Many of you know that I frequently get writer's block. Tonight, I had a desperate desire to write, but I couldn't think of a suitable topic. Luckily, a good friend of mine suggested that I write about the various ways a smile can change a life. At first, I didn't think I could do it because I couldn't think of a smile that had been a catalyst for change in my life. But after a moment, the Lord entered my thoughts, and I realized that the most important smile of all had indeed changed my life in a most drastic fashion. Thus came the inspiration:

Proverbs 16:15 states, "When the King smiles, there is life; His favor refreshes like a gentle rain." That is so true, isn't it? It was the Lord's good pleasure to give us the kingdom, and through Him, we pass from death to life; I can't think of a bigger or better way that a smile can change a life. "Truth springs up from earth, and righteousness smiles down from Heaven" (Psalm 85:11).

As a result of this smile from Heaven, we are given an innate ability to smile at everything else. Proverbs 31:25 says that "strength and dignity are her clothing; she smiles at the future." Because of the Lord's gracious smile, we can look at our futures and smile. No wiles of the Devil can harm us because the sovereign grin of the Lord is our protector.

In addition, we are blessed beyond measure when we smile upon the Lord. It is rightly said that a relationship is a two-way street. Thus, when the Lord smiles on us, we are called to smile upon the Lord. We become God's when we smile on Him in response to a smile from Him.

As proof of our salvation, we are also called to smile upon others. My highest aspiration in this life is to draw people closer to the Lord, though I frequently fail miserably in that particular endeavor. Yet even when I fail, the Lord's smile never wavers; He is the strength in us when we are weak. I believe it was Paul who said "Yet when I am weak, then I am strong." Nothing could be more true. God's strength is best displayed in our weaknesses and failings.

Smiles have immense power to draw us closer to God and to others. Such a power can only be described as...amazing.