Some people never laugh unless they’re listening to some jokes by a comedian. A comedian may say or do some funny things to make you laugh, but all that is transient; real joy is from inside you. Having received the Holy Spirit, God expects you to generate delight and excitement from within. The latter part of our opening verse says, “…the joy of the Lord is your strength.” This is not the kind of joy you feel when you receive a gift or when your expectations come through. It is the joy of the Lord, and it comes from the Holy Spirit; it comes from the Word. You’ve got to express it, because, as you do, the power is released and your challenges bow.
Psalm 2:4 GNB says, in reference to God’s enemies, “From his throne in heaven the Lord laughs and mocks their feeble plans.” This is how God expects us to respond to challenges and daunting situations—with a long, loud laugh! This is a strategy of the Spirit. As the challenges mount, step aside and laugh out loud! As you laugh, the challenges will begin to crumble by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Laughter has been proven to have immense health benefits, such as boosting the immune system, relaxing the muscles, protecting the heart, etc., but the higher spiritual truth is that laughter is an expression of joy that the devil can’t stand. If you’ve lost your joy to circumstances of life, it’s time to reclaim it. Stir it up from within, and watch things turn around for good. Glory to God!
Confession
I go out with joy, and I’m led forth with peace; the mountains and hills break forth before me into singing, and all the trees of the field clap their hands. I rejoice exceedingly in the God of my salvation, irrespective of what comes my way, for His mercy endures forever. Hallelujah!
