Happy Mother’s Day! 🥳
The prophet Samuel would go on to accomplish many great things, but the book that bears his name, uses the first 39 verses to give Samuel’s backstory — the story of a faithful mom who sought the Lord.
Why? Because, Samuel knew without Hannah’s story — his story would never have existed.
[TEXT] 1 SAMUEL 1:1-2:2
1) God blesses a woman of endurance.
Year after year it was the same—Peninnah would taunt Hannah as they went to the Tabernacle. Each time, Hannah would be reduced to tears and would not even eat. —1 Samuel 1:7 NLT
Year by year she suffered. But year by year she continued to go to the house of the Lord.
She endured by drawing her strength from the Lord.
Being a woman of endurance.
- Endurance can be defined as “patience and waiting even while suffering trials.”
- Hannah was patient and waited on the Lord even while suffering tremendous trials.
- Endurance means suffering through trials waiting on the only One who can help.
Are you a woman of endurance?
The blessing is often on the other side of the adversity.
Place your trust in the Lord and wait on Him.
2) God blesses a woman of prayer.
Hannah was in deep anguish, crying bitterly as she prayed to the Lord. —1 Samuel 1:10 NLT
Even while patiently waiting, Hannah didn’t stop seeking the Lord.
She knew Who she was talking to and it was a serious matter for her.
Being a woman of prayer.
- Hannah spoke with the Lord, Hannah cried to the Lord, Hannah wept before the Lord.
- God can’t bless who you pretend to be. He wants the real you.
- Prayer is more than mere words, it is a heart attitude for the Lord.
Are you a woman of prayer?
God is there for you and He will hear you and hold you up.
3) God blesses a woman of faith.
“In that case,” Eli said, “go in peace! May the God of Israel grant the request you have asked of him.” 18 “Oh, thank you, sir!” she exclaimed. Then she went back and began to eat again, and she was no longer sad. —1 Samuel 1:17–18 NLT
When Hannah left the house of the Lord she was no longer sad.
She knew she had been in the presence of the Lord and now her heart was calm.
And God did not disappoint.
Being a woman of faith.
- The basis for Hannah’s endurance and prayer was her faith in God.
- Faith is the foundation of a relationship with the Lord.
Are you a woman of faith?
God is there for you and He wants you to lean wholly on Him.
4) God blesses a woman of worship.
When the child was weaned, Hannah took him to the Tabernacle in Shiloh. They brought along a three-year-old bull for the sacrifice and a basket of flour and some wine. 25 After sacrificing the bull, they brought the boy to Eli. 26 “Sir, do you remember me?” Hannah asked. “I am the very woman who stood here several years ago praying to the Lord. 27 I asked the Lord to give me this boy, and he has granted my request. 28 Now I am giving him to the Lord, and he will belong to the Lord his whole life.” And they worshiped the Lord there. —1 Samuel 1:24–28 NLT
Hannah didn’t forget her commitment to the Lord.
She brought sacrifices to the Lord and she worshiped Him.
Being a woman of worship.
- Worship is setting God apart as worthy of our praise, worthy of glory, worthy of honor.
Are you a woman of worship?
Do you see God as high and lilted up, worthy of all we can give to Him?
We should always acknowledge Him as worthy of our worship and praise.
5) God blesses a woman who knows the Source of her salvation.
Then Hannah prayed: “My heart rejoices in the Lord! The Lord has made me strong. Now I have an answer for my enemies; I rejoice because you rescued me. 2 No one is holy like the Lord! There is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God. —1 Samuel 2:1–2 NLT
Hannah knew who it was that had blessed her beyond measure.
And she knew the source of salvation.
Do you know the source of salvation?
Salvation comes from the Lord, through the blood of Jesus Christ.