Word for the day by Christian Education Forums

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Making the Impossible Possible
1 Samuel 1:9-20

“Then I will give him unto the Lord all the days of his life” (v.11)

The passage details a picture of a wife who has been sorrowful in heart for many years.  She has a husband that loves her dearly but because of her barren womb, the Bible tells us “she was in bitterness of soul.” In those days, being unable to bare children was viewed upon as not being in the Lord’s favor.  Hannah had a heavy heart, and so year after year, she would ask the Lord for a child.  Even though her prayers seemed to go unanswered, she was steadfast in her faith and persisted in prayer.  

We too have hopes and dreams close to our hearts that we present to the Lord.  Yet when the answer seems delayed or there seems to be silence from the Lord, or no change in the situation, we too may become dismayed.  You may be praying for entrance into a specific university, praying for a spouse or praying for a job.  It could be a couple praying for a child; whatever the situation, the door seems to be closed shut.  It is in those moments that the Lord has an opportune moment to act.  As C.H. Spurgeon said “Man’s extremity is God’s opportunity”. 

If we carefully read the passage, we see a change in Hannah’s prayer in verse 11.  All through the years her prayer was “Lord bless me with a child”.  In verse 10, we read she has come to the end of herself, she is at wit’s end, in verse 11 she prays, “Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life.  There is a change in Hannah’s prayer because there is a change in her.  Her will is now surrendered to be that of the Lords.  Hannah’s deepest desire is no longer to have a child but to have a surrendered heart to the Lord.  Somewhere in the time spent with the Lord her heart changed, and she uttered those words “I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life”.

In so doing Hannah gives back to the Lord that which she desired most.  Keep in mind Samuel’s vital role in the history of Israel.  It is Samuel who anointed the first King of Israel.; Samuel was a man who became so vital in the master plan of God it was Samuel who also anointed King David. 

The Lord wants to bring us to a place of self-surrender- a surrender of our will to be that of the Lord’s.  It’s not an easy task.  He may ask us to go where we may not want to go, and He may ask us to give up certain relationships (which are unhealthy).  But if we bring ourselves to this place of surrender, we will see the impossible become possible.  We will experience prayers that seem to be stuck, become loosened.  Hannah held steadfast to her faith through those difficult years; the key was prayer and faith.

Prayer: Lord, through our prayer and faith, Help us to see the impossible become possible. Amen
Thought for the day: “Man’s extremity is God’s opportunity”. 

Saji George, Epiphany MTC, NY


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