Today’s Reading:
I Samuel 1: 19-28
“Therefore, I have dedicated him to the Lord. As long as he lives he will be dedicated to the LORD. And he worshipped the Lord there.” ( I Samuel 1:28)
Mrs Hannah Elikanah was a woman with terrible experience as far as late childbearing is concerned. She was the first wife but due to her late conception, her husband married another wife. Marrying a second wife to the first wife is a trouble in some cultures. No woman will want a rival but for Hannah, she had no choice because what is seen as the joy of every marriage wasn’t coming from her. Such a woman is seen in some cultures as being barren, fruitless and unproductive. Not that alone she suffered from her rival wife. The scripture says, And her adversary also provoked her severely to make her miserable, because the LORD has shut up her womb. So it was year after year when she went up to the house of the Lord that she provoked her.
Therefore, she wept and did not eat. I Samuel 1:6-7. Everything and everyone seemed to be against Hannah. Her husband married the second wife, but she was barren, and the second wife was torn in her flesh, the scriptures say God shut up her womb even though the man of God at Shiloh accused her wrongly. Who else was on the side of Hannah? I begin to imagine the kind of trauma she went through. Some would have committed suicide, while some would have given God different names, abandoned church and brethren, and some would have done the unthinkable by seeking help from other gods. But in the midst of all these, Hannah waited patiently in the place of prayer. She didn’t relent in worshipping Yahweh by going to the feast every year because she believed that one day her prayer would be answered. During her request, she made a vow to the LORD that if the LORD would answer her prayer, she would give back to the LORD the child. Hannah was eventually delivered a long-awaited testimony, Samuel. I could see the joy in her heart that the Lord had changed her name from barrenness to fruitfulness. Her husband will love her more and people will also congratulate her because, in the society she belongs, barrenness is seen as a curse or the person has sinned. But alas! The arrival of a new baby. The joy could have blindfolded Hannah from fulfilling her vow, she could have said if God gives me another baby then I will give it back to the Lord but she never allowed such to happen. She fulfilled it without wasting time.
So many people have made several promises in the place of prayers especially when they were trusting God for a particular thing, they made several promises but when they received it, they easily forgot their vows or pledges. What’s that vow or pledge you have made that you haven’t fulfilled? Allow that child to serve God as you promised God when you were waiting on him for that child. Have you promised to serve God with your work if he blesses you? Are you doing that now? Did you promise to give a certain percentage to God or his work when you receive that miracle? Have you done your part now? What or who is that Samuel you are withholding from your maker, He is calling you to remembrance today that you should give him your Samuel. Be rest assured that if you give him that precious Samuel, he has a lot in store to give you. The life of Hannah is a testimony of God’s faithfulness. Give him your Samuel and you will never regret what you did. God bless you.
JAMES ALADE
To surrender your life to Christ, say this prayer aloud:
Father, I acknowledge my sin against You. I repent and ask for forgiveness, in the name of Jesus. I believe and surrender to the Lordship of Jesus. By the power of Your Holy Spirit, take control of my heart and lead me in Your path of righteousness. Thank You, Lord! If you said the above short prayer, Congratulations! Prayerfully look for a living church and report to the resident reverend, pastor or priest.
Prayer:
Father, I thank You for Your word, help me to be the doer and not the hearer alone in Jesus' name
I receive grace to fulfil my part in the promise I made to the Lord, in Jesus' name.
Whatever I am passing through due to my unfaithfulness, Oh Lord have mercy on me, in Jesus' name
I receive all that I have lost through sin and carelessness, in Jesus' name.
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