Reading:
Proverbs 15:12-22

“A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken” (13).

So the route to a genuinely cheerful face is through a “merry” heart.

Hmmm. I don’t have a cheerful countenance.

“All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a countinual feast” (15).

And the route to a positive perspective on life is also by way of a “merry” heart. (For a life perspective, I’ll take a sense of feasting over one of evil any day!)

Hmmm. I don’t have a continual feast.

I seem to be striking out in the Merry Heart Department.

But what’s with this “merry” business?!

Lemme look in my Spanish Bible…. Well, how about that!

Verse 13 begins, “The happy heart beautifies the countenance.”

And verse 15 talks about the contented heart.

Whatever a “merry” heart is, I need one.

I want one!

Tell me how to get one.

[A man of understanding walketh uprightly (Proverbs 15:21)]
from Proverbs 15:21

A little bit more from Proverbs 15: Established Purposes

Reading:
Proverbs 15:1-11

Used to be, I only had to “watch my tongue” in my real-life speech to others. Well, more than that. I also had to be careful with my letters and faxes. Now I must also maintain a guard over my virtual speech — email, Web forums, blog comments.

Since you are reading this, I imagine these verses from Proverbs 15 will apply to you as well:

“A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger” (1).

“The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness” (2).

“A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit” (4).

“The lips of the wise disperse knowledge: but the heart of the foolish doeth not so” (7).

[The prayer of the upright is his delight (Proverbs 15:8)]
from Proverbs 15:8

A little bit more from Proverbs 15: I Get to Choose!