AGAIN I SAY REJOICE

AGAIN I SAY REJOICE  

 And Hannah prayed and said: “My heart rejoices in the Lord; My horn is exalted in the Lord. I smile at my enemies, because I rejoice in Your salvation. No one is holy like the Lord, for there is none besides You, nor is there any rock like our God. Talk no more so very proudly; let no arrogance come from your mouth, for the Lord is the God of knowledge; and by Him actions are weighed. The bows of the mighty men are broken, and those who stumbled are girded with strength. Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, and the hungry have ceased to hunger. Even the barren has borne seven, and she who has many children has become feeble.”    1 Samuel 2:1-5

At the heart of refreshing prayer is rejoicing.  When my heart rejoices, I find myself smiling at everyone, friends and strangers alike. Why?  Because my heart is not focused on what they think about me; it’s focused on the Lord, and what He has done for me.  I rejoice in the salvation He has given me.   

I also rejoice in who He is.  There is no one holy like the Lord, nor is there any rock like our God.  I have no reason to boast or speak with pride, for the Lord weighs my actions.  The Lord delights in broken people who do not speak with pride or arrogance.  Those who stumble are girded with strength; those who think they are already strong are left empty. Those who were hungry have ceased to hunger, while those who were full are now hungry.  Their dependence on the Lord has pulled them through.    

THINK ABOUT THESE THINGS 

When my heart rejoices, I gain strength from exalting in the Lord.  Hannah chose to focus her heart on the Lord through refreshing prayer.  She rejected the deadly sins of pride and arrogance and lifted up the Lord for who He was to her: her Savior and Her Rock.   

When I engage my heart in refreshing prayer, I need to do the same thing.  If my mind is in lofty places thinking about what I want to do for God, then I won’t be able to hear Him when He tells me what He wants from me.      

What He wants from me right now is the same He received from Hannah: a rejoicing heart and prayer focused on Him.  Is my heart ready to deliver?    

Lord, please bless my heart, so I focus on You and what You want instead of what I desire to give to You.  I pray my rejoicing and praise will bless You and, in turn, will inspire those around me to lift up the name of Jesus.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.