A Mother's Heart ~"Her children arise..and call her blessed"
A Mother's Heart
"So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh… And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the Lord, and wept sore. And she vowed a vow, and said, O Lord of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the Lord all the days of his life…” (I Sam. 1:9-11).
Hannah is a godly example of a mother’s heart. Though her heart was heavily burdened with the desire to have a child; she did not lose hope. The Lord continues to call us unto Himself for all that weighs us down. “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28). She petitions the throne of God and counts her prayer as answered after Eli, the priest, told her God had granted her request. When she gave birth to her first-born Samuel, she did not forget her vow and lent him unto the Lord for His will and His service.
Taking our desires and concerns to the Lord as Believers in Jesus Christ, should be primary in our life and an example for our children to follow. This devotion to prayer and honoring God’s desire for our children is a Biblical principle that should be on every mother’s heart. Hannah approached Jehovah God in humility and genuine expectancy. The term “handmaid” (v.11) is an expression of this humility and deference to the sufficiency of holy God.
As a mother, we must always remember that children are lent to us for a season in this life. All that God blesses us with should be devoted to His care with the understanding that His plans are primary to ours, no matter how honorable they may be. Mothers honor the Lord through devotion to His will, and this devotion and love is to be expressed to the children He grants us, whether by birth or other means. “That the trial of your faith being much being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried by fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ” (I Pt. 1:7). In all that is said and done, praise to the Lord should be on our lips. This is the heart attitude children need to see modeled.
"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" (I Sam. 2:1-2).
"Jesus said: I am the resurrection and the life!" Jn. 11:25
April: Jesus' Resurrection Power~Ours to Live By!
“That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death” (Philippians 3:10).
What a glorious promise! Because of the resurrection power displayed in Jesus Christ, by God the Father, we have this blessed assurance…that we may know HIM. All who place their faith in Christ for salvation will be raised to life eternal. Nothing can steal our joy when we remain focused on this truth! “And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power” (I Cor. 6:14).
God has provided all that we need to become part of His eternal family. Through the cleansing power of Jesus’ blood and convicting power of His Holy Spirit, we can have our sins forgiven and be made acceptable in the presence of the Father. We are no longer bound by our sin and flesh. Through His resurrection power we can live to please our Heavenly Father. “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God” (I Cor. 6:11). By faith, even if it is the size of a mustard seed, when it is placed in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sin we are sanctified (our eternal position) and progressively sanctified (by the Holy Spirit through repentance and spiritual growth in Christ).
God has promised that this same power is available to His children to help in our daily walk with Christ Jesus. “Hear, O Lord, and have mercy upon me: LORD, be Thou my helper” (Ps. 30:10) Through the indwelling Holy Spirit, we are strengthened to overcome temptations and grow as we learn from trials we experience. We are built up so that we may be of comfort and encouragement to others. (Jn. 14:16-18; 16:13-15; 2 Cor. 1:3-5)
God has prepared a place for us in heaven, and nothing can remove us from our position in Christ once we have been washed in His blood and clothed with His righteousness. (Jn. 14:1-3) Reassuring our hearts of these truths will keep us from being troubled in our heart and anxious in our spirit, because we have an eternal hope that cannot be shaken. As Believers, our hope is anchored in Jesus Christ and the same power that raised Him to life.
If something in this life has dampened your spirit and caused you to lose hope, realign your spiritual eyes on the one who holds you close…Jesus CHRIST! His power has not diminished, and the Father’s promises still stand. We would love to pray with you and be a blessing in some way.
"Thy Word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin."
March: God's Word Must Be Our Priority!
“This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” (Joshua 1:8)
God’s Word must become priority in our life if we desire to succeed. Success by God’s standard may look different from that of the world. As Believer’s in Jesus Christ, we are indwelt by His Holy Spirit, Who makes it possible to comprehend and live out His truths. His Word promises, “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” (John 14:26) If we are to apply what Jesus has said through the men that penned His holy scriptures, we must not only know what has been taught and set forth by example, we must also meditate upon its principles with a heart of faith and trust.
If we are to make choices that please and honor our Lord Jesus Christ, we must be intentional about relying upon His written word and keep it hidden within our heart. “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse His way? By taking heed thereto according to Thy word.” (Psalm 119:9) This act of hiding implies it is treasured and will be kept safe to be shared with the sincerest and purest of motives.
When His Word becomes our priority, we desire what He wills in our life. We see the things of the Lord as our utmost importance and the success that culminates is a result of His power and promises at work in our life. It is prosperity within our spiritual life, which equates in a peace and joy that the world or our flesh could never generate. This prosperity permeates all areas of our lives and causes us to reevaluate what is genuinely important…eternity and all that draws others to value the Lord of the eternal…the God of all that is holy. “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” (3 John 2)
In Thy Presence (LORD) Is Fullness of Joy! (Ps. 16:11)
February: The Presence of God, His Promise, Our Privilege! "I will never leave thee..." (Heb. 13:5)
“For Thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes: and I have walked in Thy truth…I have hated the congregation of evildoers; and will not sit with the wicked. I will wash mine hands in innocency: so will I compass thine altar, O Lord: That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all Thy wondrous works. Lord, I have loved the habitation of Thy house, and the place where Thine honour dwelleth.” (Ps. 26:3-8)
Who truly loves being in God’s presence? How is it that we can have a genuine sense of His presence and experience it in such a way that we are encouraged and emboldened in our walk with the Lord? His Holy Spirit draws, convicts, indwells, instructs and empowers any sinner who come to the heavenly Father by faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ. Once we become a follower of Jesus Christ, there should be a desire to fellowship with His people and be in His house (place of worship) because honoring Him is priority. This results in rejoicing, praising our Savior and proclaiming His wondrous works to all who will listen. This will happen only when there is a heart for:
Hearing truth. If there is no desire to walk in truth, most likely you will not want to hear truth. “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” (Jn. 17:17)
Fellowshipping with those who also love His word and live out His principles. “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another:..” (Heb. 10:25)
Believers who will humbly admit their weaknesses and pray faithfully for others. “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” (Jas. 5:16)
Believers who confess their sins to the Lord Jesus regularly and honor Him with their words. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (I Jn. 1:9)
The Power and Promise of God's Word ~ (2 Peter 1:2-4)
January: The Power to Save and Promise to Keep
The Word of God has many promises that Believers can cling to by which we receive strength and comfort. All that we read within God’s Word is true and rooted in the power and love of the Father that gave His Only Begotten so that sinful souls can be redeemed. “Giving thanks unto the Father…Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son: in whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins.” (Col. 1:12-14)
The power of God’s Word to give life is rooted in the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ. His shed blood is the basis for all that is written within the pages of Scripture. His resurrection seals the promises given to all who receive the Word (Jesus Christ) as described in John 1. If you come by faith in what Jesus did on the cross, confessing your sinfulness and need for His cleansing, He has promised to save you. “All that the Father giveth me shall come to Me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” (Jn. 6:37)
The power of God’s Word for salvation is fulfillment of the purpose in which the Father sent Jesus to this earth clothed in human flesh. The same resurrection power that raised Jesus to life, victorious over the grave is the same power that works through His Word by the Holy Spirit to save souls for all eternity. Not only does His Word possess the power to save, but with it comes the promise of eternal security. We are “kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” (See I Pt. 1:3-5)
The promise of God’s Word is that His keeping power never fails. Each soul that is saved is also sealed by His Holy Spirit. “And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” (Eph. 4:30) This seal is a divine security measure for our reassurance that nothing can remove us from redeemed status. God’s faithfulness in keeping His promises has been secured in His power to raise Jesus Christ from the dead. “That I may know Him (Jesus), and the power of His resurrection…” (Phil. 3:9-10)