THURSDAY - 11TH JANUARY, 2024
MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE - Olusola ADEJUMO
FOR THIS CHILD I PRAYED!
Read I Sam. 1
I Samuel 1:26 - 27, KJV
"26 And she said, Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the LORD. 27 For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him:"
Testimony time!
I pray for you, you'll have something to show for it. Your tree will produce fruits and your prayers will birth answers.
For years, Hannah couldn't conceive. To worsen her situation, she has an adversary in her husband's second wife who torments and mocks her often. "When will God answer me and wipe off my tears", must have been one of her questions? Occasionally, she'll even turn away from food, deprived of elateness, lacking strength and joy for daily living. One year like that, the family went to Shiloh like any other. Hannah having been pushed to the wall went before the Lord as a woman of a sorrowful heart. Most often, we are lost in our pride thinking we deserve something of the Lord and it should be given us. However, delay is used of God to humble us to see the need to ask our needs from God and not think it is our good that brings them naturally. This brings much appreciation and a special acknowledgment of God when we see our prayers eventually answered. It'll be like water to a thirsty soul in the desert. Hannah prayed in a manner that moved the heart. The Bible records that, "her lips moved but her voice was unheard" (I Sam.1:13). It is this that Eli observed before he concluded she must be a drunken woman. Hannah however replies saying she's a woman of a sorrowful spirit. She's not different from the prophesied experience of Jesus in Isaiah 53:3. Hannah can be rightly called, "a woman of sorrow and one acquainted with grief". Many of us have not known sorrow or heart pain. So, we are not broken, soft or accordingly pedalled. We are rather still wild, exotic to God as men of proud sense. How many of us here have ever gotten here? Have you gotten to a place in life where you're familiar with grief and sorrow? It becomes perplexing as if you're the only one Satan has found to fight. You can't but seek the Lord then. You can't but turn to God then. That ain't the time to trust in men, chariot or horses. If they were able, they should have delivered you. Seeing this, you'll turn to the Lord without any reservation.
Hannah makes her request and Eli, the priest seals it. The Lord brought the answers. A confirming word that, "the answer of the tongue is from the Lord" (Prov.16:1). It is this answer that Hannah brought back to God's house as she had vowed now saying, "for this child I prayed". You can imagine the joy. The ceiling must have been removed that day!
May this be your testimony. I also want to be able to say, "for this thing I prayed." It is the mark that separates what the Lord does from what humans got by their own strength; trusted in the flesh for; indulged in crime or sin for or obtained through a partnership with the devil. When Hannah says, "for this child I prayed", what do you think she inferred? Just in that statement, she has acknowledged God and the fact that her help [in this child that she now has] came only from Him. So, God is to be praised. To Him Hannah prayed and from Him Hannah has now received. May I remind you what the Bible says that "every good gift and every perfect gift comes from above [not below]" (James 1:17). Just all. If it'll be perfect, if it won't be deformed, if it won't be lacking, if it won't be a blessing that adds sorrow or brings one consequence or another dissatisfaction to the soul, then it originates only from God.
Wingers, may we come to a place where we can testify that, "for this I prayed and this I have received". May we be unashamed to testify before family, friends and even foes alike that what we have was given us by God. He answers prayers according to His will. What does it cost God to give you what you need for life and godliness if you're asking for the right purpose and for the right use? What a blessedness that exalts the Father of Light! Or do you want to accrue to yourself the glory that should be God's? Do you want to indulge in boasting - singing the praises of your hands, skills, brilliance and mastery for having provided you with what you have? If this is you, God can break you until you lose sense of yourself to acknowledge that, to You [God] I lift up my eyes. Meanwhile, I'll employ you not to wait until you're this humbled to know that it's your Maker that answers prayers and give to all men without reproach. That's why you must never acknowledge yourself as your provider of good things in life. Rather give glory to God who gives power, initiative, good health etc to you to make wealth. May you not wait to find out. Hannah was not proud to God but if you had asked her, she'll tutor you on the favour of not getting to where you intentional pray before receiving a thing. It pays getting to the crossroad and crossing there and then than longing for salvation which tarries. For those of you who often receive without praying, never take it for granted. Still acknowledge God as He who has done it. Let it always be, to God I prayed and "for this thing I prayed."
I pray for somebody there, you'll have the testimony of, "for this thing I prayed." Moreso, this is the moment for couples waiting on God to receive. "None shall be barren in the land" (Exo.23:26), says the Scriptures. May you have the testimony of, "for this thing we hoped, prayed and for this thing we now render praise and thanksgiving to God."
What a statement! "For this thing I prayed." It means Hannah can now answer any who would ask her the hope of a child that lies in her. Her answer to them will not be far fetched at all. Samuel is right by her side. He's her reply. As such, she has the evidence of answered prayer which she can show to witnesses. People, you'll soon have that statement in your mouth also. It'll soon be, "for this child, wife, husband, job, house, car, promotion, scholarship, provision, ministry door etc I prayed and now here it is."
You'll receive answers and you'll have your answers to point to. This is your testimony time. I heard that. Say, "testimony!" The field is ripe for you. You can bank on the Word of God. It'll be just like that. Go and expect. It'll be, "for this thing I prayed" and now here it is. It'll be God who'll take the glory when people listen to your testimony. Your testimony won't glorify any man but God because "to Him you prayed and from Him you have received." Yes, God only. I speak once more as God's oracle, it'll be, "for this thing [mention yours] I prayed" and here is it now. Your prayers will become praise. You'll share your testimonies and pay your vow also before the Lord and God's great congregation. Rely on that and sleep on it!
PRAYER: Thank you Lord. For what I have prayed for, I have received also. My needs are all met by the Lord.
Genesis 24:52-26:16; Matthew 8:18-34; Psalm 10:1-15; Proverbs 3:7-8
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