"My heart rejoices in the Lord" - 1 Samuel 2:1

This statement was made by a woman named Hannah, who after months of anguished and desperate prayer, was given the son she had so longed for.  During her desperate days, she vowed to give her son back to the Lord's service if she was given her heart's desire.  She named her son, Samuel, which means "because I asked the Lord for him".  True to her word, after approximately 3 years of weaning her child, she and her husband took this child back to the temple.  She wasn't bitter or resentful, but she was gracious and joyful at the privilege.  This young boy eventually became a mighty man of God.

I feel like there is great temptation these days, especially here in America, to think our children are given to us for our own enjoyment.  We are sacrificing our marriages - the ones the Lord gave us first - and making the children the center of our homes.  John Rosemond ( I recommend PARENTING BY THE BOOK) says: "child-centered homes breed less happy parents".  Granted, our goal in life is not to be happy, but to be obedient to what the Scriptures teach.  Hannah knew her job was to love her child and serve the Lord, not serve her own selfish interests.

Secondly, I think we're inclined to say to the Lord what we want for our children rather than what the Lord has planned for our children.  In Carol Kent's book: WHEN I LAY MY ISAAC DOWN, she says:

                                   "...when we release our grasp, our relinquishment puts a
                                   stop to our manipulation of other people and releases the
                                   Holy Spirit to do the supernatural through the power of prayer...
                                   it's an act of trusting God."

Are we willing to turn over to God those things that are most precious to us in order that His purposes might be served?  Our job is to educate and release our children in the Lord's power to make a difference in the world.  Now that's something to rejoice about!

For further study:  Genesis 22:1-18, Deuteronomy 6:4-9, Psalm 37:4, Proverbs 3:5-6, 22:6, 29:17, Isaiah 66:13; Luke 1:46-55, Titus 2:4-5, Hebrews 11:6

Be blessed in your understanding of God's word!

Love,
Holly