1st Samuel Chapter 1
I Dedicate This To The Lord.
The man Elkanah had two wives, Hannah and Peninnah. Peninnah had several sons and daughters while Hannah had none for God had closed her womb from having children.
One day when they all went to the temple to worship and sacrifice to the Lord, Elkanah gave a portion of food to both wives, but to Hannah, he gave a double portion for he loved her. Peninnah would provoke Hannah out of jealousy and make her cry.
While in the temple before the Lord, Hannah wept and prayed to God for mercy and for her son. She said if you give me a son I will dedicate him to you all the days of his life.
After returning home, it was soon after that God remembered Hannah’s Prayer and gave her a son. When the boy was old enough to be weaned from her mother, she took the boy to the temple, and to the priest, saying God has answered my prayer I am dedicating my son to the Lord as I said I would.
Hannah wanted something bad enough but made sure it was dedicated to the Lord and for his purpose. What is something we want? Is it for selfish reasons or do you want the Lord glorified in and through it? Have you dedicated your life to the Lord? What are you holding on to?
God has given me the gift to speak so may God use it to point people to Jesus and not me. God has given me the ability to run and compete. May he use it for his glory and not mine. What about you? Have you dedicated your life to the Lord and for his purpose? What has God blessed you with? Have you given it to the Lord for his glory and not your own? May we all dedicate our lives, our gifts, our abilities, our workplace, our homes, our children, our… EVERYTHING to the Lord.
