Today’s Devotion
Topic: The Story Can Change!
Text: 1 Sam 2: 7- 9
7 The LORD sends poverty and wealth; He humbles and He exalts. 8 He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; He seats them with princes and has them inherit a throne of honour. For the foundations of the earth are the LORD’s; on them He has set the world. 9 He will guard the feet of His faithful servants, but the wicked will be silenced in the place of darkness. It is not by strength that one prevails. Amen
Tell the weary, worn and weak that the story can change. It is not going to be the same sad story forever. Also, tell the poor and needy to look beyond their circumstances and fix their eyes on Jesus; He lifts them from the dust and seats them with princes to inherit thrones of honour if only they would pray.
You see Hannah, mother of Samuel, sang the verses of today’s passage after God turned her story around.
Earlier, she had suffered ridicule and shame for being baren. The affection and generosity of her wonderful husband Elkannah could not soothe her pain until the day she decided to pour her soul to God in prayer. She wanted the story changed. She prayed earnestly for a son.
We can all imagine how she might have felt when she realised she was pregnant. In fact, she could have been so happy that she would even fear a miscarriage would very likely cut off her joy. But Jehovah kept her! Finally the day of labour came and she realised it was a boy; just as she prayed for.
However, this son was more than she even dreamed of. With time, as she watched the child grow, she realised this son was just a tremendous gift from the Lord. One that does not only compensate her years of pain but also honours God and serves His people.
This boy Samuel grew in humility, wisdom and the fear of God to become one of the best leaders/ judges Isreal had ever known. As a prophet, he was the one destined by God to oversee the ordinations of Isreal’s first two kings and to teach them to rule in the manner that will please the Lord. Hannah’s little prophet boy served God faithfully throughout his life to the admiration of all. As if this wonderful gift son was not enough, God blessed Hannah with more children too.
Now she is overjoyed and sings of a truth she knows. The Lord has turned her mourning into dancing and given her beauty for ashes. She tells all who are down trodden to hold on to Jehovah and believe His word; the Lord can turn it all around for their good. The story can change!
Why won’t you learn from Hannah and Jabez, and pray your troubled life to God right now? It really doesn’t matter where you are from, or the negative story that characterises your life, It can change for good! Refuse the lies of the enemy, pray fervently until you can feel the calmness of heaven in your heart.
Your great story has just begun, with greater blessings right ahead of you. Keep praying and keep trusting; for by strength shall no man prevail. It is Jehovah lifting you up this time; none can cast you down.
(www.yonghana.org; Like Our Facebook page: Y OUTREACH NETWORK)
