Day 11 - Thursday, October 22nd
LIFE Journal
This Week's Memory Verse
Blessed are those who fear the Lord, who find great delight in His commands. Psalm 112:1
Devotional
Some of the most powerful prayers ever prayed are for those who have been to the depths and have had God redeem their life’s story. From the hard seasons, praise for who God is and what He has done can emerge out of the most difficult of places.
In the Old Testament, we meet a woman named Hannah. She had a loving husband, Elkanah, who also had another wife as the cultural norms of those times allowed. (But, all men could attest that having two wives simultaneously is never a good idea.) Elkanah’s other wife Peninnah had several children, while Hannah had none.
In those days, a woman’s worth and value was determined much in part to her ability to conceive children and so the fact that her womb was barren caused Hannah so much sadness and grief. Her sorrow was only compounded by the fact that Peninnah would cruelly tease and taunt Hannah about the fact that she was childless. For years this treatment continued so imagine the inexplicable joy Hannah felt when she finally did become pregnant and gave birth to a son.
Prayers of praise remind us where we’ve been and what God has done. And Hannah’s prayer was an example of the kind of praise that revels in who God is and what He has done for us: “My heart rejoices in the Lord; in the Lord my horn is lifted high. My mouth boasts over my enemies, for I delight in your deliverance. There is no one holy like the Lord; there is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God.” 1 Samuel 2:1-2 NIV
Maybe you’ve just come out of a challenging season or maybe things are just going really well in your life, either way, make it a habit to praise God for what He has and is doing in your life.
Think On This Verse:
Praise the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness. Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with timbrel and dancing, praise him with the strings and pipe, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.
Psalm 150:1-6
Ask and Answer:
What can you praise God for right now, no matter what your current circumstances are? In what ways has He delivered you? What acts of His power have you seen take place in your life? In what ways has He revealed His greatness? What past prayers has He answered like He did for Hannah?
In the Old Testament, we meet a woman named Hannah. She had a loving husband, Elkanah, who also had another wife as the cultural norms of those times allowed. (But, all men could attest that having two wives simultaneously is never a good idea.) Elkanah’s other wife Peninnah had several children, while Hannah had none.
In those days, a woman’s worth and value was determined much in part to her ability to conceive children and so the fact that her womb was barren caused Hannah so much sadness and grief. Her sorrow was only compounded by the fact that Peninnah would cruelly tease and taunt Hannah about the fact that she was childless. For years this treatment continued so imagine the inexplicable joy Hannah felt when she finally did become pregnant and gave birth to a son.
Prayers of praise remind us where we’ve been and what God has done. And Hannah’s prayer was an example of the kind of praise that revels in who God is and what He has done for us: “My heart rejoices in the Lord; in the Lord my horn is lifted high. My mouth boasts over my enemies, for I delight in your deliverance. There is no one holy like the Lord; there is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God.” 1 Samuel 2:1-2 NIV
Maybe you’ve just come out of a challenging season or maybe things are just going really well in your life, either way, make it a habit to praise God for what He has and is doing in your life.
Think On This Verse:
Praise the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness. Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with timbrel and dancing, praise him with the strings and pipe, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.
Psalm 150:1-6
Ask and Answer:
What can you praise God for right now, no matter what your current circumstances are? In what ways has He delivered you? What acts of His power have you seen take place in your life? In what ways has He revealed His greatness? What past prayers has He answered like He did for Hannah?
Prayer
God, you are so good and powerful. Your works are incredible. Your faithfulness is amazing. You’ve delivered me in so many ways, most of which I may never know. Help me to praise you with every breath I breathe. Help me to see your undeniable strength and unending kindness in my life. Amen.