Encouragement

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I remember when I first came to the faith, when I was a newborn to it all.
I remembered being in church services and seeing people rolling around the floor, laughing.
Now, like I said, I was new to the faith. I would watch them, wondering.
What are they doing?!

As I became older in the faith, I would attend conferences where there would be a time of worship and again, people rolling around laughing.
Now, I am the sort of person, always have been, where I want to know what’s going on, and would like to experience it myself!

When I married my husband, he told me it was the Holy Spirit, and that he had experienced the same thing in his church services.
Well. Knowing my husband, and knowing he does not exaggerate. I was even more intrigued.

We attended a particular church service where this particular thing was happening.
We were all at the front, worshipping, and the speaker was walking around, as he touched people, they fell to the floor laughing!
I edged closer, the speaker came and laid hands on my husband who fell instantly to the floor, laughing.

The speaker came to me, laid hands on me.
Nothing.

I felt slightly dismayed, and a little left out.
Why were all these people falling laughing?!

We got home that night, and while my husband was sleeping, I wondered why I hadn’t experienced it.
So, I just thought maybe it was all make believe, and people were just making it up. But then I knew my husband, and he would never lie about what God had done for him. This kept me wondering.

The story continues to a few weeks later.
My husband, John, had to go away for a few days.
I was home, listening to worship songs and speakers on the internet.

Now, at the time, we were going through some very tough financial difficulties. I was out of work, and the company who my husband was working for left a lot to be desired when it came to paying him on time.
I realised, that day, I had to pay a bill at the bank. I also realised I did not have the money for it, so it meant having to use my Credit Card.
I was so upset, firstly, because I had a bill to pay, but even more so, because I had to get ready and walk the long walk to the bank.
I was so unmotivated at the time, and everything seemed such a big task.
I cried out to Jesus;
“ I don’t have the energy for this! “

Then it came, completely out of nowhere.
Laughter.
I could not stop laughing.
I was in the chair, laughing as though someone had come and tickled me.
I had tears rolling down my face, the whole room fill of the Holy Spirit.

I heard the words;
'The Joy of the Lord is your Strength'

As I heard that, I closed my eyes. There I saw, Jesus.
He was laughing with me, such kind eyes, such a happy face.
This went on for at least 10 minutes, if not longer.
I lay in the chair, feeling the happiest I had done in years. My belly was aching from all the laughter and the whole house was full of God. I was warm from head to toe, and felt like I had a new lease of life.
I jumped up out of the chair, ran upstairs and skipped to the bank.
That, in itself is a miracle!

I will never forget that day.

God gave me that experience for so many reasons.
Now when I see people rolling around in laughter in church, I smile, and think, I know how that feels and it’s awesome!

The Joy of the Lord IS your strength!

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