Seek and Surrender
Daily Old Testament Reading: Ruth 3-4; 1 Samuel 1
Daily Focus Passage: 1 Samuel 1
In 1 Samuel 1, we are introduced to a woman named Hannah. Hannah did not have a child and desperately desired a child. So Hannah prayed before the Lord and pleaded for a son. Hannah approached the Lord because she knew his goodness and faithfulness. In chapter 1, Hannah demonstrates the importance of seeking and surrendering to the Lord.
A DEDICATED SEEKING OF THE LORD
Hannah shows the proper heart of seeking the Lord. She did not approach demanding the Lord to respond or expecting God to respond just because she asked. Instead, Hannah approached the Lord with passion and trust in the Lord. She cried out before the Lord because she knew he cared and could answer her request alone. Her engagement teaches four important trusts about seeking the Lord.
SEEK THE LORD WITH YOUR HEART'S REQUEST
Hannah's approaching the Lord trains us of the importance of making the request of your heart known. Hannah held nothing back before the Lord and shared openly with the Lord. She did not approach the Lord with a guarded heart concerning her request with what she believed the Lord would want to hear from her. Instead, she authentically and openly spoke to the Lord. Thus, we must learn the importance of such communication with the Lord.
SEEK THE LORD TO HEAR YOUR CRY
The Lord cares for his children. He does not ignore the cry of the heart. When we approach the Lord with deep conviction and passion, we must cry out before the Lord pleads for our desires or others. We seek the Lord with the confidence that he is concerned with our heart's deep cries and approach him with this desire. We must come to the understanding of the Lord's desire to hear us and care for us.
SEEK THE LORD AS THE ULTIMATE SOLUTION
Hannah approached the Lord trusting his ultimate solution. She cried out to the Lord and desired a certain response, yet she committed to trusting the Lord's plan and solution to her request. Such a response mirrored the prayer of Jesus in the Garden when he asked for the cup to pass from him but for the will of the Lord to be accomplished ultimately. Thus, we must learn to make our request known, cry out to the Lord, and ultimately trust in the solution of the Lord.
A DEDICATED SURRENDER TO THE LORD
Hannah returned to the Lord from the blessing of the son she received. She recognized that the blessing from the Lord did not belong to her but instead was a gift that belonged to the Lord and that she gained the opportunity to steward that gift. As a result, Hannah remained faithful to her vow and returned her son Samuel to the Lord so that her son would serve the Lord.
GIVE TO THE LORD, WITHHOLDING NOTHING
Hannah received a son and refused to withhold him from the Lord. Instead, we find that Hannah took Samuel and placed him in the care and tutelage of Rabbi Eli. Hannah did not allow her motherly feelings or attachment to keep her from obeying the Lord. She recognized that not withholding Samuel from the Lord meant that she gave everything to the Lord and for his glory.
The Lord blesses us in so many ways. Yet, we often receive the blessing, withhold some portion of it from the Lord, and claim it as ours. When we seek to experience the blessing of the Lord fully, we must receive the blessing with a sacrificial heart and live prepared to hand the Lord back everything he has blessed us with. We must remember that the blessings received come with the expectation of bringing the Lord glory.
GIVE TO THE LORD IN FAITHFULNESS
Hannah gave to the Lord because of her faith. When she rested in her faith over her flesh, she gave to the Lord because she trusted him completely. She knew that she existed as a part of a bigger story that the Lord was writing and that she must remain faithful. Hannah gave her son to the work of the Lord because, in faith, she trusted the goodness of the Lord. She understood that living for the Lord outweighed earthly, motherly feelings for her son. Thus, she gave to the Lord in faith and trusted in the faithfulness of the Lord in her giving.
Hannah demonstrated a follower of the Lord who seeks him completely. She did not withhold anything from the Lord and trusted his will and plan. She demonstrated the importance of seeking the Lord authentically and trusting the Lord to respond according to his will, plan, and for his glory. When you consider Hannah's request and sacrifice, what adjustments do you need to make to follow the example of Hannah?
