- 1 Samuel 1 Daily DEVO She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly. 1 Samuel 1:10- Know that in whatever state of mind and heart you’re in right now, you can come to God. Often we think we have to get our life perfected before we can come to God or we can’t pray to God unless we sound like a preacher or poet. Yet look at the story here with Hannah. She was deeply troubled and was weeping bitterly to God. She wasn’t even speaking any words but just praying from her heart. She came to God as she was with her troubles and so can you. Don’t feel like you have to hide your struggles from God so you can talk with Him. He knows everything going on in your story and He knows the struggles fighting within you as well. He’s open to having all of you, struggles and all, come to Him, talk with Him, and find rest in Him. Stop letting the enemy deceive you into thinking that what’s in your life is something God doesn’t want to walk with you through. If Jesus was willing to die to be with you, He’s also willing to walk with you through what you’re dealing with right now. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 401
- Therefore I have lent him to the Lord. As long as he lives, he is lent to the Lord.” And he worshiped the Lord there. 1 Samuel 1:28 – Lent here means to give over fully. She wasn’t simply giving Samuel over to God for a day, nor even till the next time they came to worship, but wholly and completely giving Samuel over to the service of God. What I hope we notice today is the exchange that took place. Hannah asked of God, God heard her plea, then He gave her Samuel. What she asked for God blessed her with. As a response to the blessing she dedicated the gift God gave her to be used for His purposes. What are you praying for? Also, as God begins to answer those prayers, what are your plans to give back to Him because of His blessing? Let’s have a heart that doesn’t just expect to receive but plans to use the blessings God puts in our life for His purposes. He lent those blessings to us, let’s lend them back for His glory. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1626
- Now this man used to go up year by year from his city to worship and to sacrifice to the Lord of hosts at Shiloh, where the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests of the Lord. 1 Samuel 1:3 – With no context, this verse seems simple and uninteresting…so let’s bring in the context. All this is happening at the end of the season of Judges, where like we just studied was a time where God was not their King, the nation had abandoned the Lord, and done was what right in their eyes instead. We also see Hophni and Phinehas were priests at this time, and these men abused their power as priests, taking sacrifices for themselves and even forcing women who came to the temple to have sex with them (not holy priests at all). Yet, despite a nation abandoning the Lord and despite having corrupt leadership in the church, Elkanah, the man being spoken of in our passage, faithfully came each year with his family to worship the Lord and give his offering. So when the world around you isn’t following God, see that you still can. When the leadership in the church is corrupt, see that you can remain faithful. When there is family drama happening, you can still come to church and worship. Elkanah had some legitimate reasons to not go and worship like he did, but he went still and remained faithful. Sadly, we see today believers embracing far less legitimate reasons to skip worship of the Lord. Rather than listing them out, likely you’ve heard them before or even used them yourself. Instead, let’s commit ourselves to worship. For our family may have issues, and our church may have issues, and our nation may have issues, but that doesn’t mean God is not worthy to be worshipped. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 2878
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