The Longing of her heart!

I would like to create circles through Hannah’s life – my favorite woman character in the Bible who is well known as the “The Mother who prayed”. Hannah’s sorrow, longing, desperation and faith placed a mark in my soul.

Getting familiar with Hannah, here’s the anecdote…

Hannah, a beautiful name that means “grace”, was a very ordinary woman who lived in an extraordinary time – a wife, mother and homemaker. She was married to a man named Elkanah who dearly loved her but he also had another wife. The other wife, Peninnah, had children but  not Hannah – “the Lord had closed her womb” a barren woman. The story begins in 1 Samuel 1:1.

Heart’s desire – Grace – Desperation – Purpose

Amplifying the circles with these points I learned from her journey as a woman – Hannah, a woman of prayer.

Heart’s Desire

What was her heart’s desire?

Since she was a barren woman, she begged and wept bitterly and prayed for a son.

1 Samuel 1:10 “In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly.”

She was driven to prayer by the lack of a child – it was a great sorrow to her. She entered into the Lord's tabernacle to pray  for her deepest need. She even made a vow before God, a promise to God that if she bore a son, she would give him back for God's service. Hannah followed through on that promise and God was honored.

Like Hannah, we have our own unique desires. We strongly wish for something. Are you aware that God knows our deepest desires? He’s just waiting for a drive to pray – an approach before His throne.

Psalms 37:4 says.. Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Hannah delighted herself in the Lord and God has blessed her with a son named Samuel – her deepest longing.

Are we getting what we want through our own strength and out of God’s will? Let’s examine our hearts.

Grace

Hannah’s life is a living example of grace and how we receive it.

Grace means to find favor even though it hasn’t been or deserved. Hannah didn’t do anything to receive God’s blessings. She simply cried out to Him to help her and had faith that He would – the grace of God did the rest.

Ephesians 2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.

God’s grace is enough! His love is free of conditions – we just need to rely solely upon His grace!

Desperation

Hannah’s prayer was true pleading to the Lord, with many tears – out of a desperate heart.

1 Samuel 1:5-16 “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.”

Hannah poured out her heart to God and asked with great desperation. God found her heart – God was pleased in her desperation which was surrendered in prayer.

Hannah’s perseverance is astounding! She never stopped praying and never doubted God’s abilities. She kept praying through her pain.

"Desperation meets Faith"

When desperation meets faith

The curse is broken

A closed mind is open

Words of healing are spoken

When desperation meets faith

Jesus moves with compassion

Something good starts to happen

When desperation meets faith

Purpose

For many such “barren women”, life could have no purpose for them. God will use us and our lives for His greater purposes. God used Hannah’s barrenness to meet her in the midst of her trouble.

As I have discussed in my previous post, we are closer to God when we are brokenhearted. Hannah grabbed this opportunity to become closer to God and experience His unfailing love. God closed her womb to see what would produce – it was indeed God’s power! We can stand up like Hannah - just seek, surrender to God and allow desperation to show.

God delights in our prayers when they are spoken from the heart.

God can find such a heart!

PRINCESS - Daughter of a Heavenly King

During my naive years I have loved watching Princess Sarah, Snow White and Cinderella.. I'm amazed on how a princess can be.. Oh, I'm still hooked on Tangled as well. All were just a fancy and a vision.

Recently, while I was browsing some spiritual books for women, God allowed me to discover a book entitled "His Princess.. Love Letters from your King". This is a compilation of letters from our Heavenly King. I am looking forward to having a hard copy of this very heart-whelming material by Sheri Rose. You can get a daily letter online here Today's Love Letter. Let me share the particular letter which initially helped me identify my royalty ;)
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
My Princess... my chosen one,

I chose you before the foundation of the earth to be My princess. You are royalty even when you don't feel like a princess. I will wait for you until you are ready to start living the amazing plans I have for you. I know you don't know where to begin or how to become what I've called you to be, so let Me teach you day by day. Start by recognizing who I am: King of kings and Lord of lord. The Lover of your soul. When the two of us meet alone together, everyday I will show you how to let go of the things in your life that are holding back from the blessing I want to give you. Remember, My child, just as I have chosen you, I have given you a choice to represent Me to the world. If you are willing, I am here to give you all you need to complete your calling.

 

Love,
Your King and Lord who chose you

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

As I reflect and seek my worth as a woman and a daughter, God impressed me that He has chosen me - His precious princess who fashioned me with love. The discovery that I am a royalty is a "wow!" Who can profess that an ordinary woman can be a princess? I thought everything would just be an imagination. I thought this is just a fantasy - present in my dreams.

It's impressive how my Heavenly King sees my needs and desires, how he pursues and satisfies my heart. What a great joy when you discover and accept that you are a unique princess - daughter of a Heavenly King - God's chosen and special possession...

1 Peter 2:9

"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood,
a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the
praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light".

A Strong Woman vs. A Woman Of Strength

Proverbs 31:10 Who shall find a strong woman? the price of her is far, and from the last ends.
  

She believed she could so she did! - This attitude and proclamation was my all-time favorite drive. A strong woman believes that she's strong enough to face her journey... but a woman of strength has faith that it is in this journey that she will become strong!

God is so generous in giving strength to those who seek for it - humbling before God, admitting that our own capabilities are not enough to conquer everything. It's not really enough that you're just strong. Every woman could declare that they're but are they really a woman of strength? 

I've been enlightened by the poem written by Luke Easter. He emphasized that a strong woman is different from a woman of strength.

Sharing the first 3 stanzas...

A Strong Woman vs. A Woman Of Strength

A strong woman works out every day,
Pride in her appearance she portrays,
But a woman of strength kneels to pray,
Her soul in shape, God leading the way.

A strong woman claims she isn't afraid of anything,
Looking forward to challenges each day will bring,
Women of strength show courage in the midst of fear,
Declaring triumph through faith because God is near.

Strong women won't let anyone get the best of them,
So skilled in defenses even if they have to pretend,
Yet a woman of strength gives her best to everyone,
And even on a cloud filled day still bright as the sun.

Poetic Tribute Highlight:

A woman of strength understands that it's not about material stuff,
Knowing that before becoming a diamond first she'll be in the rough.

A woman of strength concerns herself not with judgment from others,
And will not let business interfere with commitments as a wife and mother.

A woman of strength is assured trust in God will always carry her through,
And at the Creator's appointed time she'll receive all that is justly due.

The woman of strength realizes life's mistakes no matter how slim,
While thanking God for the blessings as she capitalizes on them.

A woman of strength knows God will catch her when she falls,
So when a situation arises again, she's not afraid to answer the call.

The woman of strength competes with an emotional sense of grace,
Understanding it's more important to run a Holy Spirit filled race.

A woman of strength knows it's in the journey she will become strong,
And the love of God is forever with her, no matter how difficult or long.

A woman of strength will compromise as a little give and take is needed,
Why? Because a lesson not learned the first time is soon to be repeated.

Wow! There's so much difference!Strength of a woman can be seen by her personality, perspective and spirituality. Circumstances reveal her character.

Are you sure that God is pleased on how you show your strength? Is it with complete reliance on Him?

A virtuous woman is a woman of strength - more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her.

Fashioned for Significance

with my "Stage Mother" :D

Caring, loving, diligent, incomparable, vigorous, noble, patient, hero, all encompassing, wonder woman and a lot more! No doubt, I am describing a woman of worth - Mommy, Mother, Mom, Ma, Ima, Nanay or whatever you call them.

Yes, this is the season of remembering our great moms.
I am convinced that they really deserve to be honored not just for who they are but how they accept and act their worth as a mother. As I write about feminism, motherhood stands out in my thoughts. Not yet a mother but I would understand how significant are they in the lives of every mankind.

Seeing and feeling her love for the past 26 years, words aren't enough to exalt her.
God is so generous that He thought of creating a unique woman who can be an extension of His unfathomable grace and love. How blessed are we for having great moms who have been so sacrificial even while we were still inside their womb. Sometimes, I can't imagine how she has managed to carry and nurture me for 9 months - incomparable sacrifice!

How I appreciate my mother whenever she prepares my "food/baon", how she monitors me, how she makes "sermons", how she would keep herself wide awake to wait for me to come home at late night, how she converse with me about heart/relational matters and especially how she pursued to build and nurture our family.

God has fashioned "Mothers" for significance. He knows that we need an affection of a mother.
I believe you'll agree with me if I say they're indeed significant.

Proverbs 31 illustrates the wife of noble character - highlighting these passages...

Proverbs 31:25-30
Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.”

I would greatly attest that we have a visible treasure that is so priceless!
I also completely understand that mother knows best! All she wants is to bring us good all the days of our lives - let's appreciate and love them more..

Happy Mother's Day to all moms out there! God bless =)