Gratitude for Answered Prayer
The period of the judges is nearly
at an end. One last judge remains:
Samuel, a man of godly character
and integrity who will guide the
nation from judgeship to kingship.
Samuel is the offspring of barren
woman and the answer to fervent
prayer; and he is consecrated
to the Lord’s service from birth.
He enters a society marked by
moral decline and spiritual apathy.
Lord, we will Honour You:
Hannah prayed: My heart rejoices
in the Lord! Oh how the Lord
has blessed me! Now I have
an answer for my enemies,
as I delight in Your deliverance.
No one is holy like the Lord!
There is no one besides You; there
is no Rock like our God (1Sam 2:1-2)
The sons of Eli were worthless men.
They did not know the Lord…
When any man offered sacrifice,
the priest’s servant would come…
with a fork… All that the fork
brought up the priest would
take for himself (1 Sam 2:12-14).
Notice that the promise to those
who fear the Lord is that all their
needs will be met. Or as God
puts it in another place: Those
who honour me I will honour (v30)
Lord, there is no one like You;
there is no rock like our God.
You accomplish Your plan in
Hannah’s and Samuel’s lives
in Your own perfect time.
We trust You, good almighty God &
in control of all things to accomplish
Your perfect plans in our lives.
Then our hearts too will overflow
in praise & gratitude for all the
ways You have blessed us. Amen.
Lord, save our children from
growing up without knowing You.
Help them to value Your sacrifice
for sin and to fear abusing it.
And give us the courage to not
merely complain about sinful
behaviour but to confront it,
rebuke it and do what is right to
restrain it. May You be honoured
in our home and in our hearts. Amen
Lord, You meet the needs of those
who treat You with reverence.
Forgive us Lord for the times
when we fail to truly honour You.
You are the majestic king of
the universe – high and lifted up.
As we trust in You & honour You,
grant that You fill our lives with
good things. In Jesus’ name. Amen