By: Donna J. Kazenske
Have you ever been in a situation that seemed totally barren or hopeless? Have you ever felt like giving up on yourself, your family or your impossible situation? Let’s take a look at the life of Hannah and find out what she did in the midst of her adverse circumstances. Let’s find out what caused this woman of God to receive a mighty breakthrough.
Now there was a certain man named Elkanah who had two wives; the name of one was Hannah and the other was Peninnah. Peninnah had children while Hannah had none. This caused much grief and disappointment to Hannah as she desperately wanted to have a male child, but the Lord had closed her womb.
Elkanah was very faithful to take his family to the city of Shiloh every year for the purpose of worshipping and offering sacrifices to the Lord of hosts. When it was time for Elkanah to make an offering to the Lord, he would give portions to Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters, but to Hannah he would give a double portion, because he loved her.
Peninnah was one who liked to provoke Hannah because of her barrenness. She enjoyed making Hannah’s life miserable and as a result of her continuous scoffing, Hannah wept much and refused to eat or drink at the table. Her husband could not understand what she was going through emotionally and once said to her, “Am I not better to you than ten sons?” Not realizing what he was saying, he just made matters worse.
So Hannah arose from the table and positioned herself before the Lord in prayer. Being in great anguish of soul, she wept bitterly before the Lord until she could weep no more. Her prayers were like sweet incense before the Lord as she set her face like flint in pursuit of Him for her breakthrough miracle.
I believe it’s time for some of you to position yourself before the Lord in prayer for your breakthrough miracle. Some of you are on the verge of breakthrough. You can’t quit now! You’ve come too far to turn back. Keep pressing in and pursuing God!
As Eli the priest watched her from the doorpost of the tabernacle, Hannah made a vow to the Lord of hosts. She was a woman determined in her spirit to see a manifestation of her heart’s desire come to pass. She was tired of Peninnah’s constant chiding and provoking. She was fed up with her barrenness and made a choice to continue in hot pursuit of the Lord and His purpose for her life. Her desire for a man child caused her to persevere in prayer and faith believing.
Has the enemy been lying to you and provoking you because of your hopeless situation? Has he told you that you will never come out of this situation victorious? Has he told you that you will never have children because of your barren condition? I urge you today by the Spirit of God to stop listening to the lies of the devil and get on with your life. The Lord of hosts wants to pour out His blessings upon you if you will just learn how to position yourself before Him so that you can receive those blessings.
1 Samuel 1:11 – Then she made a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head.”
Eli the priest thought Hannah was drunk, but Hannah let him know otherwise. Her reply to Eli’s false accusation was this, “I am a woman of sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor intoxicating drink, but have poured out my soul before the Lord. Do not consider your maidservant a wicked woman, for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief I have spoken until now.”
Have you been falsely accused of wrong doing? Satan’s accusers are strategically placed in every church and ministry. We must not allow the false accusations of man to get us down. We must instead learn to set our faces like flint to pursue God in the midst of these humiliating accusations and press on toward the victory that God has ordained for us.
Eli probably felt like a fool as he kindly responded to Hannah, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition which you have asked of Him.”
This was all Hannah needed to break that spirit of oppression and hopelessness over her soul. She received the blessing that Eli spoke over her and went on her way rejoicing in the Lord. With a whole new outlook on her situation, she went back to the table and celebrated by eating and drinking her rightful portion. She knew in her spirit that God would bring the needed breakthrough. It was now just a matter of time.
It’s amazing how God can take a hopeless situation and turn it into a time of great rejoicing. One word from God can change your whole outlook on life.
Hannah eventually conceived and gave birth to a son whom she called Samuel. She remained faithful in her vow to the Lord and was so grateful for all that the Lord had done for her. She was no longer barren, but fruitful. She was no longer a sorrowful woman, but a woman filled with great joy.
The Lord has a way of silencing our accusers. He has a way of bringing His people through difficult circumstances and situations. That “way” is staying in hot pursuit of Him. When we pursue God with of all of our hearts and minds, He will be faithful to grant us the petitions that we have requested of Him.
Visit my websites:
http://www.geocities.com/wavesofglory
http://sureword.faithweb.com
Email me:
sureword@excite.com
