10-13-2024 Lent to the Lord (1 Samuel 1:9-11, 19-20; 2:1-10)

Lent to the Lord1 Samuel 1:9-11, 19-20; 2:1-10Judges 21:25 In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did whatever seemed right to him.1 Samuel 1:9-119 On one occasion, Hannah got up after they ate and drank at Shiloh. The priest Eli was sitting on a chair by the doorpost of the Lord’s temple. 10 Deeply hurt, Hannah prayed to the Lord and wept with many tears. 11 Making a vow, she pleaded, “Lord of Armies, if you will take notice of your servant’s affliction, remember and not forget me, and give your servant a son, I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and his hair will never be cut.”We want to know that we are loved, seen, heard, remembered, and known by God."I am making a vow, Lord of Armies, please look at me and see my pain, hear me and remember me, and make me known by answering my prayer by giving me a son..."Truths from the Story of Hannah:• Hannah believed in the future God could create, even when her situation seemed barren and hopeless.• God brings new life from barren places.• Hope rises from hopelessness.• Despair is transformed into thanksgiving and praise.What can we learn from Hannah? 1) We learn to bring our deepest needs to God.• Hannah teaches us that true peace comes from trusting God beyond our control.• New possibility in our lives comes from God, not from us.2) We learn the power of persistence and trust in claiming God's grace.• New possibility in our lives comes from God, not from us.3) The right response to God's grace is to give it back.