Nov 29

When God requires us to give up something we deeply desire, such as a spouse, or a children, he does so out of love. For no matter how greatly we desire a family and love, or anything else in life for that matter, he knows that nothing can compare with the love that we can find in him alone. He knows this, but often we do not, and so there may be a period of testing and learning, when we learn this crucial truth of life through things that seem hard to us at the time we go through them.

But if we are faithful to God and sincerely do give up our attachment to these people we love, we will find that God is faithful to us and honors this surrender and love for him. In both Leah's case and Hannah's, once they surrendered their heart's desires to God and sought God's first, they were rewarded not only with a deeper relationship with God but with children as well.

Leah did stop having children after she finally began putting God first, but later God allowed her to begin bearing again. Was the time in between a time of testing which God directed her through to see how real was her commitment to him? I don't know. But if he had never allowed her to have more children, she would still have been better off for having returned to her God, for he is always the greatest reward we can have.

Thus God often rewards us for submitting to his sometimes painful trials by returning to us the very thing we had given up in order to draw closer to him. But even if he were not to do this, the true worshipper of God and the one who truly loves him knows that the reward of God alone is enough. He is the infinite God of love and the one who realizes this and gives up all for him will find great reward in him alone.

Scripture for today: 1 Samuel 1:1-20
Thought for today: God is more to be desired than any of his gifts.
Prayer for today: Lord, I value my love relationship with you more than any of the wonderful gifts you give me, including my own children and spouse or anyone else I hold dear. You come first, Lord, above all the other attachments of my heart.

NOV 29