MONDAY 10TH MAY 2021 MORNING
1 Samuel 1:11-18 New International Version (NIV)
11 And she made a vow, saying, “Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.”
12 As she kept on praying to the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. 13 Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk 14 and said to her, “How long are you going to stay drunk? Put away your wine.”
15 “Not so, my lord,” Hannah replied, “I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the Lord. 16 Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief.”
17 Eli answered, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.”
18 She said, “May your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast.
Have you ever been to a place where God was the only person you could turn to? Have you ever cried bitterly before God? Maybe it has not been so long ago. Maybe you are there now. Hannah had only one place to turn.
The message here is not about having children or not having children; it is seeing a sovereign God and coming to Him with empty hands and a broken heart. God loves people in such situation.
JUMATATU TAREHE 10 MEI 2021 ASUBUHI
1 SAMWELI 1:11-18
11 Akaweka nadhiri, akasema, Ee Bwana wa majeshi, ikiwa wewe utaliangalia teso la mjakazi wako, na kunikumbuka, wala usinisahau mimi mjakazi wako, na kunipa mimi mjakazi wako mtoto mume, ndipo mimi nitakapompa Bwana huyo mtoto siku zote za maisha yake, wala wembe hautamfikilia kichwani kamwe.
12 Ikawa, hapo alipodumu kuomba mbele za Bwana, Eli akamwangalia kinywa chake.
13 Basi Hana alikuwa akinena moyoni mwake; midomo yake tu ilionekana kama anena, sauti yake isisikiwe; kwa hiyo huyo Eli alimdhania kuwa amelewa.
14 Ndipo Eli akamwambia, Je! Utakuwa mlevi hata lini? Achilia mbali divai yako.
15 Hana akajibu, akasema, Hasha! Bwana wangu, mimi ni mwanamke mwenye roho ya huzuni, mimi sikunywa divai wala kileo, ila nimeimimina roho yangu mbele za Bwana.
16 Usimdhanie mjakazi wako kuwa ni mwanamke asiyefaa kitu; kwa kuwa katika wingi wa kuugua kwangu na kusikitika kwangu ndivyo nilivyonena hata sasa.
17 Ndipo Eli akajibu, akasema, Enenda kwa amani; na Mungu wa Israeli akujalie haja yako uliyomwomba.
18 Naye akasema, Mjakazi wako na aone kibali machoni pako. Basi huyo mwanamke akaenda zake, naye akala chakula, wala uso wake haukukunjamana tena.
Je, umewahi kuwa katika mazingira ambapo Mungu pekee ndiye alibaki kuwa kimbilio lako? Imewahi kutokea ukalia kwa uchungu mbele za Mungu? Inawezekana hujakutana na hali hiyo kwa muda mrefu sasa, au ndiyo hali unayopitia kwa sasa. Hannah alikuwa na sehemu moja tu ya kukimbilia.
Ujumbe tunaopewa hapa siyo kuwa au kutokuwa na watoto. Jambo kuu ni kuuona Ukuu wa Mungu; na kuja kwake tukiwa na mikono mitupu; na mioyo iliyopondeka. Mungu anawapenda watu walio katika mazingira kama hayo.
