Persevere—Don’t Give Up
I Samuel 1:5 KJV “But to Hannah he, (Elkanah, her husband), would give a double portion, for he loved Hannah, although the Lord had closed her womb.”
Did you catch that? Our verse tells us that God closed her womb. We’re here today to tell you don’t give up! Don’t settle, cry out to God. God not only gave her Samuel, but five other children also. Guard your heart. Refuse to complain in your thoughts and words. The enemy seeds thoughts of discouragement. He can’t read your mind, but he watches to see how his seeding thoughts will affect you. Will you take the bait by dwelling on them and eventually speak them? Don’t forget God’s promises to you! The enemy of your soul would bait you to feel sorry for yourself or buy into the thinking that your promises and desires will never come to pass, but the devil is a liar. Hannah persevered in prayerful intercession, even to the point where Eli, the high priest thought she was drunk. It isn’t so much what others may think of you, that you’re fanatical in your desires, or that you should just settle for the way things have turned out in your life and try to be happy. No, Hannah had a God-given desire to press into Father God for a son. Apparently, it was the heart of God to give her this son, Samuel. Samuel actually was a prophet, as well as was called to be a priest. Prophets are the ones who anointed kings, and as we read the Word of God, we see that it was Samuel who anointed Saul, as king of Israel, and later on he also anointed King David. There was a great call and purpose over Samuel’s life. Hannah faithfully, as her promise to God, brought Samuel to the temple, where he was raised by Eli, the high priest. It was the heart of God for him to learn from childhood through manhood, to know the voice of God and to live and dwell in the temple. Some commentators believe that Samuel’s sleeping area was even near the resting place of the Ark of the Covenant. What a place to grow up near! The very Presence of the Lord! None of this would have happened if Hannah had given up, had given in to the persecution and taunting of Peninnah, Elkanah’s other wife, who had given him many children. Hannah could have succumbed to self-pity and depression over her unfortunate circumstances of life. But no, she earnestly sought the Lord, and He heard, and He answered. She would not give up!
Pray your heart today and every day. Pray until you have emptied it of every trying thought and concern. We serve a great God who hears and answers prayer. He knows His plan for your life. He knows the many blessings He has in store for you. Know this—the enemy of your soul does not want you to have these blessings. His desire is that you live a life of defeat and failure. Not so with Father God. Pull yourself aside and cry out to Him even as Hannah did! Don’t give up. Psalm 25:12 tells us, “Who is the man that fears the Lord? Him shall He teach in the way He chooses.” Father knows how to work in the dealings of your life. He will do it in the way He chooses. Press into Him today, Lean hard. Cry your heart out before Him and be ready. Watch to see how He will move and answer prayer on your behalf.
What about you? Are you struggling in areas of your life where you truly desire answers from the Lord? This devotional is for you today. Hear the Word of the Lord and press into Him. He really cares and will answer you as you wait on His timing and His way.
