OUR YEAR OF LAUGHTER

“And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me.” Genesis 21:6.

The Lord has said that 2023 is the year of laughter for us and we shall laugh and many shall laugh with us. The Bible says, “When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.” Psalms 126:1. Satan may specialize in putting men into captivity but thank God for a turn around. Just like Papa Abraham and Sarah, the children of Israel were in captivity for so long that they lost the hope of ever coming out of it. They've given up, prayer seem not to be working. They've done all they could and were resigning to their fate, feeling they were destined to be slaves in a strange land. But while they were about to give up and accept their situation as part of their destiny, the Lord showed up, He showed up and turned their captivity around. They couldn't believe their eyes, once again they were free, going back to their nativity, the Lord did it for them. Child of God, I will like to remind you that you serve the same God. The God that turns captivity around, He has not changed, His power has not diminished and above all, His mercies for us are new every day and that mercy will meet you this year 2023 at your point of need and you shall laugh in Jesus name.

Mama Sarah in the opening scripture cried out thus, “... God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me.” Genesis 21:6. But it was not all rosy for her at the beginning. She was mocked by her maid, Hagar and perhaps by so many others. She must have wept in her secret places because as far as she thought it was over for her. But scriptures says, “... weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” Psalms 30:5. Sarah was past the age of child bearing, her womb was dead and her body was weak as well as that of her husband Abraham. It was all over, they thought. For them, the hope of child bearing was gone, they have accepted their fate, but God made a promise to them in the past that Sarah shall give birth, a promise that seem to have been dashed, to them God has failed, it was an hopeless situation. Doubt has taken the place of faith, confidence in the promise of God has drained away with time, their expectation has been cast away, it is all over they think. Now here comes the Lord God in human flesh in between two angels. Abraham being spiritual recognized deity even when hidden within the curtain of fleshly humanity. He ran to them and entreated them for some entertainment, Genesis 18:1-3. Then the Lord spoke thus, “I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and Sarah thy wife shall have a son.” Genesis 18:10. But instead of celebration and joy, Sarah laughed, she doubted. To her, she had found something that God could not do, He was too late, it was game over. Beloved, you may be in Sarah's shoes right now, where it looks like it is game over for you as well, but hear the word of assurance from the mouth of the Lord, “Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son." Genesis 18:14.

Beloved, this 2023, the Lord shall return unto you and turn your captivity around. Though Sarah and Abraham doubted but it didn't change the miracle because though they doubted in their heads but their hearts held unto the promise of God to the end, hence Hebrews 11:11 says, “Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.” Beloved, do you still judge God faithful that He is able to do what He promised? If you do, no matter your situation there shall be a turn around and you shall laugh in Jesus name. The children of Israel asked God a question and said, “... Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?" Psalms 78:19. The answer is yes, a resounding yes, “For with God nothing shall be impossible.” Luke 1:37. One more thing beloved. Miracles are not wished, they are worked, it is called, the working of miracles, 1 Corinthians 12:10. Another word for work is labour. Colossians 4:12, “Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers..." For a miracle to happen, some one has to labour in prayer. For God to turn our captivity around we must labour in prayer to have it done. Psalms 126:5-6, “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seeds, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing bringing his sheaves with him." Elijah said to Ahab, "Get thee up, eat and drink, for there is a sound of abundance of rain." 1st Kings 18:41. But Elijah didn't go home wishing for rain. The Bible says, “So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Camel; and he cast his face between his knees and prayed.” 1st Kings 18:42. Just like Elijah's prayer brought forth rain, your prayer shall open the heavens for a turn around and you shall laugh in Jesus name.

Welcome to 2023. Our Year of laughter. Congratulations!