Hope everyone had a wonderful Mother's Day!
I did. I had a good time at church. I had a wonderful time with my parents and my kids at Olive Garden. Good Times . . .
I wanted to share with you guys what I learned this Sunday in a post I would like to start calling:
What did the preacher preach about?
I myself, being a student of the Lord, come to the sanctuary with pen and paper in hand, ready to receive a good word. I hope that you do the same. Take notes and don't let the enemy steal the truth from you. I pray that you listen to the words the preacher preaches on Sunday and hold on to the truth that will help you grow.
When ever the preacher is preaching, I listen attentively. I know that there is something in this brain of mine that needs a push to gain more understanding of the word of God. So I sit, I listen, I take notes, then I make connections to what I already know. Comparing, contrasting, and then later applying it to my life.
Samuel Chapter 1
The preacher preached about Hannah. She was a woman who was sad and felt like she had no purpose in life because she could not have children. She felt like she was worthless and that she could not please her husband because of her bareness. She was heavy with sorrow. Every year she went with her husband, his other wife and his children to the Temple. Every year she was made to feel bad about her condition. She didn't eat and she cried often.
She wanted so bad to have a child of her own. She wanted so bad to please her husband. She wanted so bad to have self-worth.
This was a good mother's day message:
A Mother's Life, A Mother's Purpose
Let me share with you the three points that the preacher talked about . . .
#1 "Prayer will take the weight of the world off of you."
My reflection:
One thing I noticed when I went back to read the scripture, Hannah was burdened about her condition year after year. She cried and she did not eat, but it never mentioned that she prayed about it. The scripture said that she was "provoked" by her adversary (her opponent). In the natural her opponent would have been Peninnah, her husband's other wife. Remember when Paul, in the new testament, talked about his thorn? That thing that would not give him peace, and he asked for God to take it away. God said that his grace was sufficient. Every body has a thorn. But God's grace is always sufficient. The thorn could be something or someone that just won't let you rest about how you feel about yourself. It was so bad that the bible said Hannah was miserable all the time because of her condition.
Hannah had a husband that loved her and that was concerned about her. Hannah had her health, Hannah had a roof over her head, but she still felt worthless because of what she didn't have. She was concentrating on what she didn't have.
It may seem that the enemy can provoke us to feel a certain way about ourselves. But what is really happening is that little bit of what we don't have is what we concentrate on. You don't have to stay in this mindset if you learn how to give it to the Lord. You will stay in self pity until you have had enough! The adversary in the spiritual will attack you and will provoke you. He will tempt you and you will fall in that temptation if you do not know or see the truth. The truth is that we are all wonderfully made in the image of the father. The truth is that each one of us is special. I read the chapter and it seemed like Hannah chose to live this miserable life because she could not see any worth in herself.
What God wants to tell his people is that we do have worth. God wants to share with us that the battle is not ours but it is the Lords. God's grace is sufficient. Let us understand that all the crying the moaning and the weeping is not what gets the adversary off of your back. It was not until Hannah went to the Lord in prayer, and asked the Lord to help her. "Remember thine handmaid . . .give unto thine handmaid a man child, and I will give him unto the Lord all the days of his life . . ."
I want to point out that it was not the vow that she made that made God to bless her, but it was the fact that she finally came to him in prayer, poured out her soul and asked. Then it could be done, to the glory of the Lord because she was telling the truth. And she herself finally believed that God would do it for her, and she became happy herself, believing in the grace of God. God's grace could now work for her.
If you have a strong desire for something, you can ask the Lord for it in prayer. Hannah pleaded with God. Samuel 1:11 says that Hannah was in the Temple, and in her heart she prayed to God. When she made her promise, she had vowed a vow. She asked God not to forget her and to hear what she was saying. She asked the Lord to bless her with a son and if he did then she would dedicate him back to the Lord.
Eventually, the Lord did bless Hannah with a son, and his name was Samuel. She nursed him, and raised him until about the age of 3 and returned him to the Temple to Eli, the priest. God blessed Hannah, and Hannah kept her vow.
Remember to pray, believing that God will do for you. The tempter will flee from you, if you resist. He can only use what you already think about yourself. So start thinking good about yourself. The adversary can not make you miserable if you refuse to miserable. Look around and be thankful for what you have. Ask the Lord for what you desire, sincerely, believing that he will do it for you. You do not need to carry all that weight on your own. Pray and give it to God.
#2 "When you make a promise to the Lord, you better keep your promise"
Hannah kept her promise to the Lord. What do you think would have happened to Hannah if she did not keep her promise?
Look, this following Jesus thing, it is no joke. We really have to be careful of what we do and why we do it. We must understand that when we make that decision to follow Jesus Christ we are making a vow unto the Lord. We are making a promise that we will adhere to the law of the Lord. God does not want for us to be heavy with the weight of disobedience. We should know that disobedience brings consequences. Breaking vows or promises to the Lord is in direct conflict of his word.
The words says when a man makes a vow to the Lord he should keep it:
"If a man vow a vow unto the Lord, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceeded out of his mouth . . ."
Numbers 30:2
This chapter goes on to explain what happens if a woman makes a vow, and all the stipulations, but basically it is the same thing: If you make a promise to God, keep your promise. There are blessings that come with you keeping your word. There are also curses that come if you do not keep your word. God knows when you are telling him the truth. He knows when you are truly pouring out your heart to him. You can't fool God.
Most people, most Christians, would say that this is part of the old testament law, but I am here to tell you that the word of God and it's truth lasts forever. We are taught that we are saved by grace, and this is true, but this is only the first step. Now we must be doers of the word and follow the truth that is written.
Keep your promises to the Lord.
#3 "Every woman should take care of her children. Raising them up with the knowledge of God."
Women are strong. Every woman has the power with in herself to raise their children. Why? Because God made her with that compassion, with that protectiveness, and with a spirit of kindness. God made her with the same DNA of the man because she came from man, hence she is strong. She is strong in mind, emotion, and spirit.
Women are strong emotionally and God knew that Hannah could handle the pressure of feeling sad. It was a heavy burden, but this story shows the strength of a woman. No matter how hard it gets, there is that strength way deep down that says, enough is enough, "I am going to get what I want because I want it so bad!" Let every woman have a desire and let that desire be to please the Lord. Let us raise up our children in the way of the Lord, dedicating them back to the Lord because he is the one who has blessed us with them. We should be thankful always, for this purpose that God has given us. If you are a single mother, you have strength. If you have to adopt, you have strength. If you foster children, you have strength. This is a word to all mothers: if you have your children, raise them up in truth because this is right.
We should take care of our children well, with the strength that God gave us to do so. Hannah was happy that she was finally able to live in her purpose of being a mother. She was strong and she was determined to have purpose. I encourage you to plead with the Lord for your purpose.
These are just some of my reflections. I encourage you to go back and read Samuel. Let the Lord talk to you about your life. God bless you always.
Until Next Time
-Tamorra
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