Hold on to Your Joy

“I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10, NKJV).
Is your life a continual feast, a daily celebration? Would those who know you best describe you as a woman of joy? Laughter and joy are treasures from God, valuable to us for many reasons.
1. Joy heals. Proverbs 17:22 “A happy heart is like good medicine, but a broken spirit drains your strength.”
There are many hospitals and health programs that have developed “laughter programs.” Doctors actually prescribed laughter for their patients. Why? Because they discovered what Scripture has said for thousands of years - laughter heals. Studies show that laughter:
• Exercises lungs
• Increases circulation
• Controls pain
• Reduces tension
• Strengthens immune systems
In other words, God created us to illustrate the truth, that if we laugh more days, we will have more days to laugh. Joy heals.
2. Joy makes us strong. Nehemiah 8:10 “The joy of the Lord is your strength.”
Joy – humor – laughter – all cultivate inner strength that operates beyond our own human abilities. The joy of the Lord in us will produce His strength through us. A life without joy is like a car without shock absorbers. It will be jolted by every bump in the road. Laughter and joy are the shock-absorbers of life and can radically change our perspective of life and the tough times it holds.

Sometimes it is hard to feel joy or choose to laugh when things are hard and seem difficult. This is when we need it the most! It's a faith decision - choosing to laugh and be joyful in the midst of turmoil. But once you start; it puts darkness on the run. Like the sunshine on a cloudy day, the gloom disappears and creates a light, cheerful atmosphere. What are we to rejoice and be glad about? Think about it, Has God saved you, helped you, healed you, turned you around, in any way? Start there, then count your blessings and your sorrows will be turned into joy.
Let go and have a dose of Joy! It is not only good for you...but Scriptural, too!

Parts of this taken from Mary Southerland's article entitled: "Laugh It Up".