King James Daily Bible Study Devotional
Message Title: Here Am I
Date: Wednesday March 21, 2012
Today's Chapters: 1 Samuel 1-3

Hello My Friend,

Probably one of the biggest misconceptions about God is that He does not answer all our prayers. The truth is He answers every prayer, He just rarely answers them in the way we expect. Let me tell you how God answers prayers, I recently got a call from God to take some online classes. At the beginning of the class I thought I would have to purchase some very expensive software to continue, but got a free trial version just get through that part of the lesson. As I got down further in the lessons the instructor did all of his illustrations (and encourages the student to use it as well) on a free alternate version of the software that I already had, but did not know how to use. God knows what we need, well before we do, it's just all in His timing in how He gives it to us and our willingness to say, “Here I am.” when He calls. “Therefore I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me. Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a light unto me.” - Micah 7:7,8.

The Book of I Samuel is the ninth book of the Old Testament/Bible and contains thirty-one chapters. The author of the book is Samuel and it was written to Israel. The book records the history of three people, Samuel, the last judge of Israel, Saul, the first king, and David, who succeeds Saul as king. The time line for these events took place approximately 1171 BC to 1056 BC. The purpose of the book was to continue to record how God dealt with His people. What we are to learn from the book is the importance of being obedient to God first rather than after we have faced the consequences of sin. “And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.” - I Samuel 15:22.

Hannah was a godly, faithful woman who had everything she ever needed or dreamed of except one thing, children. She desperately wanted a child, but God had made her barren. One day, while at the Temple of the Lord she poured out her heart to God, she was praying so hard and intense that she felt the Spirit of God in her, she knew God was listen to her plea.

“And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore. And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head. And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her mouth. Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken. And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee. 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. Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto. Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him..” - I Samuel 1:10-17.

Most of the time we have to admit when we pray, we really are not expecting God to give us the things we ask for. Think about it, when asking God for money to pay a bill, even though we are asking God for it, we are counting on our source of income for the money, rather than God just giving to us. However, once in a while God gets our whole heart when praying, I am talking about the down on your knees, weeping, and running nose kind of praying. While God does hear all of our prayers, those kind are the one we know that God is with us because we feel Him there, and those are the prayers that touch His heart deeply.“The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.” - Psalm 34:15.

God heard Hannah's cry and blessed her with a son, whom she name Samuel, meaning “God has heard” and just as she promised to gave her first born to God to be raised in the Temple, she brought him to Eli where he from his birth taught him about God and the duties of a priest. Because of her sacrifice and faithfulness to God Hannah was blessed with five more children, but every year she came by to visit Samuel. “Moreover his mother made him a little coat, and brought it to him from year to year, when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice. And Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, and said, The LORD give thee seed of this woman for the loan which is lent to the LORD. And they went unto their own home. And the LORD visited Hannah, so that she conceived, and bare three sons and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before the LORD.” - I Samuel 2:19-21.

Part of receiving God's blessings is following through with the vows we make with Him. An amazing relationship with God can be formed when we are not only obedient to Him, but trust Him and are committed to Him as well. Samuel was just a little boy, perhaps he did not completely understand all that was going on with him or why he only saw his mother once a year, but he grew up knowing God had a plan for his life. God had a plan indeed, Samuel would grow up to be a priest, prophet, and a judge for Israel. Samuel was just a child when God spoke to him for the first time.

“And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision. And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see; And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep; That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I. And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down. And the LORD called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again. Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him. And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child. Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place.” - I Samuel 3:1-3.

This is a perfect illustration of how often God calls out to people, but many get too distracted from life to realize it is Him calling them. How many people do you think end up in hell because they did not heed God's voice to receive His Son? Even when living for God we can be unaware that God is calling us because we simply aren't paying attention. We need to pay attention, especially when things do not make sense, and be ready to say, “Here I am.” when God calls. “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.” - 1 Corinthians 2:9,10.

Today's Psalm: 40:1 - “I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.”

Today's Proverb: 1:5 - “A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:”

Today's Prayer: God, You have much to show me and teach me, You have great things just waiting for me, but often I get distracted and do not hear You when You are calling me. God, forgive me for being too distracted to notice, I know You will even help me if I just call You. It is my lack of communicating with You that hinders me and keeps me from seeing You do amazing things in my life. Here I am, Lord, help me to pay attention, to see the signs, to hear Your voice, even when I have a thousand other voices in my head. Help me to have faith that not only moves mountains, but crushes them. Help me to never cease from praying and to always pray believing. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Enjoy the rest of your day/night.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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