Daily Huddle Tue Jul 14, 2020 A Powerful Thing

Love you all, praying for you,
 
God reminded me this morning of a powerful thing.  It’s a tool, it’s a gift, it’s a weapon, it’s an investment, a seed – it produces something.  It reflects God, and it draws others.  People that use it, always benefit, people that don’t - miss out.  Everyone has one, some use it more than others.  Some always, some rarely.  For some, it’s only a reaction or a response controlled by an external happening or event. Something else has to happen to invoke it.   For others it’s an internal initiative, it’s proactive – it’s a choice, it's strategic, an investment.  For some it’s intentional, for others unintentional.  Those that use it the most – have the best life, those that use it little, suffer loss.  This powerful thing is an atmosphere changer, first internally, then externally.  It changes a room, it changes a mood, starting with yours, it draws favor, it determines and can change how others view you, it can diffuse a situation, it can start a friendship, it can mend a mistake, it can make someone’s day – starting with your own.  So what is this powerful thing?  It’s your smile.  Everyone has one, but no one has one like you.  God gave you this smile to reflect Him, and draw others.  It’s hard to have joy without a smile, it’s hard to be discouraged with a smile.  A smile is the joy of the LORD coming out through your face, it’s the hope of God’s promise – changing your countenance.  God says the wise – smile.  It’s a reflection of wisdom, an indicator…  Ecclesiastes 8:3 -  Wisdom makes you cheerful and gives you a smile.  GNT – Only the wise know what things really mean.  Wisdom makes them smile and makes their frowns disappear.  Proverbs 15:13 – A happy heart makes the face cheerful.  God said a cheerful heart is good medicine.  What’s good medicine?  Something that removes pain, takes away a rash, tames a cough, returns mobility, strengthens your body's  response to an outside attack.  What is a smile?  The muscles of your face reflecting a condition of the heart.  Sometimes it’s a response to something good, other times it’s a choice until the next good thing comes.  Have you ever seen a fake smile?  What is a fake smile?  When your eyes don’t agree with your mouth.  Their mouth is smiling, but their eyes aren’t in agreement.  Have you ever asked yourself this question?  How often will I smile today?  Will it depend on how your day goes?  Or will you choose it to impact your day, your heart and your mind, the atmosphere around you, and those you come in contact with.  Why smile?  Why not?  If you smile more, you just might laugh more.  If you smile, it’s because you are thinking of something good, that just happened or is going to happen.  If you think of God, you have to smile.  If you think of all that He is given you – you have to smile.  It’s hard to be sad when you’re smiling.  What if you invested in your smile today?  What if you invested your smile into someone else? It's still an investment in yourself.  It would likely be a completely different day!   You could make someone else’s day!  That alone is worth the effort.  How do you start.  #1)  Decide to smile – to let your face reflect the goodness of God.  It’s a statement, it’s a testimony.  #2)  Think of what makes you smile.  Think of who God is and what He has done for you, think of the gifts God has given you, the good that He has for you, the promise that He’s bringing you to.  Praying that you will change today with your smile, that your eyes will agree with your mouth.  That your smile will be that loud, wordless testimony, that reflects the love of Jesus inside you.  Praying that you will invest in your smile today.  So the love of God and the goodness of God, and the hope of His promise - shows up on your face.
 
Love you all,
dad