A Poured Out Life … by Lexi Scates

Today’s Passage – 1 Samuel 1 – 3 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)

(Second Milers also read – Revelation 10 – 12;  Proverbs 29Psalms 141 – 145)

Listen to this morning’s Scripture song –  Psalm 119:105

Read a previous post from this passage – “Eli Didn’t Correct His Children

Read the “0329 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

And when the time was that Elkanah offered, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions: But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: but the Lord had shut up her womb. And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the Lord had shut up her womb. And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the Lord, and wept sore. (1 Samuel 1:4-6,10)

Have you ever had something you felt like you couldn’t live without? Maybe your phone or TV or a person? Well, Hannah could not have kids and that was her “something”. What about a request you desperately wanted to see answered? Hannah was unstoppable when it came to her request of begging God for children, the Bible even says she “poured out her soul before the Lord”.

And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the Lord. (1 Samuel 1:15)

This reminds me of another story in Luke 7 (one of my favorite stories in the Bible to be exact), you may recall the story of the woman and the alabaster box:

And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace. (Luke 7:37-38, 47-48, 50)

When I think about Hannah and this Woman I see one major thing in common, I see women who are ready to pour out everything for their God. Hannah knew she needed to be persistent in prayer to make her request known to God. And the woman did not care how crazy she may have looked to others, she knew she was in the presence of her God, and she was ready to give it all to him. All Hannah wanted was a child, and all the woman wanted was her sins to be forgiven, but they were ready to do anything for their God. As a result of Hannah’s persistence and faith her prayer was answered:

Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the Lord. For this child I prayed; and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of him (1 Samuel 1:20,27)

Hannah realizes that her request was granted only by God, and there is no doubt it is because of her persistent prayer life and patience. I personally am ready to live a life completely poured out for God, not only in my prayer life, the world we are living in is constantly looking for something to get into to make them satisfied, but God is the one thing that will never leave you unsatisfied. Later on in the story Hannah reflects on the work God has done in her life, and praises His name and rejoices for the work He has done. In the beginning of the story we see Hannah “in bitterness of soul” and “wept sore” and now we see her rejoicing and thankful, so what changed? When I reflect on my own life, I see many hills and valleys, I see moments of bitterness and weeping and moments of rejoicing. But at the same time I can clearly see God’s hand in all of it, His timing and plan have never disappointed and are always transformed into situations better than I can imagine. Hannah was granted everything she ever wanted (a child) and more (because she had more children after Samuel). So what’s stopping you from living a ‘poured out’ life?

And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the Lord, mine horn is exalted in the Lord: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation. There is none holy as the Lord: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God. (1 Samuel 2:1-2)

Lexi Scates is a student at the College of New Jersey


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Thirsty for God … by Lexi Scates

Today’s Reading – Psalms 40 – 45 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)

(Second Milers also read – 2 John, 3 John, JudePsalms 116 – 120Proverbs 24)

Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Ephesians 4:32

Read the  “0624 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Read previous posts from this morning’s reading – “Thirsty?” and “God Wants to Hear You Sing.”

“As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?” (Psalm 42:1-2)

Being thirsty and in need of a drink is a desperate feeling. Many times people say that they are “dying for water” or “just need a little bit” to quench their thirst. Many times this feeling comes after doing some hard work or going without it for too long. But in Psalm 42 we see that it is not water they desperately desire it is God. In the heat of summer it is normal to say you are thirsty or in need of some cold water after a day outside. And maybe even in the presence of a revival meeting it is easy to say that you are thirsty for God. But what about every other time? When it seems like life is going well we may not recognize God for the blessings, or when it seems like things aren’t going well we may be mad or confused by God’s decisions. However, the best place may just be in the state of constantly panting for God, reminding yourself that the best place to be is in the center of His will and being absolutely desperate for His provision. 

“I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD. ” (Psalm 40:1-3)

Being thirsty is being in a state of dissatisfaction or discomfort, when you are not happy with the state you are in or you have a need that is not being fulfilled. But, being dissatisfied can lead to bad decisions as well as we see in other instances in the Bible; Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery because of their jealousy, Cain murdered Abel out of spite, and Eve took the forbidden fruit because of her curiosity. Dissatisfaction leads you to look for more in the wrong places. However, by humbly submitting yourself to the obedience of God’s will and perfect plan, and panting for God rather than the things of this world your path will be established with wonderful works. 

“Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.” (Psalm 40:5)

In John it is promised that we will never be thirsty when we drink from the water of everlasting life. The temporary moments of dissatisfaction should be outweighed by the amount of blessings and provision God has promised and provided for us. Our thirst for God should be continually quenched through following His will. 

Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” (John 4:13-14)

Sara, Jeremiah, and Lexi Scates

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No Directions, Just Faith … by Lexi Scates

Today’s Passage – Judges 18 – 19 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)

(Second Milers also read – Revelation 1 – 3;  Proverbs 26Psalms 126 – 130)

Listen to this morning’s Scripture song –  Psalm 61:1 – 3

Read the “0326 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

“And they said unto him, Ask counsel, we pray thee, of God, that we may know whether our way which we go shall be prosperous. And the priest said unto them, Go in peace: before the LORD is your way wherein ye go.” (Judges 18:5-6)

In the beginning of chapter 18 it prefaces how during this time in Israel there was no king, and the tribe of the Danites were seeking a place to dwell. They were looking for success with their next steps and they wanted a clear path on how to get there. But, they had no leader, no guidance, and no sense of direction. The Danites seek the prayer and guidance of a priest, and the priest gives them an answer that is never easy to hear. To simply take the steps in your journey and the directions will come from God. I cannot count how many times I have asked God about the next steps, the game plan, and the end goal when clearly He just wants us to go… No questions asked, no map, no final destination but just go. I am a planner, I like setting goals, I like overthinking, and I like knowing where I am heading to the point where I stress immensely until I know exactly how it will go. But how easy would it be to just take the small steps of faith, and let God lead “wherein ye go”. 

“And they said, Arise, that we may go up against them: for we have seen the land, and, behold, it is very good: and are ye still? be not slothful to go, and to enter to possess the land. When ye go, ye shall come unto a people secure, and to a large land: for God hath given it into your hands; a place where there is no want of any thing that is in the earth.” (Judges 18:9-10)

The Danites were delivered into a land that was better than anything they could have thought, created, or planned and surely better than they deserved. When we put our trust in Him and take our hands off, God will give us His better plans into our hands. Although the fear of not knowing and not having total control can be unbearable, knowing there is a God who will take complete control is a settling thought. Taking a leap of faith and letting Him lead will bring us to a place of no disappointment “a place where there is no want of anything”. Therefore having “no directions”, but faith can lead to an amazing destination.

Lexi Scates and Hannah Erickson

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