Freely Speaking - Devotional by Angela Gray
Welcome to Freely Speaking, an OHSOFREE devotional ministry where we share our hearts and trust God for transformation.
Today’s devotional is written by Angela Gray, and narrated by Angela Gray.
“For this child, I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition that I made to him.” (1 Samuel 1:27, ESV).
I was raised in a Christian home, and I decided to love and follow Jesus at an early age. But life happened. Hurt and disappointment left my heart bitter, and I turned away from following the Lord.
When I was 18, I refused to go to church anymore. Even though I knew it broke my mom’s heart, she didn’t respond with criticism, judgment, or ultimatums. That would have pushed me further away. Instead, she prayed.
Each night as I passed by her bedroom door, I could hear the muffled cries of my mother praying. I still remember the night I finally stopped for a moment and listened as my mother prayed for me. “God, she was your child before she was mine. You gave her to me, but I gave her back to you. Now, Lord, soften her heart and bring her back to you.”
Today’s scripture is Hannah's joyful exclamation as she praises God for answering her prayer. After years of being unable to bear a child, Hannah had desperately prayed that God would give her a son. God answered Hannah’s prayer. Hannah gave birth to a son and named him Samuel, whose name means “Heard by God.” She went on to “give” that child back to the Lord to serve the Lord all his days.
Hearing my mother pray for me many years ago softened my hard heart, and, as God promised in the book of Ezekiel, He gave me a new heart, and I returned to Him.
I have prayed the same prayer my mother prayed for me over each of my own children, reminding God that they belonged to Him first, and reminding myself that He is a God who hears my prayers. I have seen Him soften their hearts and bring them back to Him just like He did for me.
Is there someone in your life who doesn’t know the LORD or has turned away from following Him? Mother, Sister, or Friend—Keep on praying for your loved ones. Your prayers are “heard by God.”
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