Does God care about the choices I make?
Does anything in the Old Testament apply to my daily life
right now?
Can I be encouraged and learn from the Old Testament?
The answer to all three questions is YES!
Our June memory verse:
Colossians 1:10
"Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better."
This month we will dig into the Book of I Samuel. As we read and
reflect on one chapter every day it is my hearts desire for all of us to grow in our walk
with the Lord. I have always
found God very encouraging through the Scriptures and I know you will too.
I Samuel 1
Before we begin this devotional today please grab your Bible and read the first
chapter.
Pray and ask God
to open your heart and mind to the message in the Scriptures. Remember you are
reading a historical account of real people in real events that are written
down in the Bible and the history books.
There are 7 Applications for each day of the week to live out on a daily basis.
Let’s begin:
The Wrong Choices in
Chapter one:
Verse 2: Elkanah
seems to be a good and godly man, except for the wrong choice of having two
wives.
Hannah, his first wife was barren so he chose not to wait on the Lord and marries a second
wife, Peninnah, to have children.
We also read this in Scripture in the lives of Abraham and
Jacob who made the same wrong choice. Thank goodness in God's mercy and grace we know He still uses his people who make mistakes when they repent and turn from their sins.
Nevertheless, all of their families had trouble
and turmoil in part due to being impatient with the Lord and not obeying His
commandments on marriage.(Mark 10:1-9)
- Application: Lord, HELP ME LEARN TO OBEDIENTLY WAIT ON THE LORD.
Verses 6-7:
Peninnah, (the second wife) although she was blessed with children and could
rejoice, she made the wrong choice of constantly making fun of Hannah’s hurts
and disappointments.
- Application: Lord, HELP ME LEARN NOT TO HURT THOSE WHO ARE ALREADY HURTING.
Notice we do not hear about Peninnah or her children ever again
after this verse.
Verses 12-16: Eli
the priest being exposed to and preoccupied with bad behavior surrounding
him, assumes and confronts Hannah for being drunk instead of recognizing and
seeking to know what was on her heart and her lips first. (Hannah was praying in
desperation)
- Application: Lord, HELP ME LEARN TO NOT JUDGE AND JUMP TO ASSUMPTIONS WITH OTHERS. I MUST BE CLOSE TO GOD AND WATCHING FOR WHAT HE IS DOING IN THE LIVES AROUND ME.
The Right Choices in
Chapter one:
Verse 10-11:
Hannah in deep anguish went to the temple and cried out to the Lord for help in
prayer. Her prayer is very honest and direct. She commits to God in prayer her
devotion and dedication of herself and the child she trusts He will one day give to her.
- Application: Lord, HELP ME LEARN TO GO TO GOD IN PRAYER FIRST WITH AN HONEST AND DIRECT HEART AND TRUST GOD FOR THE ANSWER.
Verses 17-18: Eli
acknowledges his assumption was wrong and gives a prophetic blessing to Hannah.
Hannah immediately accepts the blessing as an answer to prayer and changes her outlook,
as she trusts God for a child.
- Application: Lord, HELP ME LEARN TO BE QUICK TO REPENT AND BE A BLESSING TO OTHERS AS I LIVE A LIFE TRUSTING IN GOD FOR ANSWERED PRAYER THAT IS IN HIS WILL. WITH YOUR HELP MY OUTLOOK CAN CHANGE FROM NEGATIVE TO POSITIVE.
Verses 19-20:
Elkanah got up and took his entire family to church. No one was left out or left behind. God blesses this leadership.
- Application: Lord, HELP ME REGULARLY ATTEND A BIBLICALLY SOUND CHURCH AND WORSHIP THE LORD. GOD LONGS TO SEE ME COME TO HIM IN HUMBLE WORSHIP. (John 4:23)
Verses 21-28:
Hannah is blessed with a son and calls him Samuel. She makes the right choice
by keeping her promise and nurtures the son IN THE LORD for the first 3 years
before handing him over TO THE LORD. Elkanah chooses to honor Hannah's promise and vow to God and brings the boy to the temple at the age of three for a lifetime of service. This no doubt was a huge obedient act from this Father and Mother.
- Application: Lord, HELP ME HONOR YOU WITH MY VOWS and in return YOU WILL BLESS ME.
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