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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Bob
Bob
2 years ago

Amen.Thank you for the reminder in your post she was ready to give all to Him,and they were ready to do anything for their God.What we must
ask ourselves are we ready.

Cindy Erickson
Cindy Erickson
2 years ago

Lexi, I finally got a chance to read your post and I have to tell you how proud I am of you! You are our daughter’s best friend and I love you very much. I pray (like I do for her) that you stay the course and that the Lord blesses you in a mighty way. Great post.

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