God wants you to know this morning that even in the worst of times it’s okay to find laughter in the midst of it because Joy is one of your strengths.
One evening after hubby and I had been outside we came in to wash our hands. I started washing mine first and I looked at him and said you know you’re supposed to wash your hands for twenty minutes. He said no it’s 20 seconds. I had thought when I said 20 minutes that something wasn’t right but I repeated it. Yes 20 minutes. He repeated his 20 seconds information. By now I knew I was overdoing it, so I said well 20 minutes would be hard to do wouldn’t it? And I busted out laughing. We had a good laugh, finished our 20 second hand wash and sat down for supper.
Oh beloved, can you relate? Have you ever felt you knew what you were doing only to find that you were truly overdoing it? Even when it comes to fear and worry you just feel that more is better. God wants you to know this morning that even in the worst of times it’s okay to find laughter in the midst of it. Not course jesting or making fun of people, but real full hearted laughter. I could have gotten mad at hubby and gotten in an ill humor. Instead I laughed at myself! It really was funny! Later as we were having our supper, hubby said the reason he knew that was because he had to watch a video on how to wash his hands at work. That even made me laugh while being thankful at the same time.
God also wants you to know that He is on the Throne taking care of all your business. He is with the well and He is with the sick. He is with the comfortable and the unemployed. He is caring for the troubled and He is watching over every one of His children. He wants you to know that you can look at fear but don’t invite it to come in. You can see worry but leave it outside. Both of those are as bad as a sickness – they will pull you down and try to take you out. The enemy wants prayer to be your last resort. But prayer is your best line of defense against anything you come across. Washing your hands for twenty minutes is truly important. But don’t forget to wash your hands of anything and everything not from the Lord. Praying, seeking God’s face, asking for Holy Spirit protection – these are going to make all the difference in how you proceed through the next weeks and how you live out your faith.
God loves you and He’s for you. Even now. Even in this. Especially now and in this season. Give Him your heart fresh and new, ask Him for increased faith, wash your hands and lift them up in praise. And live in the Light of God’s wonderful unchangeable will for your life.
Psalm 3: 1-3 LORD, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me. Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah. But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.
Deuteronomy 31: 8 It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.
Nehemiah 8: 10 Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”
Proverbs 17: 22 A merry heart does good like a medicine: but a broken spirit dries up the bones.