Laughter

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.

CharliRenee

Member
Staff member
Nov 4, 2014
6,687
7,164
113
#1
This is another youversion bible plan paid forward that we all probably agree with...

Have you ever felt so down that you didn’t want to go anywhere or do anything? You were in a serious funk, yet somehow you managed to gather enough strength to lift the remote and turn on a favorite comedy film or sitcom. I can tell you what probably happened next. Before you knew it, not only were you laughing, but you had also forgotten all about whatever it was that was making you feel down in the first place.

That wasn’t denial or escape. You simply made a conscious choice to do something to lift yourself out of the doldrums and change your attitude. We have a choice: We can wallow in our misery, or we can make a concerted effort to do something to change our outlook.

Getting our daily dose of laughter is one of those efforts. It doesn’t require a doctor’s prescription, no copayment is involved, it’s available to us 24/7, and it’s calorie-free. Sound too good to be true?

The Bible says it isn’t. Plenty of Scripture addresses the benefits of joy and laughter. The Bible says it’s a medicine (Proverbs 17:22). It says the happy heart has a continual feast (Proverbs 15:15), and it promises that even though we may weep now, we will one day laugh again. (Luke 6:21).

This concept of changing our attitudes is covered in Philippians, where it speaks about how we should focus on all those “whatsoevers” (Philippians 4:8). When we choose to think on whatsoever things are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy instead of dwelling on whatsoever things are untrue—fear, negative voices in our lives, annoying, worrisome, hopeless, or discouraging—we are choosing God’s fool-proof prescription for changing our outlook and our future.

But how many times throughout our day and even in our prayers have we started out positive and hopeful only to get pulled back into all the stresses and messes of life? Sometimes we don’t even realize it is happening. We’re praying and praising, but before we know it, we’re whining, grumbling, or tattling on this person or that person, as if God isn’t already fully aware of what is going on in a certain situation—like he’s not omniscient.

This doesn’t mean that God is uninterested in our complaints. He is, especially when life is unfair. But he doesn’t want us focusing on a negative situation so much that we lose sight of our own destiny. He wants us to fulfill His plan for our lives (Jeremiah 29:11). He wants us to know that even though life has its disappointments and hurts, there’s still plenty of good, truth, and love out there. Giving our attention to the latter is going to serve us better in the long term.

So, in spite of the ups and downs of life, or perhaps even because of them, the Bible tells us to get our daily dose of joy. Laughter-induced endorphins are beneficial to our health much like a regular exercise program. (For the record, I hate to exercise. But even I will still try to do at least twenty jumping jacks a day. Okay, only half of that. … I just clap.)

And that’s precisely why laughter is my favorite exercise program. It doesn’t require breaking a sweat, and there’s hardly any risk of injury. Instead of looking around for a highly paid personal trainer, I simply watch more comedies on television, or read the comics, or hang out with funny people.

If we can teach ourselves to smile instead of scowl, belly laugh instead of bellyache, and giggle instead of grumble, we’ll be better off for it. After all, God created us with the ability to laugh. It’s not something we have to wait to use either. Smiling and giggling are two of the first things a baby learns to do, even before crawling and walking.

So the next time you’re in the doldrums, wondering how you can lift yourself out of them, remember that a better outlook and a more enjoyable life is often just a few hearty laughs away.

Job 8:21, "He will once again fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy."
 

1ofthem

Senior Member
Mar 30, 2016
3,729
1,912
113
#2
Good post....I've been reading some of your threads lately and they are very helpful and uplifting...You have been a light so thanks so much.

I like the way the KJV states proverbs 17:22, as well:
22 A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
 

CharliRenee

Member
Staff member
Nov 4, 2014
6,687
7,164
113
#3
Wow, thank you Sister. What an uplifting and encouraging thing to know. Thank you for reading. Today is my bday, so you just gifted me with kindness. Thank you. Seriously, I appreciate you. Our Lord is so merciful and kind. We are so blessed with him, huh? Hugs and love in Christ. God Bless you and yours.

I love that verse, it is such a blessing and so true.
 

notuptome

Senior Member
May 17, 2013
15,050
2,538
113
#4
Wow, thank you Sister. What an uplifting and encouraging thing to know. Today is my bday, so you just gifted me with kindness. Thank you. Seriously, I appreciate you. Our Lord is so merciful and kind. We are so blessed with him, huh? Hugs and love in Christ.

I love that verse, it is such a blessing and so true.
Happy Birthday. I hope you have two for only one will not do.

For the cause of Christ
Roger
 

CharliRenee

Member
Staff member
Nov 4, 2014
6,687
7,164
113
#5
Happy Birthday. I hope you have two for only one will not do.

For the cause of Christ
Roger
Oh I like that but can I only age one, please? Lol. Thank you Brother.
 

notuptome

Senior Member
May 17, 2013
15,050
2,538
113
#6
Oh I like that but can I only age one, please? Lol. Thank you Brother.
The second one is a smaller number than the first one. The second one has no end. The main thing is to give God thanks for each one and love Him more and more. Many of our brothers and sisters have been taken to glory and we have them no more. Use every day you are given as a gift from God.

For the cause of Christ
Roger
 

1ofthem

Senior Member
Mar 30, 2016
3,729
1,912
113
#7
Wow, thank you Sister. What an uplifting and encouraging thing to know. Thank you for reading. Today is my bday, so you just gifted me with kindness. Thank you. Seriously, I appreciate you. Our Lord is so merciful and kind. We are so blessed with him, huh? Hugs and love in Christ. God Bless you and yours.

I love that verse, it is such a blessing and so true.
Thanks sister....Hope you have a very happy birthday....God bless you:)
 

DustyRhodes

Senior Member
Dec 30, 2016
2,117
599
113
#9
This is another youversion bible plan paid forward that we all probably agree with...

Have you ever felt so down that you didn’t want to go anywhere or do anything? You were in a serious funk, yet somehow you managed to gather enough strength to lift the remote and turn on a favorite comedy film or sitcom. I can tell you what probably happened next. Before you knew it, not only were you laughing, but you had also forgotten all about whatever it was that was making you feel down in the first place.

That wasn’t denial or escape. You simply made a conscious choice to do something to lift yourself out of the doldrums and change your attitude. We have a choice: We can wallow in our misery, or we can make a concerted effort to do something to change our outlook.

Getting our daily dose of laughter is one of those efforts. It doesn’t require a doctor’s prescription, no copayment is involved, it’s available to us 24/7, and it’s calorie-free. Sound too good to be true?

The Bible says it isn’t. Plenty of Scripture addresses the benefits of joy and laughter. The Bible says it’s a medicine (Proverbs 17:22). It says the happy heart has a continual feast (Proverbs 15:15), and it promises that even though we may weep now, we will one day laugh again. (Luke 6:21).

This concept of changing our attitudes is covered in Philippians, where it speaks about how we should focus on all those “whatsoevers” (Philippians 4:8). When we choose to think on whatsoever things are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy instead of dwelling on whatsoever things are untrue—fear, negative voices in our lives, annoying, worrisome, hopeless, or discouraging—we are choosing God’s fool-proof prescription for changing our outlook and our future.

But how many times throughout our day and even in our prayers have we started out positive and hopeful only to get pulled back into all the stresses and messes of life? Sometimes we don’t even realize it is happening. We’re praying and praising, but before we know it, we’re whining, grumbling, or tattling on this person or that person, as if God isn’t already fully aware of what is going on in a certain situation—like he’s not omniscient.

This doesn’t mean that God is uninterested in our complaints. He is, especially when life is unfair. But he doesn’t want us focusing on a negative situation so much that we lose sight of our own destiny. He wants us to fulfill His plan for our lives (Jeremiah 29:11). He wants us to know that even though life has its disappointments and hurts, there’s still plenty of good, truth, and love out there. Giving our attention to the latter is going to serve us better in the long term.

So, in spite of the ups and downs of life, or perhaps even because of them, the Bible tells us to get our daily dose of joy. Laughter-induced endorphins are beneficial to our health much like a regular exercise program. (For the record, I hate to exercise. But even I will still try to do at least twenty jumping jacks a day. Okay, only half of that. … I just clap.)

And that’s precisely why laughter is my favorite exercise program. It doesn’t require breaking a sweat, and there’s hardly any risk of injury. Instead of looking around for a highly paid personal trainer, I simply watch more comedies on television, or read the comics, or hang out with funny people.

If we can teach ourselves to smile instead of scowl, belly laugh instead of bellyache, and giggle instead of grumble, we’ll be better off for it. After all, God created us with the ability to laugh. It’s not something we have to wait to use either. Smiling and giggling are two of the first things a baby learns to do, even before crawling and walking.

So the next time you’re in the doldrums, wondering how you can lift yourself out of them, remember that a better outlook and a more enjoyable life is often just a few hearty laughs away.

Job 8:21, "He will once again fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy."
Excellent posting which is helpful to encourage many.
In life there will always be light and there will always
be darkness. This is God's creation. And as the sun rises
in the morning and sets in the evening, so go our days
with it. We never have life forever and thankfully we
don't have darkness forever. While we're in the light, we
need to pray in petition prayer and meditative prayer.
That way in our deepest and darkest moment we have
something to reflect on and turn to our past remembrances
of light. That way the funk doesn't last forever. We will be
reassured that the light will always come back. So thanks
for bringing the subject up; sometimes we forget these things.
 

CharliRenee

Member
Staff member
Nov 4, 2014
6,687
7,164
113
#11
The second one is a smaller number than the first one. The second one has no end. The main thing is to give God thanks for each one and love Him more and more. Many of our brothers and sisters have been taken to glory and we have them no more. Use every day you are given as a gift from God.

For the cause of Christ
Roger
You are so right, we should be so grateful for every breath of Yahweh. Thanks again for the bday wishes.
 

CharliRenee

Member
Staff member
Nov 4, 2014
6,687
7,164
113
#12
Excellent posting which is helpful to encourage many.
In life there will always be light and there will always
be darkness. This is God's creation. And as the sun rises
in the morning and sets in the evening, so go our days
with it. We never have life forever and thankfully we
don't have darkness forever. While we're in the light, we
need to pray in petition prayer and meditative prayer.
That way in our deepest and darkest moment we have
something to reflect on and turn to our past remembrances
of light. That way the funk doesn't last forever. We will be
reassured that the light will always come back. So thanks
for bringing the subject up; sometimes we forget these things.
You always have such an eloquence with words. I appreciate it Brother. God Bless you.
 

shittim

Senior Member
Dec 16, 2016
13,598
7,642
113
#13
In the eternity he has laid out for us there will be no darkness, thank you and praise you Jesus.
 

ArtsieSteph

Senior Member
Apr 1, 2014
6,194
1,319
113
33
Arizona
#14
I don’t remember who it was but I always remember this story I was told about someone laughing in the Spirit at a church home meeting. It was a prayer meeting and the Holy Spirit just took over and a guy started laughing. Like happy joy belly laughing. People didn’t know what to do at first. Apparently he was on the floor praying because when he started laughing he wound up rolling under the couch/bed in that room, came back out full of dust bunnies. That got everyone else in the room laughing and it was just like the Holy Spirit just lifted everyone in such a light and wholesome way.
 

Leastamongmany

Well-known member
Jun 2, 2019
3,270
1,269
113
Usa
#15
Amen and thank you! Laughter is something I enjoy doing! It helps keep us healthy,spiritually and physically, and keeps us going at heart!🙏💖🙏