in the past, trusting that He could deliver yet again. As the people’s hearts turned to God in humbled, praise-filled expectation, enlisting His protection, God gave them a promise: follow My directions, trust Me, I will deliver. 

As they entered into battle, they continued praising Him. How often do we immerse ourselves in the tasks at hand, with little or no thought of praising and thanking God for the blessings He will bring? 

The record of Jehoshaphat shows us that God’s promises and songs of praise are powerful tools in spiritual warfare and in worship.

Praise brings us into His presence and onto the path of victory!

Copyright © 2015 Cheryl Elton 

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One of the highlights of my week is Tuesday mornings, when I talk and pray with my dear friend K. from Michigan. In prayer, we commit each of our loved ones to God’s care. We lay our concerns at His feet. And we always end the call encouraged in our faith and expecting great things from God.

I love how K. begins her prayers by praising the awesome God of the universe—the One who created the stars, knows every hair upon our heads, and holds our lives in the palms of His hands. As together we turn our hearts to praising Him, the mountains in our minds quickly shrink to molehills. We realize He is able.

Powerful and inspiring.

Praising God is an expression of worship—of humbling ourselves before an Almighty God—of magnifying, glorifying, and centering our attention on Him. Many of the Psalms are songs of praise.

It is good to give thanks to the LORD, to sing praises to the Most High. (Psalm 92:1)

While most everyone would agree that praising God is good, few feel any need to do so if they don’t feel like it, or things aren’t going well. Praise is often left at church on Sunday or viewed as a response reserved for when good things happen.

God says differently.

I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. (Psalm 34:1) 

We’re to praise, or speak good of God all the time!

Praise is an expression of faith, a recognition of God above my circumstances, a declaration of victory.

The New Testament book of Hebrews calls praise a “sacrifice”:

Therefore by Him [Jesus] let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. (Hebrews 13:15)

We offer praise not only to show our heart-felt expressions of love, reverence, and thanksgiving, but because we trust God and want to please Him. Therefore, we praise Him when life is good, and even when it is not so good.

Psalm 100:4 says we enter His presence through praise:

Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name. 

At home, at work, in the car, the grocery store, or anywhere—praise to God brings the refreshing of His presence. 

Smith Wigglesworth[i] said:

Praise is God’s sunlight in the heart. It destroys sin germs. It ripens the fruits of the Spirit. It is the oil of gladness that lubricates life’s activities. There can be no holy life without it. It keeps the heart pure and the eye clear. Praise is essential to the knowledge of God and His will. 

A live filled with praise to God is not only the most joyful way to live, but is one of the most powerful ways to change your life.

[i] Smith Wigglesworth (1859-1947) was a well-known British evangelist and faith healer.

Copyright © 2015 Cheryl Elton

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