WORDS

Kneel For God

Pray, seek, insist, vow if it is necessary, but keep your hope because your victory comes

26/09/2017

By: Obispo Jorge Pinheiro

Praying is important and it`s very good. In 1 Samuel 1.9, we read about Ana`s prayer, who was already dire straits. When someone gets to this point, it`s because life doesn`t bring joy anymore; the heart is tied in shame; we are surrounded by humiliation and evil things. The Bible talks about a town called Jericho where the waters were bitter. Ana`s life was bitter because she wanted to have a baby. At that time, it was an honor to have a baby. A barren woman used to undergo prejudice, and discrimination. Woman`s nature is to have children, but rare exceptions, every woman looks forward to having a baby. Unfortunately, today, even some men want to run away from their nature and they want a pregnancy. Ana used to see her friends and acquaintances pregnant; at her home, another woman also humiliated and mocked her because her rival could have children, but she couldn`t. She was regarded as dry inside, in other words, unable to have a baby. This condition made her sad and dire straits. She opened her heart to God. Psalm 30.10, David talks about having help in God. He is the One who turns wailing into dancing. Ana was under wailing, humiliated when she prayed for God. That`s what God wants to do with you too, the one who has cried inconsolably. He wants to turn your sadness into joy and your wailing into dancing.

Although under a bitter condition, Ana went to the Lord`s House and vowed. She exalted God and humiliated herself under His hands. The entrance door to be answered by God is humiliation. If you are haughty and think you have the right over any condition, you make conditions worse for yourself. In her vow, She asked for a son and she would give him to God and wouldn`t cut his hair.

The priest Eli made a mistake when he judged Ana regarding her drunk. The human being is complicated. Ana wasn`t calling the attention or disturbing; she didn`t even make any sound, she just cried before God. But, that man considering her look judged her drunk. That`s the way the world behaves; they judge, sentence, don`t care. That`s why we have to be careful with what we say about others in order not to judge them or sentence them. Jesus warned us better not to judge. Eli called Ana`s attention and it was his biggest mistake. Thank God she was humble because I have already seen many troublemakers at God`s house. She justified herself calmly and it extinguishes fierce. She passes the wrong image and because of that, we mustn`t judge through the look. After seeing she was praying and kneeling for God, the priest blessed her. Ana did it right, you also have to cry at the Lord`s feet, not before men. Kneel before God and He will exalt you. Never tell other people your problems, just tell them to the Lord Ana left the church differently, and everyone who comes to the church leaves differently too. We pray, we see miracles, worship, and feel happy before God. So, it`s so good to congregate because of that. Pay attention to what Ana ate because when people are afflicted, they never eat. Ana asked God to remember of her and she had a son whose name was Samuel. She got the son she wanted so much, the son of her dreams, that woman`s wish and hope. After Samuel, she had many other children. Samuel, her son, became the greatest prophet, the man who anointed the first king of Israel, Saul, after that, he anointed David, the biggest king of all others from Israel. God used Samuel`s life while his life was a miracle. His mother was barren and the change in her life was a miracle, which came after her vow and humiliating herself before God. If you want something big, make a vow, seek, do your best. Ana didn`t live in the same place where the temple was located. She used to go there to cry for God. Do your best and seek God`s house. Ana wasn`t answered immediately, but she did her best. For many years, Ana suffered a lot. There was a moment when she reached what she was looking for through prayers. Never allow your hope to come to the end. There are cases we receive what we want immediately and things that take a long time for us to receive. When you persevere, at the right time and moment, your victory comes. Seek and never give up because the One who promised is faithful.