Ministers of Joy

22 A joyful heart is good medicine,

But a broken spirit dries up the bones.

The benefits of a joyful heart flow into and around us.  Have you ever been ill feeling and come in the contact of a joyful spirit?  The joy splashes us and overtakes the “grumpy”.  Joy is contagious and a medicine for the weariest of traveler. Joy alters the atmosphere and shifts perceptions and emotions. Joy is a gift, a fruit of the Spirit, to posses it is to posses a gift from God.  How can this gift not splash as we share in the excitement of who we are, through Him, encouraging others into the fullness of Christ? 

There is always a flip side to the coin: dried up bones, caused by a broken spirit.  There is no living water in this scenario, no Zoe, abundant living.  Let’s agree to pray for those that are dry, whose very bones splinter and crack in the weariness of life.  There. Is a God who wants to drench them with His love. There are people that want to splash them with joy.  Lord, today we pray that these souls would become open to receive You.  We pray that You would drench them with Your glory, manifesting Joy in their driest places. Help us to minister Joy to them and into our circumstances. Help us to live out of the fruits of the Spirit, with less of us and more of You!