January 16 Devotion - The importance of hugging and laughter according to The Bible

Hugging  

A vast body of research shows that touch releases endorphins and enkephalins from the area of the brain called the periaqueductal grey (PAG), and which breaks the feedback loops. Studies show the benefits of touch, not only for depression, but for illnesses that have physical symptoms as well. Good touching releases the body’s natural chemicals in a healing process that optimizes your feeling of well-being.

 

Laughter 

 Many studies show why laughter deserves to be known as ‘the best medicine’. It releases an instant flood of feel good chemicals that boost the immune system. Almost instantaneously it reduces the levels of stress hormones. For instance a good laugh can make cortisol drop by 39%, adrenaline by 70% and ‘the feel good’ hormone endorphin, increases by 29%. Other research shows how laughter boosts your immune system and protects against respiratory tract infections.

 

the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all.

وَكَانَ الْجَمْعُ كُلُّهُ يَسْعَوْنَ إِلَى لَمْسِهِ، لأَنَّ قُدْرَةً كَانَتْ تَخْرُجُ مِنْهُ وَتَشْفِيهِمْ جَمِيعاً.

Luke 6:17-19

 

He Who sits in the heavens laughs

لَكِنَّ الْجَالِسَ عَلَى عَرْشِهِ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ يَضْحَكُ

Psalm 2:4

 

 He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy.

يَمْلأُ فَمَكَ ضَحِكاً وَشَفَتَيْكَ هُتَافاً،

Job 8:21

 

Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.”

عِنْدَئِذٍ امْتَلأَتْ أَفْوَاهُنَا ضِحْكاً، وَأَلْسِنَتُنَا تَرَنُّماً. عِنْدَئِذٍ قَالَتِ الأُمَمُ: إِنَّ الرَّبَّ قَدْ أَجْرَى أُمُوراً عَظِيمَةً مَعَ هَؤُلاَءِ.

Psalm 126:2

 

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself and to meditate on it:

Abba Father, thank You for Your abundant blessings and unfailing, deep, inseparable, and everlasting love. Lord, touch me with your healing loving hand. Put in my life Godly loving people who hug me and whom I can hug, so that we can help heal each other. Fill my heart with laughter and my tongue with songs of joy in appreciation of Your blessings and for healing and feeling great. God please bring all my thoughts into captivity to the obedience of Christ and continue to renew my mind in all the ways that help transform me to Your image. I declare Jesus as my Lord and Saviour and I pray in His holy name. To Jesus be the power, the glory, the majesty, the blessings, and the dominion forever and ever, Amen.

In Him,

Wagdi Henein