Read: Proverbs 17:22
“A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”
Understand:
- What is good medicine for our heart?
- What will dry up our bones?
Listen: One of my favorite movies growing up was “Pollyana.” If you haven’t seen this 1960’s class featuring Haley Mills, you’ve really missed something! Pollyana was a little girl who went to live with her aunt after her parents died. She was optimistic and always looked for the goodness in things, whether it was circumstances or people. She was talking to the local minister one day and explained that her father, who had been a minister, told her that the Bible was full of texts that told us we should be happy or rejoice. She states, “There are eight-hundred happy texts . . . my father said if God took the trouble to tell us eight-hundred times to be glad and rejoice, He must have wanted us to do it.” What a great way to look at this! Sometimes, it can be really hard to be happy. The world puts us through some rough times and, quite often, we can feel like we’ve been run over – multiple times. But God wants us to find joy because it strengthens us. Not only does it give Him pleasure when you are singing praises to Him, it also is good for your body. Livestrong.com explains that not only does laughing burn calories (up to 40 every 15 minutes) but it raises your heart rate which, in turn, increases your metabolism which continues to burn fat even after you stop laughing. If you laugh for 15 minutes each day you can actually lose up to four pounds per year just from laughing!
Take time today to find something to laugh about. This is something that is not only fun but really good for you!
Pray: Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for laughter. You tell us so many times in the Bible that we should rejoice or sing praises. Help us to remember that sometimes in life, it’s the simple things that are the best for us. In Jesus name we pray, amen.
Majacka Literary Creations 