5/11/2025
"My heart rejoices in the LORD;
my horn is exalted in the LORD.
I smile at my enemies, because I
rejoice in Your salvation."
1 Samuel 2:2
Mother's Day! The calendar sure circles around quickly, and suddenly here we are again, a day that is bitter sweet in memories for me, and I know that it can be a day of mixed reviews for others. Nonetheless, we take life as it comes, as there is always an abundance of things for which we should be grateful, and that attitude wears long!
Oh, how physically tired I was this morning. I guess I'm not as young, as I think I still am. One look in the impartial mirror can settle that dispute. Although I woke up tired, I still welcomed my day with joy ...until, a little later in the morning. I was taken aback by the unwitting responses of others to unproven news (That's a unique way to say people were forming conclusions [experiencing disbelief] without knowing the truth). I expect more from certain people, so it tends to irritate me when someone speculates without concrete evidence. One of two things generally happens - anger mixed with panic or peace as one trusts God. After all, we are intercessors, so we respond to speculations in faith. In spite of this distraction, I quickly recovered, because I prayed and turned on the most beautiful worship music. Music is a great mellower, a calmer of my emotions. It carries me to the place I belong - the secret place.
I see so much disbelief today, which produces anxiety and fear. Why do we have the need to know everything, or worse, to jump to conclusions about everything?! Jesus said very clearly that "we see in part and we know in part," so why the need to make public what needs to remain in the secret. The media has a field day with information, then it is broadcast all over the world, especially to our enemies. When something happens, contrary to our desired outcome, we depend on someone else to come to our rescue. And then the circle goes 'round and 'round, and pretty soon, the world knows what should have remained a secret for obvious reasons.
I seem to cover the same topic in most of my blogs - the necessity of prayer, and one cannot have breakthrough without abiding in the presence of the Lord, remain quiet, and listen. So many times we are racing around, devoting five minutes of hurried prayers, but intercession is a calling. When we hear news or read a bad report, our first response should be to hit the floor seeking God. One scripture I have been trying to instill into the hearts of people is this, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit" (Proverbs 18:21). We must become people who turn to God first, else we will never become victorious. Either we take God at His word, or we place a curse on the situation, and the enemy gets the laugh. I took a chance and voiced, rather I wrote in the comment section, this scripture, and it was seen, because after that a lady gave the same reference I shouted out (unheard), to declare that God laughs at the puny attempts of man to engineer evil into a situation. It's not man or flesh and blood we battle, and prayer is our weapon.
Again this morning I picked up Abide in Christ by Andrew Murray receiving the wonderful counsel of God's word explained so eloquently and simply. "When a person fully believes that the mighty power of God is working unceasingly within him, he can joyfully say, 'The Lord is the strength of my life'" (Psalm 27:1). "That is the secret of the true life of faith."
Since today is Mother's Day, an example of the simple faith of Hannah in 1 Samuel 1-2 demonstrates someone who trusted in the word of the Lord. Hannah was the wife of Elkanah, an Ephraimite who had two wives, Hannah and Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah did not. Elkanah made an annual trip to Shiloh to worship and sacrifice, and he took his wives with him. Each year Hannah would pray for a child, but when she did not receive her request, Peninnah made fun of her. Elkanah loved Hannah so much, and it hurt him when she cried and cried. One year, after eating, Hannah slipped out and went to the temple where she poured out her request for a son before God, vowing that if God gave her a son, she would bring him back to the temple and dedicate him to the Lord's service as a Nazarite. When Eli, the priest, saw her grieving and saw her lips moving without sound, he accused her of being drunk. But, Hannah explained her situation, and Eli told her that God had heard her prayers. She happily returned home, and she conceived and gave birth to her son, Samuel, just as Eli said. She was faithful to her promise to God, and after he was weaned, Hannah brought Samuel back to the temple to serve God. Samuel became a prophet and the first judge of Israel. Because of Hannah's obedience, she bore several other children. Chapter 2 of 1 Samuel begins with Hannah's song to the Lord:
"My heart rejoices in the LORD; my horn is exalted in the LORD.
I smile at my enemies, because I rejoice in Your salvation.
No one is holy like the LORD, for there is none besides You,
Nor is there any rock like our God.
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."
1 Samuel 1:1-3
The full song continues to verse 10, but I leave it for the reader to consider. Hannah trusted in God's promise and waited, fully trusting that God would fulfill the Word spoken through Eli, the prophet. This is how we should respond in prayer to every situation. We may not always get every prayer answered in the way we would like, but God knows all things, and His ways are higher than ours. We must rely on Him and trust He who began a good work will continue it. Do not waiver from that position of trust.
Pastor Jack's scripture of the day is from Colossians 3:23-24: "And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ." Seems a fit conclusion to this story and our life journey.
Ending with one more thought:
"Be not afraid to pray; to pray is right;
Pray if thou canst with hope, but ever pray,
Though hope be weak or sick with long delay;
Pray in the darkness if there be no light;
And if for any wish thou dare not pray,
Then pray to God to cast that wish away."
Unknown Author
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