Scripture:

“Before the year was out, Hannah had conceived and given birth to a son. She named him Samuel, explaining, ‘I asked God for him.’

 

When Elkanah next took his family on their annual trip to Shiloh to worship God, offering sacrifices and keeping his vow, Hannah didn’t go. She told her husband, ‘After the child is weaned, I’ll bring him myself and present him before God—and that’s where he’ll stay, for good.’

 

Elkanah said to his wife, ‘Do what you think is best. Stay home until you have weaned him. Yes! Let God complete what he has begun!’

 

So she did. She stayed home and nursed her son until she had weaned him. Then she took him up to Shiloh, bringing also the makings of a generous sacrificial meal—a prize bull, flour, and wine. The child was so young to be sent off! They first butchered the bull, then brought the child to Eli. Hannah said, ‘Excuse me, sir. Would you believe that I’m the very woman who was standing before you at this very spot, praying to God? I prayed for this child, and God gave me what I asked for. And now I have dedicated him to God. He’s dedicated to God for life.’

 

Then and there, they worshiped God.” 1 Samuel 1:20-26 (MSG)

 

Perspective:

Hannah had previously come into the house of God, burdened and asking God for a specific request to give birth to a child. When she was given that child later that year, she intentionally did not forget the promises she made God when initially presenting her request. This child would be a testimony of God’s faithfulness to respond to the cries of His people. Even in his name, the child served as a constant reminder of God’s faithfulness and answer to prayer. When Hannah went back to Eli, the priest, she testified of God’s power to answer prayer. Prior to this moment, he had seen her make her request known to God in the house of God. Her fervency and desperation made him originally question her sincerity. Yet, when the time came to go back to Eli, Hannah held within her hands a tangible answer to a heartfelt prayer. God gave her what she asked for, and it was up to her to be exercise her responsibility with that gift. She dedicated this child completely to the Lord to fulfill the promise that she had made.

 

Sometimes we also ask God for something specific in prayer, yet time passes before that answer is realized in our lives. Far too often, in the interim, we forget about the prayer. When the answer comes, we can just walk by it without pausing and celebrating God’s faithfulness in our lives. We can assume that it just happened. Why? Many times, we have simply forgotten what we have prayed for. We can forget the times when we were on our knees, crying out to the Lord in desperation. Time has a way of separating us from the urgency of the request. Yet, when we intentionally write down our requests or share them within church community, we have the opportunity to testify of God’s faithfulness when He does answer. What testimonies do you have about God’s faithfulness to answer prayer? The reality is that God is faithful, and He answers prayer. In just thinking about the last month, what prayers have been answered in your own life? Maybe you were believing God for your house to sell, and it did. Or, you asked God to provide for your needs, and He did. Philippians 4:6-7 (MSG) says, “Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.” God not only changes our circumstances as we pray, but He also changes our hearts. When we make reminders of God’s faithfulness along our faith journey, it builds our faith for the journey ahead. God has more for you, yet a wonderful place to start is to celebrate what God has already done.

 

Scripture taken from THE MESSAGE. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002.  Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. 

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About Hona Amer

I help people live life to the fullest. Check out my book, Smart Work U. Follow me on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram. In order to receive updates, subscribe below.

 

 

 

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