Promise Kept Plus

Re:Verse reading–1 Samuel 1 (day seven)

Sometimes we forget.  We are well meaning people who forget when things are well.  In the throes of adversity we offer God more than we have wanting nothing more than to see a flicker of light at the end of the tunnel.  But we so often forget those foxhole vows.  We dust ourselves off and walk away from the pain leaving God in the tunnel.

Do not be hasty in word or impulsive in thought to bring up a matter in the presence of God. For God is in heaven and you are on the earth; therefore let your words be few. 3 For the dream comes through much effort and the voice of a fool through many words. 4 When you make a vow to God, do not be late in paying it; for He takes no delight in fools. Pay what you vow! 5 It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay. 6 Do not let your speech cause you to sin and do not say in the presence of the messenger of God that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry on account of your voice and destroy the work of your hands? 7 For in many dreams and in many words there is emptiness. Rather, fear God. -Ecclesiastes 5:2-7

This wisdom of Ecclesiastes was written for us, it was not written for Hannah.  She was one who made a vow to God and kept it.  As soon as she could, she brought Samuel to the Lord.  Brought him and left him with the priest.  But Hannah didn’t stop there.  She not only brought Samuel to the Lord, she brought flour, wine, and a three-year-old bull.  That may not sound like much on paper, but that was a huge offering.  It was about three times extra.  Why in the world would Hannah bring the incredible offering of her son plus three times the normal elements?  I think God should be happy with my child, but Hannah flooded the altar.

Remember

Re:Verse reading–1 Samuel 1 (day six)

lightstock_189116_medium_mikel“…and the Lord remembered her.” 1 Samuel 1:19

It can be hard to conceive of how God can hear the pleas of his people from all over the world. This verse gives us a clue. God is an active listener, not passive. This means we pray to a person. Infinite, eternal, bigger-than-the universe, beyond-comprehension, holy, yes, but nonetheless, personal and close. We don’t pray to an aloof supercomputer.

Why does this matter? Because it serves as a good reminder to never be indifferent to prayer, because God isn’t. We have a God who is there. A God who listens. A God who remembers.

Learning about Prayer

Re:Verse reading–1 Samuel 1 (day five)

Hannah’s faithfulness to pray and her approach to prayer can be helpful to us all.

There is praise in her prayer. She prays to the “Lord of Hosts”. Remember the scene in Luke 1 where the shepherds see and hear the Heavenly Host? (The Angel Armies of the Lord) In 1 Samuel 1:11, Hannah is praising God for His power and authority, the Lord of Hosts.

Hannah’s example is that praising God in prayer is needed and necessary. I sometimes leave that out in my personal prayer time and just share my heart. Big mistake. Praise helps calibrate my heart. Praise helps put me in my place and helps me see God in His proper place. Praise also fills me with awe- to think that I can talk with an all-knowing and all-powerful Father who invites me into relationship and communication with Him.

Try spending as much time and attention in praise as you do other parts of your prayer time. God will use it to help you.

Parents in Prayer

Re:Verse reading–1 Samuel 1 (day four)

It’s called ‘setting the stage’ or ‘giving the backstory’ or ‘introducing the characters’.  Knowing Samuel’s story helps us to understand who he is and why he acts the way he does.  Samuel was not only given to the Lord’s service in the Temple, his parents supported and encouraged his commitment to the Lord all of their days.  Samuel’s dedication to the Lord by his parents led to a life of faithful service all of his days.

We do the same…we have baby or home dedication where we bring our new child before the church to present him to the Lord and to pray for his faithfulness.  It’s a commitment to raise him in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.  Are your children grown?  It is never too late to pray Scripture for your children.  Parents have a special place of prayer for their children.  What a special privilege.  Don’t miss the opportunity and blessing!

Say

Re:Verse reading–1 Samuel 1 (day three)

“O Lord Almighty, if you will only look upon your servant’s misery and remember me…”  Is it wrong to haggle with God?  Would we even consider an “if-you-do-this-I’ll-do-that” arrangement?   Have we decided to place ourselves above such dealings?  Do we believe it would even make any difference?  It’s interesting to consider that from the Old Testament to the New Testament, from people to demons and back to people, such conversations with the Lord have been common: Abraham, Moses, Hannah, David, Legion (!), Peter, Paul.  Maybe we would see the power of God more if we would tell him what we want.  That’s not the same as demanding what we want.  Even the demons knew that.  God will take care of his own responses to us.  Just speak to him.

This Child

Re:Verse reading–1 Samuel 1 (day two) 

For this boy I prayed, and the Lord has given me my petition which I asked of Him. vs. 27

How many of us have this scripture somewhere in our house? Hanging in our kids room perhaps, or in a picture frame on a shelf. Hannah is our clear example of preparing for our children. Not only does she pray for a child, but she commits him to the Lord. What an act of faith! Knowing our children are a blessing is generally accepted, but committing them to the service of the Lord takes a heart that is certain of the Lord’s promises. No matter what we have planned for our kids, the Lord has more. We will spend years training, teaching, encouraging, and correcting them when necessary, but to what end? We are not in this for vocational training. We are stewards of the next line of defense for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Be encouraged and courageous. Even if you have no children of your own, you can invest in this journey with others.

Real prayer

Re:Verse reading–1 Samuel 1 (day one) 

“I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the Lord.”–v 15.

“When we work, we work.  When we pray, God works.”–Hudson Taylor.

Not all prayers are equal.  Hannah’s experience proves it.  “Saying your prayers” and “pouring your heart out to the Lord” are very different experiences.  Somehow, and this by the grace of God, we reach the end of our own strength, inhibitions are cast aside and real prayer begins.

James 5:16-18 describes a similar moment.  “The energized (energeo) prayer of a righteous man accomplishes (energeo) much!  Elijah was a man just like us but he prayed (proseuchomai) with prayer (proseuche) and the Lord answered him!”  He prayed with prayer!  (really prayed)

Prayer does not equip for a greater work–prayer is the greater work.–Oswald Chambers.

God’s goal for us is real prayer.  Like Hannah.  Like Elijah.

Great Commission

Re:Verse reading–Luke 24:1-12, 33-49 (day seven)

We all know the Great Commission.  As Matthew records Jesus’s words in chapter 28 they are sweeping and grand.  Jesus empowers the church to go and disciple all.  It is beautiful, but it does not tell you what the disciples taught baptizing throngs of people.  Surely, they taught Jesus Christ and Him crucified, but there was a highly specific reason Jesus went to the cross that must be conveyed.

Hear Luke’s version of the Great Commission:   and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.  Luke 24:47.

The content is to repent.  The message is Christ crucified, our response is repentance.  The power of the cross is that we can now be reoriented back to God.  Our lives have strayed many miles away from God’s intention.  Through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ we can come back and be made right before our Heavenly Father once again.  When we knell before God in confession the cross is glorified and all is made right in our world.

Burn

Re:Verse reading–Luke 24:1-12, 33-49 (day six) 

lightstock_4161_full_mikelThey said to each other, “Didn’t our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” Luke 24:32

Let me ask you, does your heart ever burn when you read the Bible? Do those words fill you with hope and anticipation? Do they move you to praise and thanksgiving? Those words, on that page, do they lead you to repentance or even joy? Do they burn? If not, it may help to ask. We aren’t meant to read the Scriptures as if they are only ink to paper, but rather the very words of God! Jesus was very willing to open the Scriptures to two grief stricken disciples, surely he is equally willing to open them for you.

So, get into the habit of asking. Ask Jesus to make your hearts burn.

Terrifying Thought

Re:Verse reading–Luke 24:1-12, 33-49 (day five) 

There are several times mentioned that the disciples were scared, troubled, afraid, and confused. However, the most terrifying thought comes at the end of this passage in verse 45 (Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures). These were not new converts or people mildly interested in Jesus and His teaching. These were the close followers, the ones who didn’t drift away, the ones who left their nets. Yet, they still had not understood the scriptures and words of Jesus, even after three years of watching, listening, and walking with Jesus.

If their understanding was lacking and needed supernatural help and encouragement, then our own faith and understanding probably does too. Each and every time we read the scriptures, hear a sermon, or pray, we must ask and beg the Lord through the Holy Spirit to help us understand and apply the truth(s) God would have us realize and practice. “A humble and prayerful spirit will find a thousand things in the Bible which the proud self-conceited student will utterly fail to discern”- J.C Ryle