‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭17‬:‭22‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

A cheerful heart does not come easy. Often we have to wrestle with the Devil because our “get to” is easily crushed by taking our focus off of God and the joy that He has set before us. What is one way we can maintain a cheerful heart? From the @whoathatsgoodpodcast, “Don’t let people’s expectations control your yes and no. Follow the leadership of the Holy Spirit.”

The mind is a very powerful tool that has the power to be good medicine or crush one’s spirit. Be reminded today that you are a child of God. Recite: I “get to” walk with Jesus by the gift of the Holy Spirit. I “get to” serve God through my yeses and my nos because not everything is my assignment. Give yourself grace and remember that even Jesus needed time to turn to His Heavenly Father. 

What is one way you can build up your boundaries so that the expectations of others don’t crush your spirit? Trample the Devil through worship and prayer. Sunday I encouraged you to listen to Child Of God by Crowder. Some of the lyrics sing, “Clap them hands, stomp them feet. Devil ain’t got no hold on me. Dance all day, dance all night. Good God, I’m on fire. I may be flesh and bone. But in my haunted soul. I got the Holy Ghost. I know where I came from. Can’t keep me from my home. I am a child of God.”

Let’s pray. Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for I am full of joy through the gift of Your Holy Spirit. Help me not to give in to the Devil’s schemes and allow the expectations of others to crush my spirit. I trample the Devil in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Extended Devotion Time: Read Luke 10: 1-24 @biblegateway

Do you see yourself as one of the Seventy-Two? 

Are you thankful that you “get to” work in God’s harvest field? 

Do you rejoice that your name is written in Heaven? Do you share this gift with others?