Tag: laughter of faith
Healing a Barren Womb
Scripture reading for July 20: Genesis 17:15-18 “And God said to Abram, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. I will bless her, and moreover, I will give you a son by her. I will bless her and she shall become nations; kings of peoples shall come from her.” Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed and said to himself, “Shall a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?” And Abraham said to God, “Oh that Ishmael might live before You!” God said, “No, but Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac. I will establish My covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his offspring after him.””
As we continue to explore what Scripture says about healing, we go back to Genesis where we read the story of Abram and Sarai. At seventy five years of age, God called them to leave their home and go to a land that He would show them. God promised to bless them and to make them a great nation and through them to bless the nations of the earth. (Genesis 12:1-3) They began their journey of faith, trusting God’s Word. But nearly twenty five years later they found themselves still with no children of their own, only Ismael, the son of Abram through Sarai’s slave Hagar.
God appears to Abram again at this point and renews His promise. God gave Abram a new name–Abraham, meaning “father of a multitude” and to Sarai, a new name, Sarah–meaning princess. These names were exchanged as a part of a new or renewed covenant. God was showing them that He would do what they had not been able to do naturally–have a child. Abraham and Sarah had both laughed at the possibility of having a child in their advanced ages, so God gave the child that was to come the name “Isaac” which literally means laughter! Faith rests not on our age or ability, but on God and His faithfulness to fulfil His promises. God healed Sarah’s womb and restored Abraham’s sexual vigor and Isaac was born as He had promised! Everyone laughed with joy, including God!
Prayer: Father God, as I study Your Word to find faith for healing, thank You for stories like that of Abraham and Sarah. I am reminded of Your faithfulness to Your Word. I am reminded that faith rests in You and waits on You. Nothing is too hard for You or to old and dead. Bring me the laughter of faith. Amen.
The laughter of faith!
Scripture reading for January 10th: Genesis 21-24
In 1992 while attending a pastor’s conference in California, a man gifted in prophetic ministry gave my wife and I a word from the Lord. He told us we would have children in our later years. Several months later at our home church, a visiting evangelist picked us out of a crowd of people and gave us the same word. At this time, we already had three children and had no plans for more. We chuckled a bit, but mostly wondered at these words and what might come of them. In August of 1999, we traveled to Russia and adopted two daughters! As we had prepared to do this, our son reminded us and I found in my file one of these prophetic words that had been typed out for us. It confirmed what we were about to do! We laughed at God’s knowledge and how He had planned this for us!
God promised a son to Abraham and Sarah in their later years. They waited 25 years and the promise finally came to pass. God waited until it was impossible for them to have a child and then did the impossible! Sarah had laughed at the angel’s announcement a year earlier. Abraham named the child “Isaac” which literally means “laughter”. In their old age they experienced the sound of laughter–the laughter of faith. Every time they spoke the child’s name they were reminded of God’s miracle!
Faith puts its trust in an object. Biblical faith always trusts in God and his ability to bring his promises to pass. It is not faith in our ability to believe! When God brings to pass what He promised, laughter is a great response! God has a great sense of humor! He always has the last laugh! He loves making us laugh too!
Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead, since he was about a hundred years old–and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver in unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had the power to do what he had promised.” Romans 4:18-21
The Laughter of Faith
January 9th Scripture Reading: Genesis 21-24
In 1992 while attending a pastor’s conference in California, a man gifted in prophetic ministry gave my wife and I a word from the Lord. He told us we would have children in our later years and that they would be a blessing. Several months later at our home church, a visiting evangelist picked us out of 700 people and gave us the same word. At this time, we already had three children and had no plans for more. We chuckled a bit, but mostly wondered at these interesting words and what might come of them. Seven years later, in August of 1999, we traveled to Russia and adopted two daughters! As we had prepared to do this, we had forgotten the words of prophecy. Our son reminded us and I found in my file one of these words that had been typed out for me. It confirmed what we were about to do! God does know the end from the beginning! (Isaiah 42:9)
God promised a son to Abraham and Sarah in their later years. They waited 25 years and the promise finally came to pass. God waited until it was impossible for them to have a child and then did the impossible! Sarah had laughed at the angel’s announcement a year earlier. Abraham named the child “Isaac” which literally means “laughter”. In their old age they experienced the sound of laughter–the laughter of faith. Every time they spoke the child’s name they were reminded of God’s miracle!
Faith puts its trust in an object. Biblical faith always trusts in God and his ability to bring his promises to pass. It is not faith in our ability to believe! When God brings to pass what He promised, laughter is a great response! God has a great sense of humor! He always has the last laugh! He loves making us laugh too! Who wouldn’t want to walk with a God like that!
Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead, since he was about a hundred years old–and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver in unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had the power to do what he had promised.” Romans 4:18-21