We have been praying for a child for some time. Each time, we prayed that God will provide us with not just a child, but one who will grow up to glorify Him and serve Him wholly. Since Elaine told me she is pregnant, I have been searching the bible for a verse of dedication. God led me to this verse: 1 Samuel 1:28 - "So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord. And he will worship the Lord there." I read the whole chapter and meditated on it. I claim this verse for my future child. This is what the Lord revealed to me:
1 Samuel 1 is about Hannah and how God gave her a child at the end. There are several points that we can all take note as future parents. Verse 7 - "This went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went to the house of the Lord,"…Despite God "closing her womb" and did not grant her any children, Hannah went to the house of the Lord year after year. Her persistence in seeking God is also reiterated in Jesus' parable about a man who persisted in asking for 3 loaves of bread from his neighbour at midnight and finally received them. We need to continually remind ourselves of God's perfect timing, infinite wisdom, limitless power and everlasting love so that we can continue to worship Him, praise Him and seek Him despite our situations and despite unanswered prayers. Verse 10 - "In bitterness of soul, Hannah wept much and prayed to the Lord." If Hannah had thought that God cannot help her, she would have stopped pleading with God. Despite her disappointments year after year, Hannah continued praying to the Lord. This showed how hardcore her faith in God is. There is no doubt in her mind that God can grant her a child, it is only whether God is willing or not. Verse 11 - "O Lord Almighty, if you will look upon your servant's misery and remember me, and not forget me but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life…." Hannah understood the meaning of procreation. To bring forth future generations of godly servants who will serve God wholeheartedly. On top of that, she took a further step by promising to dedicate her son's life wholly to God's work. That is not just a noble act. It should be the basis for Christians to bear children and to bring up their children in God-fearing manner. While Hannah's example is drastic, we as future Christian parents should know that having children is not a personal desire alone. Bringing up children to be godly servants of God is our calling as parents, and in this respect, many Christians fail. We need to have the right mindset to be godly parents for our future children and to equip ourselves to raise them and instill in them the ways of God. I believed that many parents face problems with their children's behaviours, health, poor conduct or poor results in schools, etc,because they failed to dedicate their children to God. They did not ask God to mould their children and claim these young lives for God. They are raising their children with a selfish mentality of being great doctors or lawyers, instead of pastors, missionaries or evangelists. Verses 27, 28 - "I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of Him." 28 "So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life, he will be given over to the Lord." When the time came, Hannah lived up to her end of the bargain. She brought young Samuel, as young as one-year old, to the temple to live there forever to learn to serve. While this may be an extreme example, it shows how important it is for us to honour our promises to God. I continue to claim this verse 1 Samuel 1:28 for my daughter Elizabeth and I trust that God will be pleased with her. I hold onto my faith that my God is a faithful, loving God and will heal our daughter, so that she can be a great servant of God and a great testimony of God's faithfulness.
Simon
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