“This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of their lot. Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possession, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil — this is a gift of God. They seldom reflect on the days of their life, because God keeps them occupied with gladness of heart.”
You know this person when they walk in a room. Their eyes are on other people, always asking them about their day or job. They turn conversation to other people. They seem to have no care in the world. It is almost difficult to get them to say something about themselves, but when they do, it is almost always a wise nugget. The only way I know how to describe this person is “gladness of heart.”
The Bible says that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. (Luke 6:45) In this case it would be gladness. In verse 20 above, Solomon says that God keeps them occupied with gladness of heart. If someone were to analyze your life would they end up saying that this person has gladness of heart? Or would they say that the only thing this guy does is talk about it his own life and never seems to stop and inquire about someone else’s life.
I think Solomon hit a button here for most of us. If what we have in our hearts dictates what we say, then our speech is a window into our heart. When your heart is hurt, bruised, or damaged, your mouth will speak hurtful, damaging, and bruising things. Do you gossip all the time? Do you speak negative about others often? Are you critical of everyone? You may need to check your heart.
The key point of this gladness of heart thing is found in verse 1 of the same chapter, “Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong.” Your heart gets on the road to recovery by listening to the Word of God. The Bible also says in James 3:9-10, “With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.” Is your speech bathed in the word of God? Do you encourage, exhort, and uplift others?
Today, ask God for gladness of heart. You will know when your prayer has been answered when you stop negatively reflecting on your life, start finding satisfaction in your labor, and start being grateful for the wealth and possessions God has given you.
Prayer: Father, we can often feel trapped in this life. The circumstances we are in, the job we hold, the family we have all seem to trap us in a never ending cycle we cannot find real satisfaction in. In short, the treadmill of life just keeps going. Help us to find our gladness of heart in you Lord. Help our mind to be on the things from above and not on the things that so easily take our mind off you. Help us see the blessing you have provided in everything we do and realize that all we have is gift from you Lord. In Jesus name, amen.
Let It Go 
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