1 Samuel 2; Romans 2; Jeremiah 40; Psalm 15,16

I never fail to enjoy reading Hannah’ prayer of thanks and praise for God hearing her prayer found in 1 Samuel 2:1-10  GNT

Her heart was filled with joy – and when joy is absent in my life maybe I have forgotten who I am at the very core of my innermost part of my being. God being the one who helps me and makes me strong brings me joy.

She reminds me how holy God is and how powerful that makes Him and how He engages with me when I pray – desiring to protect me.

She reminds me, by praying for me, to watch the words I am using that forget there is a God who I need to honour. A God who is all knowing and is greater and stronger than I am. In fact my livelyhood depends on Him – it can be given but it can also be taken away. God is in complete authority over my life. It is impossible for me, in my own strength to have a genuinely successful life. God cannot be ignored.

I am so thankful that God is patience with me as I journey with Him. He lovingly waits for me, is kind to me, so that I may realize how much I need Him.

Or perhaps you despise his great kindness, tolerance, and patience. Surely you know that God is kind, because he is trying to lead you to repent. – Romans 2:4  GNT

I ask God to forgive me of my sin and I pray that I do not feel I deserve His kindness in any way.

I ask the same question the psalmist asks.

Lord, who may enter your Temple?
    Who may worship on Zion, your sacred hill? – Psalm 15:1  GNT

I pray in Jesus’ name because I know prayer is only possible through Jesus and I thank Him for this privilege.

Father, thank You for Hannah’s prayer – it is real and transparent and reminds me not only to stop to give You thanks and praise for what You have done in my life but what You still need to be doing to change me. Thank You for being so patient with me as I mature to be more like You. I pray that I might extend the same patience, grace and mercy to others. May I find myself judging less and loving more. There is nothing like being in Your presence and spending time with You. I find that when we are talking together I am at perfect peace. It is here in Your presence that worship really happens. It is here that You reveal my heart and what it really looks like, not to hurt me, but to allow me to give You my sin and ask You to forgive me as I repent. Thank You for loving me this much. 

Erwin (evanlaar1922)

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