DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT FRIDAY - A JOYFUL HEART.

Average number of laughs a person has in a day: 17. - Charis Conn.

A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. - Pro 17:22.

When we think of what we possess in Christ, no matter what the circumstances, we have every right to be joyful in life. Christ has given all of the opportunity to have a joyful heart, but unfortunately we allow bad circumstances to dictate to us, rather than enjoy the life that Christ died, and set us free for.

Spurgeon was a character. His style was so loose he was criticized again and again for bordering on frivolity in the Tabernacle pulpit. Certain incensed fellow clergymen railed against his habit of introducing humor into his sermons. With a twinkle in his eye, he once replied: "If only you knew how much I hold back, you would commend me...This preacher thinks it less a crime to cause a momentary laughter than a half-hour of profound slumber." - C. Swindoll.

There is nothing that has such a direct tendency to ruin our health and squander our lives more than, grief, anxiety, anger, jealousy, bad tempers, etc. All of these work death in us. So come on, no matter what the problem is, let’s get a bit of joy back into our hearts, for His glory!

How to cultivate a sense of humor:

1. Catch yourself in some amusing inconsistency and then laugh at yourself. This is the foundation of a healthy sense of humor.

2. Note the inappropriate or funny things people say or do in public, and draw parallels between those silly behaviors and your own. Positive humor goes beyond mere criticism to a recognition of our common plight as less-than-perfect human beings.

3. Include in yor regular reading diet published collections of wit and humor, humor columnists, comic strips, and stories by writers with a well-developed sense of humor.

4. Occasionally do something harmlessly absurd and totally out of character for your spontaneous entertainment.

5. Avoid sarcasm, ridicule, and excessive teasing. They hurt rather than heal.
- Source Unknown.

SO ONCE AGAIN LET US REMIND OURSELVES, THAT A JOYFUL HEART IS A GOOD MEDICINE, BUT A CRUSHED SPIRIT DRIES UP THE BONES!

Loving Father, help me by the power of the Holy Spirit, to remind myself that Jesus died to set me free, help me Lord to live that life, and be determined in Him to have a joyful heart, in Jesus wonderful name I pray, amen!

GBYAY