
GOD ALONE

I Samuel 1:1-20
I know persons may be asking how this reading relates to our period of fasting but there is a strong message for all of us to learn from this beautiful passage of scripture.
When we know with all our heart (“yeah, not some all”) that the solution for our desperate situation resides with only one person, we will call, write, bang down the door if necessary, to get the help we need. We will only act in this manner when we are convinced that the solution is with only one person.
The Bible shares with us several accounts of various individuals whose deep faith that God was their only Source of help caused them to “bang the door” of heaven. Their prayers were fueled by their total trust in God and Him alone.
Hannah was one such individual who along with her husband were childless for nineteen years, during which time she prayed for a child to no avail. It was only when her husband exclaimed, “Why aren’t you eating? Why be downhearted just because you have no children? You have me—isn’t that better than having ten sons?” that Hannah realized he no longer had any hope of her having a child.
Hannah then poured out her heart to the Lord, convinced that only a miracle would enable her to have a child. Hannah did not merely ask the Lord for help, she placed all her hope and trust in Him, knowing that only God could grant her a miracle.
Because she changed her attitude and placed her entire trust in the Lord, she got more than she requested. She was blessed with a son who became a unique leader. He was instrumental in anointing David as king over Israel whose dynasty will reign forever.
I encouraged us to lift our spirit and direct our hearts to the only Source that can answer our dilemma. Bang down the door if you must but don’t stop until He answers.
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PRAY * FAST * SEEK HIS FACE

*2 Chronicles 7: 13-14*
*2Chr. 7:13* At times I might shut up the heavens so that no rain falls, or command grasshoppers to devour your crops, or send plagues among you.
*Isaiah 55:7-9*
*Is. 55:6* Seek the LORD while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near.
*Is. 55:7* Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong.
Let them turn to the LORD that he may have mercy on them.
Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously.
*Is. 55:8* “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the LORD.
“And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.
*Is. 55:9* For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.
*2Chr. 7:13* _At times I might shut up the heavens so that no rain falls, or command grasshoppers to devour your crops, or send plagues among you._
The first thing we need to understand from this passage of scripture is that God is the Sovereign One overall his creation. He does not act randomly or unjustly to his people. This verse teaches us that such acts in the material realm is directly connected to the actions of man.
- He shuts up the heavens so that no rain may fall.
- He commands grasshoppers to devour the crops
- He sends plagues among his people
It is incumbent on us to recognize that the Sovereign Lord has acted in this manner to produce good results. The purpose is to get our attention to recognize our error and quickly repent. Before He decrees these calamities God by His attribute of mercy has beforehand created a solution.
*2Chr. 7:14* _Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land._
*If my people …* God demonstrates ownership
*Called by my name …* His mark is upon our lives
*Humble themselves …* Get real, recognize how finite we are and how infinite our Great God is. There is a fixed principle, He cannot share fellowship with us because of our pride.
God *will* act favorably only if we meet these conditions.
*Humble ourselves* – We cannot pray if we aren’t humble, refuses to hear the proud.
*Pray* – God’s ears are open to the prayers of his people.
*Seek my face* – Be fully convinced in your heart that he is the answer, the way and seek him diligently.
*Turn* – Repent of our lawless actions that have become a lifestyle. Not just to be sorry but broken over our sins.
God promises that He will hear form heaven and forgive us of our sins and heal our lands.
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