I’ve traveled in many nations, seen different cultures, and heard all kinds of languages, but when I hear someone laugh, I can always tell they are happy. Like love, joy is a language shared by the world.

I suppose as children of God – made in His image – we all have the capacity for laughter. Joy, however, is a fruit of the spirit and originates from a different place – not from your mind or circumstances, but from you innermost being, or your “belly” as Jesus said in John 7:38.

Faith Laughs At Impossibilities
One minister friend of mine was having some serious symptoms in his body and went to see a well-known doctor about them. After being examined, the doctor’s prescription for my friend was ten “belly laughs” a day. He thought it was odd, but his physical problem was caused by stress and that deep belly laugh brought him the benefits he needed.

Heavenly, triumphant joy springs out of truth that you know in your heart. It’s the truth that if God be for you, then who can be against you (Rom. 8:31). The truth that if you are in Christ, then old things are passed away and everything is new (2 Cor. 5:17).

Even in times when it seems you have lost everything and you’re flat on your back, you can look up to Jesus and let that laughter bubble up out of your heart. You can rejoice in the Lord and take His strength, which is His joy! Ha, ha, ha!

God’s Joy – Your Strength
In Lester Sumrall’s book, Pioneers of Faith, he gives the account of one of his personal visits with Smith Wigglesworth. “One day, I asked him, ‘Brother Wigglesworth how is it that you look the same every time I come? How do you feel?’” He bellowed at me like a bull and said, “I don’t ever ask Smith Wigglesworth how he feels!”

I asked, “How do you get up in the morning?” He said, “I jump out of bed! I dance before the Lord for at least ten to twelve minutes-high speed dancing. I jump up and down and run around my room, telling God how great He is, and how glad I am to be associated with Him and to be His child.”

After this Wigglesworth would take a cold shower, read the Bible for an hour, and then open his mail to see what God would have him to do that day. He was an extremely remarkable man, totally sold out to God.

Psalm 16:11 says that in God’s presence is fullness of joy. Brother Wigglesworth learned how to tap into God’s strength by rejoicing before the Lord, and drawing on the joy found in His Presence. You can do the same.

According to Nehemiah 8:10, “…the joy of the Lord is your strength.” The Amplified Bible says it this way: “...and be not grieved and depressed, for the joy of the Lord is your strength and stronghold.” This supernatural joy and strength will give you staying power when everything around you falls apart.

Rejoicing Releases Resurrection Power
It was a Sunday morning after the service had ended, when a doctor in our church approached me with a very serious expression on his face. He had brought a nicely dressed gentleman whom he explained was a minister from another state.

This minister had come for surgery, which was scheduled for the next day, and wanted prayer. In the natural, the report was very negative, but the power of the Lord was present as I exhorted him to believe God. Then I laid hands on him, cursing the cancer and releasing the anointing to heal him in Jesus’ Name.

He fell to the floor under the power of God, and Trina and I danced, laughed, and rejoiced, taking off in a victory run! We looked foolish, but the doctor started to praise God with us as he saw the power of God at work.

The next day, this man went into surgery. When they cut into the area where the cancerous tumor had been, they began to call other doctors to examine this minister. It was agreed that the tumor looked as if it had already undergone radiation and was dead! They plucked it completely out and sewed the man back up. He recovered and was completely free from the disease!

Laughter releases resurrection power that melts down disease. Laugh at disease, laugh at torment, laugh at lack. First John 3:8 (AMP) says, “…the reason the Son of God was made manifest (visible) was to undo (destroy, loosen, and dissolve) the works the devil [has done].” The Son of God was manifested to destroy the works of the devil, and the language of laughter will loosen and cause a meltdown of all the power of hell! Ha, ha, ha!

Laughter releases resurrection power that melts down disease.

Remember, the Spirit of God who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you. Romans 8:11 says just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, He will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.

Resurrection power resides in every believer because of the Holy Spirit’s indwelling power! It is released by faith. Faith is believing and speaking and the language of faith can sound like laughter.

Laughter that comes from your spirit and is targeted at an impossible situation, it will direct a flow of resurrection power that will give life to your body. It can turn impossible situation into a testimony of God’s grace!

Whatever your situation is today, do as Job did, and laugh at destruction and famine (Job 5:22). Open your mouth and speak to your mountain Let your endorphins loose and release your faith in God with a laugh! Not only will it release your endorphins but it will release your faith.

A merry heart does good like a medicine… (Prov. 17:22). Praise the Lord!



Source: The Secret Power of Joy by Mark Hankins
Excerpt permission granted by Harrison House