We Serve a God of Joy!

"A heart full of joy and goodness makes a cheerful face, but when a heart is full of sadness the spirit is crushed" (Prov.15:13, Amp).

Have you ever experienced a deep belly laugh that left your sides, stomach, or facial muscles aching? I have heard it said that a good belly laugh is like aerobic exercise to your internal organs, now there is motivation to laugh more. The Lord designed our facial structures with over forty muscles just in our faces alone! These muscles control a wide range of facial expressions and are also crucial for verbal and non-verbal communication. The facial muscles allow us to smile, frown, smirk, and perform other facial movements that are vital for communication and emotional expression. With this in mind, we should make more time for humor in our lives, more time for laughing, smiling and being jolly with joy. After all we serve a mighty God of joy! In His holy presence there is no time for sulking and frowning with long, dreary faces. Why do we take ourselves and others so seriously? Could it be that we should be more light-hearted, not that we should be frivolous, but our God has blessed us all with a sense of humor. If God gave us so many facial muscles, shouldn't we be exercising them? They must be used by laughing, so what are you waiting for? Spread some joy and raucous laughter today. Don't forget to look above and smile wide at what the Lord has done for you. We all smile in the same language, so pass it on.

We have access to joy because of the grace of Jesus Christ that lives within us. Rejoice with praise each day no matter what your circumstances may be. No matter what is going on in our lives, God is always nearby. May we all joyfully focus on Jesus today and every day knowing that He is smiling at His children. Laugh, smile, and be radiant for our Lord as you reflect His image to others you may encounter today with joy.

"A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones" (Prov. 17:22, NIV).

"All the days of the afflicted are bad, but a glad heart has a continual feast [regardless of the circumstances]" (Prov. 15:15, Amp).

"I will rejoice greatly in the Lord, my soul will exult in my God; for He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has covered me with a robe of righteousness..." (Is. 61:10, Amp).

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing [through the experience of your faith] that by the power of the Holy Spirit you will abound in hope and overflow with confidence in His promises" (Rom.15:13, Amp).

"You have made known to me the ways of life; You will fill me [infusing my soul] with joy with Your presence" (Acts 2:28, Amp).

Dearest Father God, thank You for the gift of laughter. When You hear Your children laugh, we know You are smiling down on us. May we glorify You in our praise and worship with great smiles upon our faces for all that You have done and continue to do for us. May we be reflections of Your joy to others as we joyfully focus on Jesus. We love You. In Christ's holy name, Amen.