April 20 - My Petition.

I Samuel 1:27-2:2
“For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him: Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there. And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation. There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.”
 
Hannah sets an example for us in our prayer lives. She had a situation that she knew only God could resolve. She asked. She pleaded. Then she promised that if God would give her a son she would give him back to the Lord.
 
Have you ever prayed for something for a long time and seemed to never get an answer? Maybe you even questioned if God heard your request at all. Hannah most likely felt this way; but she never complained. She just took the matter to the One that she knew could help her. She petitioned the Lord for her need, and the Lord granted her request.
 
The Lord always answers our prayers. Sometimes the answer is a direct yes or no, and sometimes He allows us to wait. The waiting period can be some of the most trying, most difficult times of our lives. But God allows the waiting so that we may learn to trust Him.
 
Hannah waited; then she rejoiced. She prayed with thanksgiving and exaltation to the Lord giving Him the praise for what He had done.
 
All of us have experienced a waiting period in our life. For Hannah, it was a child. For others it might be a job, a spouse, a clear direction of God’s will, a specific need, a love one’s salvation, a healing, or maybe all of the above. God knows your need today. He knows what you’ve asked for and that you are waiting for the clarity of His will to unfold.
 
Keep asking for God’s direction and His provision in your need today. He will answer in His timing, and in a way that will make the waiting period worth the pain and struggle.
 
God gave Hannah sufficient grace through her waiting, and then blessed her after she gave Samuel to the Lord with five more children. He exceeded her expectations, and He can do exceeding abundantly above for you as well.
 
Don’t doubt God in the times of waiting. He wants to use this time to strengthen you and to prepare you for what He has in store. Let Him mold you into a vessel of honor that can be used for His service.
 
If you’ve just come out of a waiting period…Praise the Lord for what He has done. Rejoice in His provision. Thank Him for being your Rock in the midst of the storm. There is no one else like Him!
 
 
Bible Reading:
Judges 7-8  |  Acts 22  |  Psalm 80