Where is God Amidst All This Chaos?
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Jesus Laughing

Mark Virkler's picture

When I began to look with the eyes of my heart to see Jesus, Immanuel, God with me, I saw Him as King David did. I beheld Him at my right hand (Acts 2:25; Ps. 16:8). And the amazing thing is that He was laughing hilariously. He was having such a good time. His whole face was lit up with joy and peace and comfort and laughter. His word to me was, “Mark, lighten up, I’ve got it all under control.” You see, at that point in my life I seldom laughed. I lived with stress and fear and workaholism, so laughter did not appear very often.


I have found a picture online of Jesus laughing, and it is exactly the same as the vision I see most often when I look and see Jesus at my right hand. I purchased the art print, and it hangs in my office. You can find it here.

Smiling totally changes my life. The power of smiling was confirmed to me over 30 years ago, when I used bio-feedback for a couple of weeks to help me discover the point of inner stillness. I found that the only way the biofeedback unit would measure that I was “relaxed” was if I had a BIG smile on my face. You talk about a BIG revelation - to connect with the Spirit who flows in my heart and to release Him, I need to first put a big smile on my face! Wow!

Some benefits of laughter!

There remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His. Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest (Heb. 4:9-11).

  1. Anointing – When I cease my laboring, the Spirit can flow (Jn. 7:37-39). Now the anointing is released in my life. Now the gifts and fruit of the Holy Spirit flow unhindered by my strivings.
  2. Health – A joyful heart is good medicine (Prov. 17:22). When I use the Kardia unit to test to see if my heart is in AFib, I find that if the test result says “yes” or “maybe,” I can test a second time with a big smile on my face while breathing deeply from my heart, and this second test will most often say “normal heart beat.”
  3. Strength – "In quietness and trust is your strength" (Isa. 30:15). In God's presence is fullness of joy (Ps. 16:11), and that joy strengthens and empowers us (Neh. 8:10).
  4. Falling asleep quickly – As I lie in bed I intentionally put a big smile on my face, and as I do, I can feel my entire body relax. As I couple this with deep slow breathing from my heart and seeing the Holy Spirit entering with each breath I take in (while I say the name “Jesus”), I will normally be asleep in a few minutes.
  5. Being relational – A big smile when you meet and talk with people sure warms up the atmosphere and sets the stage for friendship and friendly communication.
  6. I’m sure you can come up with more benefits of a smile and laughter.

Staying in party mode

So to help keep me in “party mode” rather than stress mode, I now own a dozen Hawaiian shirts to remind me of what God is continually telling me, “Mark, I’ve got this, so you can relax.” Also, during the day, I generally have quieting music, worship music, or instrumental music playing softly in the background. I just really need to be constantly reminded to cool it and relax.

Being drunk on the Holy Spirit is party mode. Some call it "soaking." In Acts 2 they spoke in tongues and were accused of being drunk (Acts 2 ). I love to sing in tongues with my autoharp. It brings real joy and peace and release to my heart. 

Personal Application

  1. Journaling question: "Lord, what would You speak to me concerning living in joy and laughter? 
  2. What do I need to understand in order to make this a reality in my life?
  3. What activities promote joy and laughter in my life?

Related Blogs: 

How to Hear God’s Voice   
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Fulfill Your Financial Destiny

Fulfill Your Financial Destiny

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 66 Pages

Though the economic system (mammon) of this world is under a curse, we have received instructions for how to move out from that dominion and into the blessing of the Kingdom of God. God’s promises to His children have not changed with the whims of government or Wall Street, nor have His directions for how to walk in those promises. We can “choose not to participate” in the economic recession that is around us if we instead choose to obey the logos and rhema of the Lord and enjoy the blessings that result.

Price: $9.95
Gifted to Succeed

Gifted to Succeed

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 189 Pages

There is no joy so complete as knowing who you are -- who God has made you to be and what your basic giftings and drives are. The goal of this book is to get you effectively functioning in roles which allow you to adequately express your heart motivations and gifts. The fulfillment you experience when you function in your gifts and calling is a joy almost beyond belief.

"Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before obscure men." (Prov. 22:29)

Price: $17.95
The Great Mystery

Great Mystery

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 54 Pages

This is a workbook which guides you in meditating on hundreds of New Testament verses which speak of Who Christ is within us and how to touch and release Him and His wisdom, power and might continuously and effortlessly out through our lives. You will look up every New Testament verse on being "in Christ," "in Him" and "in Whom." In addition, you will meditate on the various names given to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, and realize that all that He is is available within you and even joined to you (1 Cor. 6:17)! Absolutely amazing!

Price: $9.95
Health Mastery Through MRT

Health Mastery Through MRT

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 82 Pages

Wouldn't it be great if there were a way for my body to tell me exactly what it needs and desires, without having to take expensive or invasive tests? Wouldn't it be amazing if I could perform these tests as often as I wanted, right in my own home (or anywhere I wanted), with no costly instruments necessary? 

Price: $19.95

Hearing God Through Biblical Meditation

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 179 Pages | $15.99 retail list price

For many years I studied the Bible incorrectly, and it produced death rather than life. Even though I had a knowledge of the Scriptures, I did not personally experience the life and the realities they revealed. The Bible calls this the ministry of death, rather than the ministry of righteousness (2 Cor. 3:6–9). Upon coming out of Bible college, I found myself just like the apostle Paul, attacking those who disagreed with my theology. 

Price: $15.95

How Do You Know?

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 180 Pages

How do you know? What is the process you use to discover truth? I did not ask that question during the first 25 years of my life. I used eleven different methods for discovering truth including: if my parents said so, then it was so. If my teacher said it was so, then it was so. If my pastor said it was so, then it was so. If my theology said it was so, then it was so. I have discarded them all and adopted a twelfth method, which is in harmony with what the Bible teaches. We teach you this method in this book.

Price: $17.95
How to Build a Winning Team

How to Build a Winning Team

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 105 Pages

Can I succeed like others have? What do I need to do? How do I go about it? What if I don't have the gifts necessary to do something great?  The wonderful truth revealed in Scripture is that God uses ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary feats, especially when they say, "Yes, Lord" to the destiny He has prepared for them!

Price: $12.95
How to Receive the Baptism in the Holy Spirit

How to Receive the Baptism in the Holy Spirit

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 44 Pages | Published 2002

This brief booklet walks a person through the main obstacles to speaking in tongues, and shows how each one can be successfully overcome. It is down-to-earth, practical and biblical, and in it Mark Virkler shares the struggles he went through before he was able to speak in tongues. Some were theological issues and some simply practical issues, like the fact that if I am going to speak in tongues, I will need to speak. Otherwise, nothing happens.

Price: $2.95
How to Walk by the Spirit

How to Walk by the Spirit

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 136 Pages | Previous name "Sense Your Spirit"

Are you like many western Christians who have been taught little about how to sense their spirits? Do you have trouble even defining what spirit sensations feel like within you, much less recognizing them? This training was birthed from Mark’s passion to live out of his spirit, and thus release the anointing of God. The problem he faced was lack of clear biblical definition as to what his spirit felt like. So Mark looked up every verse in the Bible on heart and spirit.

Price: $13.95
Intimacy with the Holy Spirit

Intimacy with the Holy Spirit

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 223 Pages

This book leads you in meditating on and journaling about two hundred and fifty verses that discuss the Holy Spirit. You will grow in intimacy with the indwelling Holy Spirit, and the anointing within you will increase! You will exclaim as the disciples did on the Emmaus Road “Did not our heart burn within us…while He opened to us the scriptures?” (Luke 24:32)! In addition to being led to journal through these verses, you will read numerous two-way journal entries from Mark Virkler, as well as a five-page prayer at the conclusion of the book.

Price: $10.95

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