Sunday, May 11, 2025 AM
MOTHER’S DAY: Characteristics of a Godly Mom
Mike Teel, Pastor
FOCAL PASSAGE:
1 There was a certain man from Ramathaim, a Zuphite from the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Elkanah son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. 2 He had two wives; one was called Hannah and the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none. 3 Year after year this man went up from his town to worship and sacrifice to the Lord Almighty at Shiloh, where Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, were priests of the Lord. 4 Whenever the day came for Elkanah to sacrifice, he would give portions of the meat to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters. 5 But to Hannah he gave a double portion because he loved her, and the Lord had closed her womb. 6 Because the Lord had closed Hannah’s womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her. 7 This went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the Lord, her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat. 8 Her husband Elkanah would say to her, “Hannah, why are you weeping? Why don’t you eat? Why are you downhearted? Don’t I mean more to you than ten sons?” 9 Once when they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah stood up. Now Eli the priest was sitting on his chair by the doorpost of the Lord’s house. 10 In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly. 11 And she made a vow, saying, “Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.” 12 As she kept on praying to the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. 13 Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk 14 and said to her, “How long are you going to stay drunk? Put away your wine.” 15 “Not so, my lord,” Hannah replied, “I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the Lord. 16 Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief.” 17 Eli answered, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.” 18 She said, “May your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast. —I Samuel 1:1-18
THE
—There was a man named Elkanah who had two wives: Hannah and Penniah.
—Penniah was able to have children, but Hannah could not.
—To be barren in this culture was believed to be a sign of personal sin or cursed life.
—Finally, Hannah reached her breaking point. She could endure the ridicule no longer – so she went to the door of the temple and fell face down and began to pray and week.
—Let’s look at the principles her reaction teaches us about being a Godly mom.
The first characteristic of a Godly mom as seen in the life of Hannah is …
BELIEVE IN THE
OF PRAYER
9 Once when they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah stood up. Now Eli the priest was sitting on his chair by the doorpost of the Lord’s house. 10 In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly. —I Samuel 1:9-10
1. GOD IS OUR
—Hannah realized that the only one who could help her was God.
—In bitterness of soul Hannah wept much and prayed to the Lord.
2. OUT OF
—Hannah’s situation seemed hopeless and so out of hopelessness and helplessness came her prayer.
—This principle applies to all not just moms.
—We must never forget the power of prayer.
—Persistent prayer for your children and grandchildren even when you feel like Hannah that their life situation is hopeless.
The second characteristic of a Godly mom is that she …
ACTIVELY
HER CHILDREN ABOUT GOD
20 So in the course of time Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, “Because I asked the Lord for him.” 21 When her husband Elkanah went up with all his family to offer the annual sacrifice to the Lord and to fulfill his vow, 22 Hannah did not go. She said to her husband, “After the boy is weaned, I will take him and present him before the Lord, and he will live there always.” 23 “Do what seems best to you,” her husband Elkanah told her. “Stay here until you have weaned him; only may the Lord make good his word.” So the woman stayed at home and nursed her son until she had weaned him. —I Samuel 1:20-23
1. SHORT TIME OF
—Hannah had only a short time to begin teaching Samuel about the Lord.
—She would soon dedicate him to the Lord and according to the promise she made to God, he would soon go to live with Eli.
2. TODAY’S
INGREDIENT
—The only Spiritual education a child gets today is while he/she is here at church – and that is providing they don’t have some type of extracurricular activity taking place on Sunday (sports activities).
—We are in crisis with the past couple generation known as the Y and Z generations.
—Their reason for leaving the church or not attending the church? The hypocrisy they see in their family units and the church.
—How important is it for us, not just Moms, but as parents to live out our faith? It would appear extremely important.
The final characteristic of a Godly mother is …
THE ABILITY TO
24 After he was weaned, she took the boy with her, young as he was, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour and a skin of wine, and brought him to the house of the Lord at Shiloh. 25 When the bull had been sacrificed, they brought the boy to Eli, 26 and she said to him, “Pardon me, my lord. As surely as you live, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the Lord. 27 I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. 28 So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord.” And he worshiped the Lord there. —I Samuel 1:24-28
1.
RESPONSE
—Hannah kept her word she vowed that if God gave her a son, she would give him completely to the work of God.
—After three years (time for weaning), as hard as it was, she let him go!!!
2.
IN LETTING GO
—Sometime our children do not choose the path we planned for them.
—I’m not suggesting we forsake them, but our position in life changes. We move from a dictatorial position in their lives to an advisor when called upon.
—I have seen way too many young marriage relationships get off to a very difficult beginning because parents want to continue to control their kids’ lives and not let them go.
3. GRATEFUL
Today I am grateful to moms (and dads) who BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF PRAYER, who are ACTIVELY TEACHING THEIR CHILDREN ABOUT GOD, and who are EXERCISING THE ABILITY TO LET GO!
Today is Mother’s Day; choose to be the mom God has called you to be.
Mothers are …
Blower of noses and washers of ears, smoothers of bumps and wiper of tears.
Scrubber of dishes and yielders of mops, grandmas for dollies and winders of tops.
Bathers of babies and umpires of spats, finder of boots, mittens and hats.
Helpers with lessons and makers of beds, shakers of dust-cloths and combers of heads.
Button-sew-oners and winders of clocks, menders of dresses and darners of socks.
Tellers of stories and readers of books, judges and juries of conduct and looks.
Doctors for heartaches and hearers of prayers, generals, directing all family affairs.
Tenders of home fires and builders of men, oh, for the gift of an adequate pen!
LIVE IT OUT
The greatest characteristic of a mom or dad is that they have a personal relationship with Christ.
Is there an area we have touched upon today that God is calling you to add to your life?
Is there a child that needs to be laid at the foot of the cross this morning?