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1 Sam 1:1-11
Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim Zophim, of the mountains of Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. And he had two wives: the name of one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children. This man went up from his city yearly to worship and sacrifice to the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. Also the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD, were there. And whenever the time came for Elkanah to make an offering, he would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters. But to Hannah he would give a double portion, for he loved Hannah, although the LORD had closed her womb. And her rival also provoked her severely, to make her miserable, because the LORD had closed her womb. So it was, year by year, when she went up to the house of the LORD, that she provoked her; therefore she wept and did not eat.
Then Elkanah her husband said to her, "Hannah, why do you weep? Why do you not eat? And why is your heart grieved? Am I not better to you than ten sons?"
So Hannah arose after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat by the doorpost of the tabernacle of the LORD. And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the LORD and wept in anguish. 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."(NKJV)
The nation of Israel was passing through one of its difficult times in history. The word of the Lord was rare in those days (1 Sam 3:1). God had a need. He needed someone who could bring about His plans and purposes. His choice for solution to the need was a woman called Hannah. Hannah was a woman of God and she had the capacity to raise up a child who could carry out the plans and purposes of God. Mean while Hannah was barren and to some extent she was comfortable in her state. In order to bring about His purpose in Hannah, God allowed Peninnah to provoke her. Hannah was so provoked that she had no choice but to declare a prayer and fasting programme in the house of God. There is someone reading this article today. Things are not alright with you and you know it very well. But some how you have declared a cease fire and you are saying that it is the will of God for you to suffer. I want you to listen very carefully. It is not the will of God for you to suffer. You need to be provoked. God has sent me to provoke you. There is a mandate of breakthrough upon your life. You are a carrier of the blessing of God. God never intended for you to be barren and to suffer in life. You need to rise to the mandate of God’s Word.
God says:
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. .Jer 29:11(NKJV)
May you rise to a fresh divine perspective over your life. May you rise and refuse any form of barrenness and failure over your career, family, health you name it. Mediocrity and struggling in life is not your lot in Jesus Name! After Hannah was provoked she offered to God her heartfelt prayer and God answered her.” …The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working]” James 5:16 (Amplified).
Do the same for this is your time in Jesus Name!
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