[S] 2 Chronicles 35:19 --
19In the eighteenth year of Josiah's reign this Passover was celebrated.
[O] Eighteen years is a long time and what's amazing is King Josiah persisted those eighteen years to restore the Passover celebration into the lives of Israelites. I'm sure it was a battle fought every day to first cleanse out the old idols both physically as well as mentally from the people, and then establish the respect and worship to the God of Heaven. This un-doing first before establishing a new culture is a process that requires patience and sustained vision because things like this does not happen overnight with some brute forced revolution. I'm so encouraged to read this short but heavy verse describing how King Josiah's desire to glorify God came through in the end.
[A] I am so encouraged by King Josiah's dedication to re-establish God's Kingdom and His culture despite the long years of hard work. It appears doing God's ministry in many ways reflect King Josiah's efforts because it will take time (in earth measures) and demands my persistent pursuing of His dreams put into my heart. I am going to do just that in the small group ministry at my church.
[P] Dear God, may You allow me to be used by You so I may also leave behind such a short but powerful statement of restoring Your culture in the small group ministry as well as in my own family and life. I realize this won't be a walk in the park, but I am going to dedicate my energy for this purpose. In Jesus' name. Amen.
From my Life devotional journaling and more (Read Today's Passage)
Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
Showing posts with label Persistence. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Persistence. Show all posts
Thursday, August 05, 2010
Wednesday, April 07, 2010
Hannah's Character
[S] 1 Samuel 1:6-7 --
6Her rival, however, would provoke her bitterly to irritate her, because the LORD had closed her womb.
7It happened year after year, as often as she went up to the house of the LORD, she would provoke her; so she wept and would not eat.
[O] Hannah's rival provoked her bitterly whenever they went up to worship God at the house of the Lord. Wouldn't you know it? This is once a year time to go worship and that's the time Peninnah provokes Hannah even more. Why is this scene so familiar? I see this many times among believers where on Sundays when we're supposed to be coming to worship God, we instead attend to show off who is better than others and how this can break down the working of the Holy Spirit in the body of believers. Instead of edifying one another, we tear each other apart inside out.
Out of such pain, Hannah went to the Lord and clung on to Him. God heard Hannah's prayer and answered her, and she kept her promise of dedicating her child to be the priest. I like this woman, Hannah, and that's why I named my girl Hannah because of her persistence, endurance, and complete trust in God. She did not let her rival take control of her life. Instead, she turned it over to God and used by Him to bring forth a wonderful man of God, Samuel.
[A] When oppositions press on me to provoke anger within me and to hurt me deeply, I should be like Hannah where I would turn to God instead of turning to my foes with my own vengeance. I am very grateful for this woman's character which God used to accomplish His greater plan of sending His servant to lead His people.
[P] Dear God, grant me the faith of Hannah. Use me to bring forth Your servant to lead Your people in this world of turmoil. May You bless my children and use them as Your instruments of leading Your people down the right paths. In Your precious name. Amen.
6Her rival, however, would provoke her bitterly to irritate her, because the LORD had closed her womb.
7It happened year after year, as often as she went up to the house of the LORD, she would provoke her; so she wept and would not eat.
[O] Hannah's rival provoked her bitterly whenever they went up to worship God at the house of the Lord. Wouldn't you know it? This is once a year time to go worship and that's the time Peninnah provokes Hannah even more. Why is this scene so familiar? I see this many times among believers where on Sundays when we're supposed to be coming to worship God, we instead attend to show off who is better than others and how this can break down the working of the Holy Spirit in the body of believers. Instead of edifying one another, we tear each other apart inside out.
Out of such pain, Hannah went to the Lord and clung on to Him. God heard Hannah's prayer and answered her, and she kept her promise of dedicating her child to be the priest. I like this woman, Hannah, and that's why I named my girl Hannah because of her persistence, endurance, and complete trust in God. She did not let her rival take control of her life. Instead, she turned it over to God and used by Him to bring forth a wonderful man of God, Samuel.
[A] When oppositions press on me to provoke anger within me and to hurt me deeply, I should be like Hannah where I would turn to God instead of turning to my foes with my own vengeance. I am very grateful for this woman's character which God used to accomplish His greater plan of sending His servant to lead His people.
[P] Dear God, grant me the faith of Hannah. Use me to bring forth Your servant to lead Your people in this world of turmoil. May You bless my children and use them as Your instruments of leading Your people down the right paths. In Your precious name. Amen.
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