Psalm 126

Prayer is Laughing

Have you ever had dreams you wish would never end? Have you woken up and become extremely disappointed because the dream you were absorbed in was far beyond the pleasures of your reality? Perhaps those are glimpses of what is to come. Joy beyond words, happiness and laughter that compares to nothing else you have experienced before.

God is our Father! Like all (most) fathers, He wants us to be filled with joy and happiness. Laughter is an honest and sincere display of pleasure. Our Lord is pleased when we have feelings of joy and contentment.  

Psalm 126: 1-3

“When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dreamed. Our mouths were filled with laughter; our tongues were filled with joy. Then it was said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them. The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.”

According to GotQuestions.org

“Zion meant Jerusalem and later, Israel as the people of God."

We often read of the daughter of Zion. 

“Daughter” infers that God is a loving father. He cherishes and loves His people, even while they reject Him. By using the metaphor “daughter of Zion,” God showed how He felt for the rebellious Israelites: frustrated, angry, but always with an eye to the future when the relationship would be restored, and He could once again return to them and welcome them into His arms (Zechariah 2:10)”

This week as we pray, let’s incorporate joy, celebration, worship, gratitude, and hope. Let’s also be keenly alert to the multitude of pleasures God has placed in our lives, and use joy and fun as triggers to remember to thank God for His gifts.

Read/Listen to Psalm 126

Psalm 126 -- LORD restored the fortunes of Zion

This Psalm is about the joy the people felt when they were released from Babylonian captivity.  They were ecstatic, as only prisoners who once were chained to a foreign land, could be.  They were filled with joy upon their return home, after years of being forced to live in a strange land; to put down roots in soil that was not their own.

Psalm 126:6 (MSG)
"So those who went off with heavy hearts will come home laughing, with armloads of blessing." 

At some point in each of our lives, there is the experience of captivity; a season when our strongholds have a strong hold on us.  What is it that troubles you?  What has you chained to the past, longing for tomorrow's reprieve?  This year of 2012 is coming to a close and we are fast approaching the time when we prepare to turn over that new leaf.  While every day is an opportunity for new beginnings in God's eyes, for some reason the first of the year is the ultimate date we humans set aside to begin anew.

God's ability to restore life is beyond our understanding. Forests burn down and are able to grow back. Broken bones heal. Even grief is not a permanent condition. Our tears can be seeds that will grow into a harvest of joy because God is able to bring good out of tragedy. When burdened by sorrow, know that your times of grief will end and that you will again find joy. We must be patient as we wait. God's great harvest of joy is coming!  --Life Application Study Bible.

Which part of the above quote from Life Application Study Bible applies to you; to your life?  Is your life a mess, are you grieving a loss, are your prayers for God to restore your finances?  Now is the time to begin praying, to seek God's Word for you each day.  He will restore your life and it will be even better than you ever dreamed.  So, what is your resolution for the new year?  What do you plan to do differently?  Better?  More often?

Read Psalm 126 here

Listen to Psalm 126 here