Have You Laughed Lately?

PRAY OVER THIS

“A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.” Proverbs 15:13

 

PONDER THIS

Good, wholesome laughter is a gift from God. Abraham Lincoln once said that God must have meant for us to laugh, or else He would not have made so many mules, parrots, monkeys, and human beings. God wants us to laugh. God gave Sarah a little child, and God led Sarah to name that child Laughter; we call his name Isaac. The name Isaac means laughter. In Genesis 21:6, “Sarah said, ‘God has made me laugh, and all who hear will laugh with me.’” God’s gift of a little boy brought such joy that Abraham and Sarah named the child Laughter. We should cherish the gift of wholesome laughter in our homes; it brings cheer to one another and glory to God.

Have you ever thought of laughter as wholesome or unwholesome?

What might be some examples of unwholesome laughter?

PRACTICE THIS

Take time this week to spend time with another person, speaking about things that bring cheer and wholesome laughter.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Laughter Can Heal Your Heart

 

BIBLE MEDITATION

“A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.” “A merry heart does good, like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones.”

Proverbs 15:13 and Proverbs 17:22

 

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT

When I was a kid down in Florida, we had a terrible hurricane come through. My dad was with the other men in this fierce, cold wind, nailing up plywood over our windows. I remember wondering if our house was going to blow away.

My dad came in shivering and shut the door against the wind. All the electricity was off, and I’m a little boy there, eyes wide, wondering, “Is our house gonna blow away? Is this it?” My dad looked at my mother and said, “I’d give five dollars for a cup of coffee.”

My mother went to the tap, filled the pot with water, put it on the gas stove, and made him a cup of coffee. He’d forgotten we had a gas stove! He looked at her, reached in his pocket, gave her five dollars, and we had a big laugh that eased all the tension.

Does God believe in laughter? Let me give you a verse: Genesis 21:6, “And Sarah said, ‘God has made me to laugh, and all who hear will laugh with me.’” God gave her a son. Do you know what she named her son? Isaac. Do you know what Isaac means? “Laughter.”

ACTION POINT

Learn to laugh at yourself. You’ll have plenty to laugh at. One of the best gifts you can give your child is the gift of laughter. It will make a difference in your home.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Things Animals Don’t Do

BIBLE MEDITATION

“A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken” Proverbs 15:13 

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT

There are three things animals don't do that humans do:

Animals don’t blush. Mark Twain once wryly observed, “Man's the only animal who can blush—or needs to.”

Animals don't cry.

And animals don't laugh.

This tells me that man, made in the image of God, reflects the character of God. And God is a God of joy.

Laughter is a gift from God. There's nothing wrong with laughter. As a matter of fact, laughter comes innately. You don't have to teach children to laugh; you have to teach children when not to laugh. And if you really have the joy of the Lord in your heart, it's going to show up on your face.

ACTION POINT

Does your face today reflect the joy of the Lord? Or something else? Nehemiah 8:10 says “The joy of the Lord is your strength.” Decide today that you’re going to choose joy rather than fear or despair. Memorize Psalm 16:11— “You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers