Jun 03
Today’s Truth
The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes (Psalm 19:8, NIV).
Friend to Friend
Years ago, I was in the elevator in a department store with two of my kids. A young employee stood sullenly inside the elevator. With a smile on my face, I nudged my oldest to ask the employee how his day was going. Without looking up, the employee mumbled, “This is 
my second job today.” I empathized and said something like, “It must be very tiring to have to work two shifts. But at least you have work.” The elevator doors opened and he shuffled out lazily, never making eye contact or smiling to us once.
I decided to take advantage of that moment to teach something to my young kids. “Boy, he seemed grumpy,” I whispered. I commented that good customer service includes smiling at people even when you don’t feel like it.
That principle works in retail, and it works everywhere else too. One of the most important things you can wear isn’t bought with money. It’s a smile. Mother Teresa said, “Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.”
There are times when we may not feel like smiling. Maybe our children are struggling, or our next pay check is in question. Today’s truth gives us a reason to smile, no matter what is happening in our lives. Psalm 19:8 declares, “The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes” (NIV). Imagine if this verse was read aloud by someone who was frowning. That would seem contradictory (and comical).
That’s because today’s verse is packed with joy and celebration. God’s Word brings light into our otherwise dark lives. We have a reason and the ability to always smile. Smiling is a powerful physical weapon against worry and anxiety. Nehemiah tells us “the joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10, NIV).
Did you know your muscles have to work harder to form a frown than to smile? So give your muscles a break and let your mouth curl into a smile right now.
When my daughter Noelle was two, I was trying to teach her to exercise her smiling muscles more. Even when she wasn’t in a good mood, I’d say, “Show me your smile!” She’d tilt her head and fake a little smile. It wasn’t exactly sincere, but it was a start.
Usually within a few minutes, her whiny voice disappeared, and she was back to her cheerful self. It’s not a bad idea to fake a smile when feeling low because before long, it can become the genuine article. By forcing a smile, you can trick your body into believing all is well, reducing stress and tension. It’s like flipping a switch to make a connection between your smile and your soul.
That might sound silly, but we see a very good example of David talking to himself when he was discouraged. He was trying to smile again. Psalm 42:11 (records his pep talk, “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God” (NIV).
Proverbs 17:22 (NIV) says, “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” When you choose to smile at others (even when you don’t feel like it), you are reflecting the heart of God. Your smile may be the medicine your family and friends need today. It’s the best thing you can wear. A smile never goes out of season.
Psalm 16:11 says, “You will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand” (NIV). We can learn how to smile more readily by spending time with God – the maker of smiles.
Let’s Pray
Dear God, I know You will not abandon me or allow my enemies to triumph over me. You make known to me the path of life and fill me with joy in Your presence. I can smile today because I am loved. Help me to bring joy to others.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Now It’s Your Turn
Think about how often you smile during the day. Who do you smile at? What makes you smile?
Make it your goal today to smile at your co-workers, friends, or family members at least five times.
More from the Girlfriends
We are often looking down at our devices instead of looking up and smiling at our loved ones. Visit Arlene’s Happy Home University to learn more about her book Screen Kids and how to manage technology well in your home.
thank you Arlene, for the reminder that a smile can change someone’s day, including our own. i am going to put smiling more into practice, starting today.
thank you so much for this devotion.
connie
Not sure what is happening where everyone else live, but here in Canada we are still required to wear our masks. And even with my mask on I still smile at people not realizing sometimes until I have passed then by that they can’t see it. So I have started to say “ I know you can’t see it but I am smiling”. And one day when our masks come off I will continue to try and lift not only my own spirit but others with a smile.
Dear Arlene….and Shirley,
Praise to Jesus, you both have been used for a blessing to me this am!
I’ve been dealing with a bucket load of discouragement; and I do know where “that” is coming from!
We are under attack, but as the examples of Jesus, we have to press on just as Apostle Paul urged us to, in 2 Corin. 4:8 “we are pressed on every side by troubles, but not crushed and broken…”
(and Shirley, love your statement! I am going to use that one!)
Thank you, both for a blessing that you can’t see, but know that I am smiling!
I love all of these comments about the importance of smiling! I’ve also tried implementing giving a compliment to those i directly come in contact with. There you will see an instant smile on their face as well as on mine! It lifts my heart to consider that I may have lifted theirs.it’s such a small effort that can produce evidence of God’s love and joy in us.
This was right on time. Thoughts were filtering through my head this morning because of a 1st time meeting I am having today. This removed my last bit of concern. My smile is intact!!!! Thank you for being the voice of God to me today.
This was a beautiful devotional about the benefits for us and other people when we simply SMILE! Sometimes life tries to snatch the very reason to smile from us through unfavorable circumstances. This devotional encourages us to smile our way through. If we smile today we illuminate the love and light of God in the Earth.
I enjoyed reading this devotional today on my break at work.
Thank you so much!
I love all your comments about the power of a smile…mask or no mask, we will smile and love on others. You have lifted my spirits with your comments and made me SMILE today :).
This devotional is just what I need at this time because my soul is downcast. VERY DOWNCAST. My husband had a very bad heart attack a few days ago and he almost died. The doctor said he is a very lucky man because with a 99% blockage he should have died. Naturally, my husband will be out of work for an unknown amount of time but the bills will still come and the bank will still want their monthly mortgage payment. I am alone and I am very scared. I’m not “feeling” God and I feel abandoned. I like to read G.I.G when I go to bed at night (as I am now).
I’m sure God has his reason for everything. I need to read scripture and pray for strength. If someone would pray for me, I would appreciate it. Thank you.
Pamela,
i am praying for you and your family. asking that God will cover all your financial needs and healing for your husband. just remember, God’s got this! stand firm in your faith.
connie
Pamela,
I am praying for you to feel God’s presence and know He will take care of of you and your husband! Praying for your husband’s healing and recovery and your faith to be strengthened through this extreme difficult situation.
This is my fist time responding. Wanted to ask for prayer for my friend, she has been on life support sense yesterday, Probably not going to make it through. My heart is broken right now. I know that is will be in no more pain, and she be in heaven, But it is so hard to try to understand why this happened to her.
Maria,
I pray that you and your friend will both be flooded with God’s beautiful balm of peace at this difficult time. Know His intense love for you both.