At youth group last night, I started a conversation with the high schoolers about stories / experiences from our past that still make us laugh to this day.  As the conversation progressed, there was an obvious smile on every face.  It was so much fun to hear them burst out in laughter before they could even get the stories out.

Proverbs 17:22 says that a cheerful heart (laughter) is a good medicine.  

Has the thought ever occurred to you that God created laughter.  Laughing is a gift from God, and He loves for us to laugh.  Laughter has been scientifically proven to increase blood flow and speed up recovery of illness. 

Sadly, just as much as God wants us to enjoy life and laugh together with others, Satan works to pervert our laughter with movies and television shows that tempt us to use this God-given gift in inappropriate ways.  Most of the popular comedy movies and shows today (especially targeting teenagers) use crude humor and it is selling tickets.  

Another way that our laughter can be used negatively is when we are laughing at others instead of with them.  Laughter can be hurtful if directed towards someone else's demise.  This keeps many people from experiencing the true joy of living that Christ desires for each of us.

I encourage you (just as I did the high schoolers) to do two things. 

1) Notice your laughter - give God praise at the things in life that make you laugh and thank Him for this amazing creation that brings us joy.

2) Guard your laughter - filter the things that you laugh at through God's word.  Constantly ask yourself, "Would I laugh at this if Jesus were physically standing beside me?"

 If you need something to laugh at today, help yourself!