“She made a vow, saying, “O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction (suffering) of Your maidservant and remember, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life; a razor shall never touch his head.” – 1 Samuel 1:11 (AMP)

There was a woman who had been childless for many years after marriage to her husband. When it felt like she wouldn’t have any child with her husband, the man, according to the acceptable culture of the time, married another woman who had children for him but despite this, the man still loved his first wife and would even do for her what should be done for she that has a child. This childless woman was Hannah. She was the first wife of Elkannah but she had no child for him. This left her in a terrible state because it was hard to bear.

But she knew the Lord and on one notable day, as they went to Shiloh for sacrifice, she poured out her heart to the Lord and even made her vow. She could have remained childless but this moment changed the course of her history. Take note here that some situations do not change until when you have prayed to the Lord truly. In her prayers, she made a vow that if the Lord would give her a son to be called hers, then she would return him to the Lord and he would live a consecrated life all of his days and would serve the Lord.

The Lord heard and He answered, for by the next year, she was with child. And after weaning the child, she returned him to the Lord as she had vowed. She kept to her vow and paid it. This here is a very important thing to take note of. When she was making the vow, she was not just being emotional, she was true and sincere and God saw her heart. There are many who pray today and even make a vow but forget all about the vow once the Lord has answered them. Doing this makes you unfaithful to the Lord.

Hannah was faithful in keeping to her words. She gave Samuel to the Lord totally, not partially. She did this because she recognized that it was God that gave her this son and so, he belongs to the Lord. You must know that whatever God gives you belongs to Him and should used to honour Him. Do not claim ownership of what God has given you but have a heart that sees that thing or person as belonging to the Lord. Be faithful to the Lord as you return to Him what He has given to you and that’s how you can truly enjoy what the Lord has given you.

Reflections: Have I been faithful in keeping to my vows before the Lord? What’s my attitude or reaction to the things the Lord has given to me? Am I selfish with them?

Confession: My heart is true and genuine therefore, every word I speak in God’s presence is without deceit and guile. I fulfill my vows before the Lord and I enjoy His blessings for me.

Related Scripture: 1 Samuel 1:1-28

Bible Reading: John 12