Evening, September 19
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“For this child I prayed.”
1 Samuel 1:27
Devout souls delight to look upon those mercies which they have obtained
in answer to supplication, for they can see God’s especial love in them. When we can name our blessings Samuel, that
is, “asked of God,” they will be as dear to us as her child was to Hannah. Peninnah had
many children, but they came as common blessings unsought in prayer:
Hannah’s one heaven-given child was dearer far, because he was the fruit
of earnest pleadings. How sweet was that water to Samson which he
found at “the well of him that prayed!” Quassia cups turn all waters bitter, but the cup of prayer puts a
sweetness into the draughts it brings. Did we pray for the conversion
of our children? How doubly sweet, when they are saved, to see in
them our own petitions fulfilled! Better to rejoice over them as the
fruit of our pleadings than as the fruit of our bodies. Have we sought
of the Lord some choice spiritual gift? When it comes to us it will
be wrapped up in the gold cloth of God’s faithfulness and truth, and so be doubly precious. Have we petitioned
for success in the Lord’s work? How joyful is the prosperity which comes flying upon the wings
of prayer! It is always best to get blessings into our house in the
legitimate way, by the door of prayer; then they are blessings indeed,
and not temptations. Even when prayer speeds not, the blessings grow
all the richer for the delay; the child Jesus was all the more lovely
in the eyes of Mary when she found him after having sought him sorrowing.
That which we win by prayer we should dedicate to God, as Hannah dedicated
Samuel. The gift came from heaven, let it go to heaven. Prayer brought
it, gratitude sang over it, let devotion consecrate it. Here will
be a special occasion for saying, “Of thine own have I given unto thee.” Reader, is prayer your element or your weariness? Which?