On the Go - December 30, 2009

God doesn't just meet our needs, he usually exceeds them.

Live it
Elkanah had two wives, Peninnah and Hannah. Peninnah had two children by her husband but Hannah had none, because Scripture says God closed her womb. Children were to people back then a direct blessing of God, the opposite also being true. It's safe to conclude that much prayer about the matter didn't seem to have any effect. Compounded was the fact, Peninnah provoked Hannah by reminding her of the score: Peninnah two and Hannah zero. But unlike Peninnah, Elkanah was sensitive to Hannah's feeling of inferiority, because giving his family one portion of meat to sacrifice, he gave Hannah twofold reminding her how much he loved her.

You can read the first chapter of 1 Samuel in the Bible and see how much God blessed Hannah. He gave birth to a son and named him Samuel, meaning "Because I asked the Lord for him." He become one of the primary characters in Scripture who would change the spiritual shape of the nation. But God also gave Hannah three more sons and two daughters. One can wonder if Peninnah stopped keeping score when she learned God was also keeping score.

Pray it
Here at the threshold of a new year I look back and take note of the score. I've won so much more than I've lost. And your blessings have outnumbered my problems by more than I can measure. However, I choose to think of Your love more than the gift or its value. Things come and go, but Your love does not and means everything to me.

Resources
The Bible is a record of man's failures and God's faithfulness. (2000)
There's is a murderer, prostitute, thief, seducer and adulteress in Mary's family line. (2003)
Tithing is good, but what pleases God is the attitude by which you give and not the degree.(2004)
Christ-like living is on-the-job training, (2005)
Devotional (2006)
It must amuse God when our enemies try unsucessfully to defame, discredit, ignore, deny, or kill us.(2007)
Is Jesus confiding in you, or do you hear it secondhand? (2008)

How to Pray for...
My husband or wife.
Teach me to love my wife today the same way Jesus loves me.

My children.
Lead my children in paths of righteousness and keep them from straying too far.

Their school.
Keep those of bad influence from teaching in our schools.

Their teachers.
Protect those whose passion is to teach what is right in Your eyes.

My children's friends.
Give my children godly friends who are committed to do what is right in Your eyes.

My friends.
Help me be a friend to the friendless and faithful to those who befriend me.

My work.
Make me a diligent worker, one who inspires my boss and leads him to trust you.

My city.
Take my city one where truth and liberty are dominant and favoritism has no place.

Governmental leaders.
Guide government leaders to do only that which Scripture teaches.

My country.
Convert our country's patriotism "fever" into a passion for holiness under Your Banner.

My President.
Give him wisdom to make the choices You want him to make.

My church.
Give my fellow church members a passion to be clean and reconciled to each other.

My pastor.
Direct him to lead resolutely, anchored on the rock of uncompromising faith.

My church leadership.
Teach the leaders in our church to serve faithfully, even when none one is looking.

Sister churches.
Bless those churches whose stand is uncorrupted by a world value system.

Persecuted churches.
Protect persecuted brothers, giving them a testimony that extends around the world.

Missionaries.
Bless them. Meet their ministerial and personal needs to overflowing.

The sick..
Sustain those on his or her sickbed.

The lost.
Direct them to someone willing and ready to present the Gospel of Jesus without compromise.

Those in despair.
Remind those in despair that it is only ignorance of God that's hopeless.

Those in the hospital.
Protect those in the hospital from infectious germs that might exasperate their condition.

Those grieving.
Give hope to those who grieve so they will know it's purpose and not be servants to it.

Widows.
Protect the widows and provide their needs. Bless those who serve them.

Orphans.
Let the orphans know of Your care. Bless those who care for them.

Myself.
Give me the confidence to speak your Word boldly today.

Prayertower Devotionals are the original creation of James R. Green:
Just Thinkin'... (2000-2003)
Read the Bible Thru in 365 Days (2004)
Pray Thru the Word in 365 Days (2005)
One-minute Devotionals (2006 to present).

Scripture provided by God's Word Translation (c)1995 - God's Word to the Nations. All Rights Reserved.