Warriors Arise: May 16, 2023
1 Samuel 1:24 - 2:11 (NKJV) Now when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bulls, one ephah of flour, and a skin of wine, and brought him to the house of the Lord in Shiloh. And the child was young. 25 Then they slaughtered a bull, and brought the child to Eli. 26 And she said, “O my lord! As your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood by you here, praying to the Lord. 27 For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition which I asked of Him. 28 Therefore I also have lent him to the Lord; as long as he lives he shall be lent to the Lord.” So they worshiped the Lord there.
1 And Hannah prayed and said: “My heart rejoices in the Lord; My horn is exalted in the Lord. I smile at my enemies, Because I rejoice in Your salvation 2 No one is holy like the Lord, For there is none besides You, Nor is there any rock like our God. 3 Talk no more so very proudly; Let no arrogance come from your mouth, For the Lord is the God of knowledge;
And by Him actions are weighed. 4 The bows of the mighty men are broken, And those who stumbled are girded with strength. 5 Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, And the hungry have ceased to hunger. Even the barren has borne seven, And she who has many children has become feeble. 6 The Lord kills and makes alive; He brings down to the grave and brings up. 7 The Lord makes poor and makes rich; He brings low and lifts up. 8 He raises the poor from the dust And lifts the beggar from the ash heap, To set them among princes And make them inherit the throne of glory. For the pillars of the earth are the Lord's, And He has set the world upon them. 9 He will guard the feet of His saints, But the wicked shall be silent in darkness. For by strength no man shall prevail. 10 The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken in pieces; From heaven He will thunder against them. The Lord will judge the ends of the earth. He will give strength to His king, And exalt the horn of His anointed.” 11 Then Elkanah went to his house at Ramah. But the child ministered to the Lord before Eli the priest.
Mother's Day is off to another year. It is wonderful to have our children come home or invite us over on Mother's Day. Then they go home or we go home and the festivities are over. We have our memories and home for the next time we will get together. For some, that parting can really be tough.
I think of Hannah's approach. She prayed to have a child. She had been barren for years. She was the favored wife of her husband so there was plenty of opportunity for her to conceive, but she didn't. Then her husband takes all of his family up to Jerusalem for their yearly trip to worship God. She is distraught and pouring out her soul before God when the high priest comes in and chastises her. He thinks she is drunk. She is so upset. She doesn't seem to have her mind about her. But she tells him is it not so. She is praying and desires God to answer her prayer. Within a year, God answers her prayer and she gives birth to a son.
Hannah's prayer reveals the ridicule and disdain she must have received when she couldn't conceive a child. It also reveals how she pursued the Lord, trusted Him, and revered Him for His answer to her heart's cry. She is so grateful for the opportunity to carry, deliver and wean a child. She gives her most prized possession to God, her child. She is in full expectation of the Lord using her son.
I have two children out of the house, pursuing what God has placed in their heart to do. They were unable to come home for Mother's Day, but they came home a couple of weeks ago for their youngest sister's baptism. The time was so precious! Before they left, I felt the need to bless them. I want them to know, my door will always be open, my arms will be ready to hold them, my legs will be ready to go with them, and my ears will always be ready to listen to them. When they left, I was putting them in God's hands. In the future, all five of my children will be pursing what God has put in their hearts. Who knows if we will be able to get together for Mother's Day, but I know in my heart, they will follow God and I wouldn't have it any other way.
1 Samuel 2:18-21 (NKJV) 8 But Samuel ministered before the Lord, even as a child, wearing a linen ephod. 19 Moreover his mother used to make him a little robe, and bring it to him year by year when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice. 20 And Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, and say, “The Lord give you descendants from this woman for the loan that was given to the Lord.” Then they would go to their own home. 21 And the Lord visited Hannah, so that she conceived and bore three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile the child Samuel grew before the Lord.
Hannah saw Samuel every year and brought him a gift. I am sure she anticipated this time, blessed and encouraged her son. When it was time to return home, she would go and her son remain. This must have been difficult, but I am sure she remembered her song of praise from the first time she left him at the temple. I wonder if it became a thing for her to pray it and declare it every year when they parted.
Even though Mother's Day is past, I encourage you to write a letter of blessing to each of your children and their spouses. God is so very good. He will give you the words to say. A letter is something tangible and you may be surprised at how they will treasure this blessing.
Father, I ask for You to minsiter to each mother. I pray you would give her the words to write down and encourage her child in the ways of the Lord and the calling You have placed upon their life. I pray for the courage and boldness it takes to trust You with their life and destiny. I pray for You to speak clearly to each mother and it would be a time of healing and strengthening of her relationship with You and with each child. Thank You for loving Your Son to give Him to us. Thank You for giving us the example of trusting You. What Jesus went through was beyond hard; but He made it through and is the champion in all of our lives. I pray for our children to make it through the hard and become a champion in the destiny You have placed within them in Jesus' name amen.
A Warrior in the Lord’s Army,
Veridee Joy Hand
Join together as Believers in Jesus Christ to pray and to push back the enemy as we release God’s power here on earth. If you have any questions please feel free to make a comment or private message me. If you would like this to come to your email directly please go to verideehand.com and subscribe.
Comments