Tag Archive | childless

Trusting Surrender

Jan5

Zacharias, a priest in the days of Herod, was married to Elizabeth. They were both righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord.
They were childless due to Elizabeth being barren. Both were advanced in age.
While Zacharias was in the temple of the Lord an angel appeared to him. The angel told Zacharias that his prayer for his wife to conceive was heard and Elizabeth would bear a son and he was to be named John.
Zacharias was told, “You will have joy and gladness and many will rejoice at his birth. He will be great in the sight of the Lord and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother’s womb. He will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God.”
Luke 1:5-16 paraphrased.

John was the forerunner of Jesus to make ready a people prepared for His coming as a Savior.

Zacharias’ response:

Zacharias said to the angel, “How will I know this for certain? For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years.”
Luke 1:18 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/luk.1.18.NASB1995

How often in our lives do we lack the power of Almighty God to fulfill His plan because of our focus on our own human abilities? Are we trusting in our ability or in God’s power to accomplish what He has planned?

Will we surrender?

🌹Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding.
Proverbs 3:5 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/pro.3.5.NASB1995

🌹For nothing will be impossible with God.” Luke 1:37 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/luk.1.37.NASB1995

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

Mother Hannah (1 Samuel 1-2:21)

May9

Elkanah, the husband of Peninnah and Hannah, would yearly travel with them to Shiloh to worship and to sacrifice to the Lord.

‭Elkanah .  . .
loved Hannah, but the Lord had closed her womb.
1 Samuel 1:5b NASB1995‬
https://bible.com/bible/100/1sa.1.5.NASB1995

‭Peninnah, having several children, as . . .
Her rival, however, would provoke her (Hannah) bitterly to irritate her, because the Lord had closed her womb. It 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.
1 Samuel 1:6-7 NASB1995‬
https://bible.com/bible/100/1sa.1.6-7.NASB1995

Hannah goes to the temple . . .
‭She, greatly distressed, prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly. She made a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and a razor shall never come on his head.”
1 Samuel 1:10-11 NASB1995‬
https://bible.com/bible/100/1sa.1.10-11.NASB1995

Hannah spoke a prayer from her heart, oppressed in spirit she poured out her soul before the Lord.  (1 Samuel 1:12-15)
Hannah left the temple, her face no longer sad. (1 Samuel 1:18)

Hannah, a godly, believing woman took her desire to the Lord. She poured out her heart. Hannah left the outcome of her prayer to God. She left the temple at peace with her request.

‭It came about in due time, after Hannah had conceived, that she gave birth to a son; and she named him Samuel, saying, “Because I have asked him of the Lord.”
1 Samuel 1:20 NASB1995‬
https://bible.com/bible/100/1sa.1.20.NASB1995

Hannah raised her son to know God. I believe she also prayed for him as he grew up so he would be prepared to serve God for life.
Praise God for the influence of a godly mother.

‭🌹For this boy I prayed, and the Lord has given me my petition which I asked of Him. So I have also dedicated him to the Lord; as long as he lives he is dedicated to the Lord.” And he worshiped the Lord there.
1 Samuel 1:27-28 NASB1995‬
https://bible.com/bible/100/1sa.1.27-28.NASB1995

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

Living Up to Expectations

Jun15

Hannah, wife of Elkanah, had no children because God had closed her womb. Elkanah’s other wife did have children and would provoke Hannah for being barren. (1 Samuel 1:2,5).

Societies expectations, and that of others, can hurt; but don’t we beat ourselves up even more by desiring to please and meet the expectations of others and failing to meet those expectations? Being a people pleaser all the time is impossible, so let us focus on pleasing God, living up to His expectations.
What is God’s expectation of us?

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
Deuteronomy 6:5 NASB

Trust in the Lord forever, For in God the Lord, we have an everlasting Rock.
Isaiah 26:4 NASB

But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.
Acts 5:29 NASB

🌹Let God’s expectation of us be our foundation. Trust that God has a plan. Seek Him and let Him rule in us.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon