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It’s a good word—merry—but not everyone is merry at Christmas. However, it is possible as believers to be merry even when the circumstances are not good. Here is one secret to a merry heart: “Whoever refreshes others will be refreshed” (Proverbs 11:25b).
The Bible is packed full of promises for people who give of themselves to others. You can have a merry heart by helping others have a merry heart. And how can you do that?
SMILE! This is so simple, yet so powerful. “A cheerful look brings joy to the heart…” (Proverbs 15:30, NLT). There’s no one who can say that they cannot give a cheerful look. You can give a smile to people, regardless of who they are, who you are, or how you feel. Smiles are always legal, always welcome.
If you have never developed the habit of smiling, you can change. Find ways to remind yourself to smile at other people. Pray about it each day. “Lord, give me a cheerful look, so that I can bring joy to the hearts of others.” Smiling doesn’t cost a penny, doesn’t even take any of your time. Nothing could be easier to do. But you’ll have to remind yourself!
Another way to have a merry heart is to give a gift to someone who doesn’t expect a gift from you—perhaps someone who may not get a gift from anyone else. You could get a small box of candy or a Christmas candle—something simple that everyone would enjoy—wrap it and just give it to the person God lays on your heart, with a smile and a “Merry Christmas.” You don’t have to feel merry to do that; you just do it anyway.
Jesus said: “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you” (Luke 6:38). So, when you give to someone else in a loving way, it will return to you “running over,” in ways you could never guess.
