Daily Devotion for February 23, 2010
Prayers
Scripture
Lord's Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever.
Prayer for the Morning
Oh Lord, most heavenly Father, Almighty and everlasting God, who has safely brought me to the beginning of this day; I give you thanks for my creation, preservation, and all the blessings of my life. Grant that this day I fall into no sin, neither run into any kind of danger; but that all my doings, being governed by your will, may be righteous in your sight. Through Christ our Lord, I pray.
Prayer from Psalm 86
Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer; and attend to the voice of my supplications.In the day of my trouble I will call upon you: for you will answer me.
Among the gods there is none like you, O Lord; and no works like those you have done.
All nations whom you have made will come and worship before you, O Lord; and will glorify your name.
For you are great, and do wondrous things: you are God alone.
Teach me your way, Lord, and I will walk in your truth: unite my heart to fear your name.
I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify your name forever.
Community of Prayer
The Lord bless us and keep us. The Lord make his face to shine upon us, and be gracious unto us. The Lord lift up his countenance upon us, and give us peace, this day and evermore.
Think of the day ahead in terms of God with you, and visualize health, strength, guidance, purity, calm confidence, and victory as the gifts of His presence.
1 Samuel 2:1-11
Hannah's Prayer
And Hannah prayed, saying:I can reply to my enemies, because I rejoice in your salvation.
There is none holy as the LORD, for there is none beside you; there is no rock like our God.
End the exceeding pride of your speech; let no arrogance escape your mouth; for the LORD is the God of knowledge, and he will weigh your actions.
The bows of mighty men are broken, and the lame are girded with strength.
Those with full bellies have hired out themselves for bread; and they that were hungry are filled. The barren have born seven; and she that has many children is become feeble.
The LORD kills, and makes alive: he brings down to the grave, and brings up.
The LORD makes poor, and makes rich: he brings low, and lifts up.
He raises up the poor out of the dust, and lifts up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD's, and he has set the world upon them.
He will guard the very feet of his saints, but the wicked will be silenced in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.
The enemies of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the LORD will judge the ends of the earth; and he will give strength unto his king, and exalt his anointed.
Elkanah went to Ramah to his house. And the child Samuel ministered to the LORD before Eli the priest.
Notes on the Scripture
Hannah's prayer is reminiscent of Christ's teachings, in places, with its message that God may bring down the proud and mighty, and lift a begger off a dunghill to set him among princes. She, of course, has been the recipient of such an act; her prayers were answered when she bore Samuel.
Although much of her prayer is undistinguished, it is very ancient, and there are some very nice verses towards the end.
We will continue with Samuel's story tomorrow, when things begin to heat up between him and Eli's feckless sons.
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