word4U2day

2026-02-09

Having inner joy (2)

Proverbs 17:22 NKJV

The Bible says, 'A merry heart does good, like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones.' Doctors tell us laughing produces physical benefits similar to the benefits we get from physical exercise. When you throw your head back and laugh out loud, the muscles in the abdomen, chest, shoulders, and elsewhere in your body contract, while your heart rate and blood pressure increase. Just one burst of laughter can cause your pulse rate to double from 60 to 120, while your systolic blood pressure can shoot from a normal 120 to 200. Then once you stop laughing your heartbeat and blood pressure dip below normal - signalling reduced stress.

God created laughter because He knows it's good for our health. But don't confuse happiness with merriment. Merriment comes from joy, not happiness, and understanding this is crucial to our emotional well-being. There are times when we can't and shouldn't be happy - when people are hurting, going through tragedy, or losing jobs and loved ones. In the face of injustice happiness is inappropriate, if not impossible.

But the joy that comes from knowing that you are unconditionally loved and accepted by God enables you to remain joyful. That's because:

1) Happiness is external; joy is internal.
2) Happiness depends on outward circumstances; joy depends on inward character.
3) Happiness depends on what happens to us; joy depends on who lives within us.
4) Happiness is based on chance; joy is based on choice. So today - choose joy.

Links to Bible verses: Holy Bible

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