Saturday, March 13, 2021

A FERVENT SPIRIT

Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 1

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

 

“Shiloh” is referred to in 1 Samuel 1:3. Its ancient ruins are in this hill area where an Israeli settlement now stands.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

 

Key Verse: 1 Samuel 1:10

And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the Lord and wept in anguish.

Today we begin 1st and 2nd Samuel. These books tell us of the life and times of Samuel — Judge, Prophet, and Priest. It was Samuel who appointed the first two Kings of Israel, Saul and David.
The birth of Samuel is a miracle of God. His mother, Hannah, was childless. Like Sarah before her, she experienced intense sorrow because of her inability to conceive. She took her anguish to God again and again, so much so that Eli, the Priest, thought she was drunk. God intervened for her and for His long-term plan to raise up a mighty man of God. Let us remember that “fervent effectual prayer avails much” (James 5:16). God does not violate human free will; therefore, the high level of fervency is a sure sign that our wills are surrendered to God’s will. Hannah and Samuel teach us that God responds directly in proportion to the level of our obedience and fervency in prayer.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord Jesus, I pray, as Your disciples asked You, “Lord, increase our [my] faith!” Your response to this request called for some “fervent” action on the part of the “learners” from You. Please grant me the grace to put into practice Your means of increasing my faith (read Luke 17:1-10).

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

I’ve just gone back to one of my previous blogs when I did a paragraph on Luke 17. Understanding Jesus’ answer to the “increase our faith” petition can teach us much. I thought it was worth repeating, and I need the reminder regularly (here is a link back to that blog posting).

Eli, the Priest, thought Hannah was drunk. I’ve seen drunken people, particularly when I was a Pastor. I’ve never been drunk with alcohol, and I don’t intend to ever find out what it’s like. However, I’m sure I’ve had the symptoms from time to time in the anguish of strong intercessory prayer. I’ve been overcome with powerful emotions as I have identified with the crushing hurts of humanity. This is good! This kind of prayer “avails much.” Jesus, Himself, while praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, “being in anguish, prayed more earnestly” (Luke 22:44). The result was that in His humanity He received the strength to endure the Cross. Hallelujah!

Yours to help us all learn and practice strong intercession,

David

This is in the area of the Garden of Gethsemane, beside the present day Church of All Nations, on the Mount of Olives.

5 thoughts on “Saturday, March 13, 2021

  1. Wonderful photo of the Garden of Gethsemane–the strength in the roots of the tree. Our prayers are the same–deeply rooted in our faith of Jesus Christ as our Saviour. There is nothing God can’t do. Praying for Luisa and Joseph and their familiy, this morning. Wishing all saints a blessed day in the Lord.

    I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies. 2 Samuel 22:4 ESV

    Casting Crowns – Oh My Soul (Lyric Video)
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tn5aq54yu8A

  2. Thank You, Lord God, for being that ever-present help for us in times of trouble. Please keep all Your children strong in You. In Jesus’s great name, amen

  3. And, from Anne Graham Lotz’s Daily Light:

    “There is one God and one Mediator between
    God and men, the Man Christ Jesus.

    Inasmuch … as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same.

    Look to Me, and be saved, all you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.

    We have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. § In Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace. § With His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption… And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. § He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.”

    1 Tim. 2:5; Heb. 2:14; Isa. 45:22; 1 John 2:1; Eph. 2:13–14; Heb. 9:12, 15; 7:25

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