The Heart Of A Mother.
1 Samuel 1:25-28TLB
A teacher gave her class of second graders a lesson on Magnets and what they do. The next day in a written test, she included this question: My name has six letters. The first one is M. I pick up things. What am I? When the test papers were turned in, the teacher was astonished to find that almost 50% of the students answered the question with the word- “Mother.”
You know why? Because I believe Mother’s pick up more than any ole magnet. Lol.
A young father was trying to explain the concept of marriage to his 4-year-old daughter. He got out their wedding album, thinking visual images would help, and explained the entire wedding service to her. When he was finished, he asked if she had any questions. She pointed to a picture of the wedding party and asked, “Daddy, is that when mommy came to work for us?
What are mothers? Well, Mothers are teachers. Mothers are disciplinarians. Mothers are cleaning ladies. Mothers are cooks, Some mothers are gardeners and lawn mowers. Mothers are nurses and doctors and psychologists and counselors and coaches. Mothers are taxi cab drivers. Mothers are developers of personalities and shapers of attitudes. Mothers are soft voices saying, "I love you." Mothers are a link to God, Mothers are a child's first impression of God's love. Mothers are all these things and much, more.
Let me set the scene—In 1 Samuel chapter 1, Elkanah has two wives, Hannah and Peninnah. Peninnah and Elkanah had some children together, but Hannah was barren. And to make matters worse, Peninnah would taunt Hannah, making Hannah cry.
How important is the church? Just listen— Each year Elkanah and his families journeyed to the Tabernacle at Shiloh to worship the Lord of the heavens and to sacrifice to him. —No empty hands! In these times, Hannah found herself beseeching God. Her beseeching, was so powerful that it moved God.
Hannah was living, Romans 12:1 I beg you brethren to present your bodies as a living sacrifice…
Hannah’s desire for a child was moving. In return, Hannah promises to give the child back to God when weaned. His name— would be called Samuel.
Just listen to this, Samuel would become a mighty prophet of God. He had taken the Nazarite vow, nothing dead, no strong drink, and no cutting of the hair. Samuel would one day anoint young David.
Here’s the text, 1 Samuel 1:25-28TLB After the sacrifice they took the child to Eli. 26 “Sir, do you remember me?” Hannah asked him. “I am the woman who stood here that time praying to the Lord! 27 I asked him to give me this child, and he has given me my request; 28 and now I am giving him to the Lord for as long as he lives.” So she left him there at the Tabernacle for the Lord to use.
If you’ve haven’t realize by now, the heart—foundation and or, makeup of a mother is multifaceted.
However, there are several aspects of mothers heart that become very weighty and most significant:
The first powerful aspect of a mothers heart is her, love.
A mother’s love is deep. Her love can be emotional, but steady at the same time. Her love can come in 3D, her dreams and ambitions become marks of her love. A mothers love drives her to do her best for her children.
A mother’s love has hands and legs, and sometime seemingly—wings.
The apostle Paul states in, 1 Corinthians 13:12, that presently we don’t see clearly, but one day, we will. In fact, according to Paul there will remain 3 important things.
1 Faith, 2 Hope and 3 Love. The greatest of these three is, love.
Listen to, 1 Corinthians 13:13AMP And now there remain: faith [abiding trust in God and His promises], hope [confident expectation of eternal salvation], love [unselfish love for others growing out of God’s love for me], these three [the choicest graces]; but the greatest of these is love.?
You probably know this, but the next best love other than God’s love is a—mother’s love. P.H
A mothers love is multifaceted. A mothers love is deep—Her love is a very deep well.
Here’s my definition of a mothers love: Psalm 42:7AMP Deep calls to deep at the [thundering] sound of Your waterfalls; All Your breakers and Your waves have rolled over me.
A mothers love is deep; Her love is bottomless. Her love is like a waterfall, like waves rolling over those she loves.?
2. The second powerful aspect of a mothers heart is her prayer and devotion.
Listen to the beginning of Hannah’s prayer of rejoicing: 1 Samuel 1: 9-11TLB One evening after supper, when they were at Shiloh, Hannah went over to the Tabernacle. Eli the priest was sitting at his customary place beside the entrance. 10 She was in deep anguish and was crying bitterly as she prayed to the Lord. 11 And she made this vow: “O Lord of heaven, if you will look down upon my sorrow and answer my prayer and give me a son, then I will give him back to you, and he’ll be yours for his entire lifetime, and his hair shall never be cut.”
Hannah’s prayer was personal—She made it her priority. (I’ll give him back to you)!
The thought came to me—I wonder how many times we make our prayers personal with God? —So personal that we make it His priority to answer.
Mothers aren’t afraid to give God their anguish. Their prayers and petition usually come with a no non-sense approach.
Example—“Now listen Abba, Hear me Father. Here I am again, Daddy. I love you.”
3. The third powerful aspect of a mothers heart is, hope and faith.
Mothers refuse to let go—Their faith is daily and ongoing. A mothers faith can be seen through their actions.
Paul spells out Timothy’s success in being a young pastor: 2 Timothy 1:5NLT I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you.
What a testimony—A mothers faith becomes her legacy and testimony. Paul states, Timothy, because of Lois, and Eunice’s faith you will be strong in faith!
“A mothers faith spells success for their children and their children.” P.H
Think for a minute, remember Rahab in God’s word? She was a prostitute, she had many pagan practices.
According to the narrative in Joshua 2, before the conquest of Canaan, Joshua sends some spies to see the land. They come to Rahab’s house to hide and get some information.
Rahab hides the spies while diverting their enemies in another direction.—In return, Rahab chooses the God of Israel. Rahab's name would now enter into the genealogy of Jesus.
In the NT, Hebrews 11:31NIV records, 31 By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.
Say, “Thank God for Mamma’s.”
Listen, “Mothers, if God will spare a Rahab, He will surely spare you as a Born again, born from above believer! P.H
4. The fourth powerful aspect of a mothers heart is, nurturing.
Nurturing ministers to a child’s soul. A mothers nurture heals. A mother’s nurture follows those she loves.
My mother gave her best to her children. My lovely wife, has given her best to our children.”
How do I know? All the long nights of learning algebra and any other given subject, to better her children, she did. Jenny has always been my best listener. After 31 years, she takes notes of every message I preach. P.H
Proverbs 22:6KJV Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
Proverbs 22:6TM Point your kids in the right direction—when they’re old they won’t be lost.
The word of God is spot-on in this matter. Because of a mother’s nurturing touch, her children will be saved.
How many will testify with me that they're mothers and their wives are the best nurturers in the world?
Proverbs 31:10TPT Who could ever find a wife like this one—she is a woman of strength and mighty valor! She’s full of wealth and wisdom. The price paid for her was greater than many jewels.
Once again, Mothers are nurturers. There’s only one nurturer greater than mothers, and that’s Jesus.
Listen to, 2 Samuel 2:1-2TLB This was Hannah’s prayer:“How I rejoice in the Lord! How he has blessed me! Now I have an answer for my enemies, For the Lord has solved my problem. How I rejoice! 2 No one is as holy as the Lord! There is no other God, Nor any Rock like our God.
Benediction.
