Hannah

Friday, June 25, 2021

Hannah had been married for some time, but she was unable to have children. She was barren. Her husband’s other wife ridiculed and belittled her. Though her husband loved her, Hannah felt unfulfilled, troubled and miserable (1 Samuel 1:1-8).^[1]

She believed in the Lord, in his mercy and in the power of prayer. So she took her problem to the throne of God and poured out her heart to him (1:9-11).

When God answered her and gave her a son, she was grateful and exalted the Lord with a beautiful prayer of praise. Her worship reveals great depth in her relationship with God and in her understanding of his ways and his dealings with humans (2:1-10).

She kept her word and fulfilled her promise to the Lord. She gave her only son to serve at God’s house. Since that place was far away, she saw her son only once a year (1:24-28). That was a great sacrifice on her part. But God repaid her five times (2:21). Yes, she gave birth to five more children!

Prayer

Lord, may the women who come to Christ from Islam be like Hannah: prepared to invoke your name when persecuted by people and upset by circumstances. Help them to be ready to show great faith in Jesus and in the power of prayer in his mighty name.

Raise up for yourself, Almighty God, women in Muslim nations who acknowledge you as the source of every blessing and who dedicate their children to the service of Christ the King. May they withhold nothing from you, not even their most precious possessions. Give many of them children like Samuel: boys and girls who are sensitive to your voice when you speak, who listen and hear, who obey and walk in your ways, and who turn the hearts of people toward you, O God.

In the precious name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

Promise

When you started to pray, God answered you, and I came to tell you because he loves you (Daniel 9:23, Sharif Bible).