Reading: 1 Samuel 1:1-18; Mark 14:37-39
As I nodded to sleep for about the fifth time during reading my Bible, I began to get frustrated at myself. I wanted to spend time with the Lord, but my body would not allow me to do so. I kept reading the same line over and over again. My body was so tired that I couldn't even get through a full line before I began to nod off again. Forget trying to get the concept of what I was reading. I couldn't even go through the motions of reading. So I closed my Bible and thought to myself, "I give up, I am not being productive, I might as well get ready to go to work." So that is what I did. It was on my way in to work that the Lord revealed to me the topic for this blog. And it was then that I thought, "Could it be that there was something productive about my nodding off after all? Could it be that the Lord was teaching me a lesson once again?" Several days ago He led me to 1 Samuel 1:1-18 where it talks about Hannah's distress over not having children, in particular a son. Admiration of Hannah has always been on my heart when I read this story. I've always admired how she cried out bitterly to the Lord then left the temple with out another worry about her situation. I've heard all kinds of reasons why she was no longer sad after leaving the temple. Some say it is because her husband, Elkanah, gave her a double portion and since Hannah knew this she knew that the Lord would look favorably upon her. Others say that it was because Eli told her that God would grant her request. I feel like it was Hannah's spirit finally growing to the point of overcoming her body's burdens that drew her to no longer be sad.
Looking back over the Scripture we see that Hannah was led by a very devout Jew. Elkanah regularly went to the temple to sacrafice to the Lord. This devotion was certainly displayed in front of Hannah at home and this is why I feel Hannah was led to the temple to petition the Lord. Year after year she had been burdened with a closed womb. Year after year she endured the taunting from Peninnah, whose womb was not closed. However, when she finally cried out bitterly to the Lord and said, "Lord, if You give me a son, a son that I will love more than anything, then I will give him back to You" then the Lord knew she was ready. For now Hannah's willing spirit had brought her fleshly desires into perspective. Hannah took her willing spirit and weak body to the Lord and said, "Lord, you are the only one who can heal this body. My spirit loves you and will give back to you. Help me in healing."
So many times we take things to the Lord that we don't leave for Him to heal. Our spirit is willing, but our body (our flesh) is weak. We want the Lord to heal us, but instead in our weak state we want to take care of it ourselves or worry about it or whatever the situation may be. The Lord wants us to trust in Him fully, not partially. He wants us to bring our weak bodies to Him so He may heal them spiritually, as well as, physically. When we lay down our burdens at the foot of the cross our spirit is willing for the Lord to take care of them. Then when we rise up our body is weak wanting to take all the burdens with us. In turn, we end up like Hannah was before she left her weak body at the temple. We end up revisiting the same burdens over and over again.
Does your spirit want to get rid of a burden in your life but your body (flesh) wants to hold onto it? Do you feel like you are revisiting the same burdens over and over again? The Lord loves us greatly and He knows our heart. He knows that we are human and we are weak. However, He wants to renew our spirit and make us a new creation in Him. He wants to give you strength to overcome the flesh. Continue to take your weak body to His throne. In doing so, ask Him how you can overcome. Strengthen your spirit more and more by drawing from His perfect Spirit the Holy Spirit. Drawing from Him will allow Him to heal your weak body and you will overcome.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, as Jesus said my spirit is willing, but my body is so weak. Help me to pull my strength from You. I want to draw from Your Spirit to overcome. Help me to do so today and every day. Amen.
