Reinventing The Very Best In You

REINVENTING THE VERY BEST IN YOU

Reading: 1 Samuel 1: 1-20

Honestly speaking, the first month of this year is a month of surprise irritations and frustration for me and my family. This is the time when some of my dearest friends suddenly became like enemies just because of misunderstanding. This is also the time when the doors are literally closing to some of my ministries and activities.

As my wife and I began to check our hearts and ask ourselves what went wrong and what mistakes we have done, we began to realize that the recent year that had passed is a year when God fully restored our relationship with God and we also offered our life and service to God to the best of our abilities. But In spite of all these, why are we encountering irritations and provocations?

Why can’t God maintain the status quo? Why can’t we enjoy the love of our Church brethren and friends forever without any grudges and separation? Whey cant we always have the good and comfort of every thing without any interruptions?

As I open my bible with a teary eyes and desperation, the Lord caught my attention to 1 Samuel Chapter 1: 1-20, the story of Hannah the mother of Prophet Samuel. May the Lord help you rediscover yourself as He also revive me while reading this Scripture Text.

1Sa 1:1 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.

1Sa 1:2 He had two wives; one was called Hannah and the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none.

1Sa 1:3 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.

1Sa 1:4 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.

1Sa 1:5 But to Hannah he gave a double portion because he loved her, and the LORD had closed her womb.

1Sa 1:6 And because the LORD had closed her womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her.

1Sa 1:7 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.

1Sa 1:8 Elkanah her husband 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?"

1Sa 1:9 Once when they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah stood up. Now Eli the priest was sitting on a chair by the doorpost of the Lord’s temple.

1Sa 1:10 In bitterness of soul Hannah wept much and prayed to the LORD.

1Sa 1:11 And she made a vow, saying, "O LORD Almighty, if you will only look upon 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."

1Sa 1:20 So in the course of time Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, "Because I asked the LORD for him."

Frustration, disappointment, hopelessness and despair have many causes.

• It may be a friendship that has gone sour

• A door that suddenly slammed on your face

• An expectation that did not come to pass

• A peaceful place that suddenly became war zone

• A love that turned to hate

• A healthy relationship that suddenly gone dry and lifeless

• A trust that eventually betrayed

The good news is you are not alone. In our text, Hannah is enjoying the status quo when suddenly she comes face to face with the reality of jealousy, provocation, irritation and competition.

Please join with me as we discover how God moved in the life of Hannah to let her reinvent her life according to God’s purpose and design. I assure you that right at the moment that you declare it’s over! God is just starting to reinvent yourself because there is more in you and God can help you discover your God given destiny and purpose!

There are seven things that God used as avenue of God’s dealing with Hannah so she can reinvent herself into God’s purpose and destiny.

I. IMPOSSIBLE SITUATION (VS 1-5)

Lesson 1 - God is taking advantage of our impossible situations so that He can show his great power and mercy toward his children