Good morning,

How do we react when God answers our prayers?

First Samuel 1-2 introduces us to Hannah. Hannah was the wife of Elkanah. She was unable to have children. Each year she and her husband would go to Shiloh, where the Tabernacle was located, to worship the Lord. Hannah is earnestly praying for a child. She prayed that if God would give her a man child, she would give him to the Lord all the days of his life.

“And she vowed a vow, and said, O Lord of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the Lord all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.” (1 Samuel 1:11)

Numbers 6:2-8 speaks of the Nazarite vow. This is the vow Hannah is referring to.

“Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When either man or woman shall separate themselves to vow a vow of a Nazarite, to separate themselves unto the Lord:³ He shall separate himself from wine and strong drink, and shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink any liquor of grapes, nor eat moist grapes, or dried.⁴ All the days of his separation shall he eat nothing that is made of the vine tree, from the kernels even to the husk.⁵ All the days of the vow of his separation there shall no razor come upon his head: until the days be fulfilled, in the which he separateth himself unto the Lord, he shall be holy, and shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow.⁶ All the days that he separateth himself unto the Lord he shall come at no dead body.⁷ He shall not make himself unclean for his father, or for his mother, for his brother, or for his sister, when they die: because the consecration of his God is upon his head.⁸ All the days of his separation he is holy unto the Lord.”

Elkanah and Hannah return home. Then, 1 Samuel 1:19-20 says,

“And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the Lord, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the Lord remembered her.²⁰ Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the Lord.”

God answered Hannah’s prayer. Hannah weans the baby and presents him to Eli, the High Priest.

“And she said, Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the Lord.²⁷ For this child I prayed; and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of him:²⁸ Therefore also I have lent him to the Lord; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the Lord. And he worshipped the Lord there.” (1 Samuel 1:26-28)

Chapter 2 records Hannah’s prayer of thanksgiving to the Lord. The prayer consists of verses 1-10. Verses 1-3 say,

“And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the Lord, mine horn is exalted in the Lord: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation. ² There is none holy as the Lord: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.³ Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.”

Her reaction to God’s answered prayer was rejoicing, exaltation, praise, worship, and an acknowledgement of God’s power and knowledge.

When God answers our prayers, whether they be big or small, do we acknowledge them like Hannah did? We should.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

 

 

 

 

Good morning,

God watches over us every day, 24/7. How do I know that? Psalm 121.

“I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.² My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.³ He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. ⁴ Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. ⁵ The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand. ⁶ The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.⁷ The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.⁸ The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.”

There is no situation that God does not know about. Trusting in the Lord is the safest place to be. The Bible shows us what is important to God.

This Psalm is a tremendous encouragement to me. I hope it is to you also.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Meditate on Psalms 119:9-16. Then ask God how to make these verses real in your life.

 Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.¹⁰ With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.¹¹ Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.¹² Blessed art thou, O Lord: teach me thy statutes.¹³ With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth.¹⁴ I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches.¹⁵ I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.¹⁶ I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Did you know that history repeats itself?

The Church today is split in different camps. Some follow this teacher as opposed to another teacher. Some Church’s believe that the Bible is God’s Holy word while others do not. Some believe it is inerrant, to be taken literally, and that it is life changing, while others see it as symbolic. Some believe that God is through with the nation of Israel, while others who read the Bible literally, know that is not the case. Divisions and strife. That is why Paul wrote to the Corinthian believers.

The Corinthian Church was involved in divisions and strife. “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” (1 Corinthians 1:10) That was Paul’s desire. Then Paul tells them how.

Preach the gospel

“For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.” (1 Corinthians 1:17) Why? Salvation “Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?²¹ For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.” (1 Corinthians 1:20-21)

Spirit of God

“Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. ¹³ Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.” (1 Corinthians 2:12-13)

Let no man glory in men

“Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.¹⁹ For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.²⁰ And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.²¹ Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are your’s;²² Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are your’s;²³ And ye are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s.” (1 Corinthians 3:18-23)

Strife and divisions are overcome by God. Salvation, allowing the Holy Spirit to teach,  and focusing on God rather than men will fix the problem of strife and division in the Church.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Dictionary.com defines a Friend as:

1.a person attached to another by feelings of affection or personal regard.

2.a person who gives assistance; patron; supporter:

3.a person who is on good terms with another; a person who is not hostile:

The Book of Ruth gives us a beautiful picture of a friend. Naomi, a Jew from Bethlehem, was in Moab because there was a famine in Bethlehem. Her husband and two sons died. She was left with the wives of her two sons, Orpah and Ruth. Naomi instructed the girls to return to their families in Moab. Orpah returned. Ruth refused to leave Naomi. She clung to Naomi.

Ruth 1:16-17 says, “And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:¹⁷ Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.” That is a true friend.

It cost Ruth to make this declaration. It cost her, her home, her family, her friends, her religion, her country, and anything else she held dear. Over ten years she had watched Naomi, her husband, her sons, and what it meant to be a Jew. It made sense to her and she embraced it. She gave up everything to be friend to Naomi.

They returned together to Bethlehem. Then Ruth began to demonstrate her love and concern for Naomi.

Ruth 2:2-3 says, “And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace. And she said unto her, Go, my daughter.³ And she went, and came, and gleaned in the field after the reapers: and her hap was to light on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz, who was of the kindred of Elimelech.” (Elimelech was Naomi’s husband)

Do we possess this kind of friendship with anyone? Ruth made a powerful statement when she was willing to give up everything for Naomi.

This should be the relationship we have with Jesus. We owe Him everything. Had He not died on the cross for us, shed His blood for our sin, was buried, and the third day rose again, we would be lost and headed for hell.

We should be clinging to Jesus and serving Him with all that we have.

Is Jesus really our best friend? Are we willing to live for Him daily, humbly, prayerfully, with adoration and praise? We should be.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

As I write this devotional, I am struggling with a situation that I do not know how to fix. When those things happen how should we react? Pray and allow God to lead. Then…

Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord. (Psalm 27:14) Then…

Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. (Psalm 37:7) Then…

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

God is in control and will answer our prayers and direct our paths.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

God takes the weak and makes them mighty. “But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;” (1 Corinthians 1:27)

Judges 6-7 speaks of a man called Gideon.  He was a farmer, trying to hide his crop from the Midianites. He was not a warrior, mighty man, or from one of the great tribes of Israel. When the angel of the Lord came to him, He addressed Gideon as “…thou mighty man of valor.” (Judges 6:12) Gideon was given a task. He was to “…save Israel from the hand of the Midianites:…” (Judges 6:14) He was not prepared for or wanted the mission.

Gideon finally agrees to go. God places His Spirit upon him. Gideon then puts a fleece out to God for confirmation that he is to deliver Israel. Then God cuts Gideon’s available fighting force from 32,000 to 300, just to make sure that they realized that God gives them the victory. “And the Lord said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine hand: and let all the other people go every man unto his place.” (Judges 7:7) God enables the Israelites to defeat the Midianites.

When God calls us to do something for Him, what do we say? No, I can’t do that. I am not trained, equipped, or willing to take on God’s challenge. What we forget, it is not our might, power, or intellect that God is looking for. He is looking for someone who is available and willing to serve. God will equip us.

We need to step out in faith and allow God to use us. It will amaze you to see what God does. We are weak, but He is strong.

Allow God to use you today.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Dr. Tom Nieman was the guest speaker at our midweek Bible study. Dr. Nieman has a great wealth of knowledge about the Bible and all things Israel. I was anticipating him preaching on Israel or something to do with prophecy. He went in a completely different direction. He shared his personal testimony about how God protected him during open heart surgery.

After class, many went up to Dr. Nieman and thanked him for his message. Some came to me and commented on how they needed to hear that message.

Dr. Nieman was prepared to deliver a different message, but he was sensitive to the moving of the Holy Spirit and shared a personal story that encouraged many people.

Sometimes we try to put God in a box. We expect Him to do things the way we think they should be done. However, Isaiah 55:8-9 states, “⁸ For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. ⁹ For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

God knew the needs of the people. He had his servant preach a message that addressed those needs. God met with us in an unusual and special way.

Please pray for Dr. Nieman as he preaches at Immanuel Baptist Church this coming Sunday through Wednesday.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

The Christian life is not a sprint, it is a long, arduous marathon. There are hills and valleys, highs and lows, joys and sorrow. It is every day. Sometimes we start slow. Sometimes fast. But it is how we finish that really counts.

The books of Joshua and Judges give us a picture of a great start, but an incomplete finish. God releases the Israelites from the oppression of Egypt. God gave them the promised land and said “Go” and they said “No”. Forty years later God again says “Go” and this time they do.

God told them where to go and what to do. Destroy the people of the land, there temples, altars of worship, and make no covenant with the people. God knew the consequences of failure. The inhabitants of the land would become a snare to the nation of Israel. Judges 2:1-3 states, “And an angel of the Lord came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said, I made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you unto the land which I sware unto your fathers; and I said, I will never break my covenant with you.² And ye shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land; ye shall throw down their altars: but ye have not obeyed my voice: why have ye done this? ³ Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you.”

They completed only part of the task. They did not finish strong. The consequences were seen in the Book of Judges. They did not allow God and His word to lead them. Their failure to finish strong has been passed down to future generations.

Now, fast forward to our lives. Are our lives tracking for a strong finish or an incomplete or weak finish? Just like the nation of Israel, we must choose to obey God and His word. When we do, He will guide us to the Promised Land. When we do not we will be mired in all the filth of this world and it becomes a snare to us.

Paul summed up this teaching very well in Philippians 3:13-14. “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,¹⁴ I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

Can this be said about us? Is it our purpose in life to finish strong? Let us make a concerted effort to make that happen!

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

 

Good morning,

Yesterday we learned that we are sheep and are led by the Great Shepherd. He chooses our pasture, not us.

How does our Great Shepherd Jesus lead us? He gave us a road map to maneuver through life. The Bible is God’s Word, to us, on how to live life. It is to be read, obeyed, and acted upon.

That is how to follow the Great Shepherd.

An unerring chart by which to steer through the dangerous sea of life!

(Arthur W. Pink, “The Attributes of God”)

God has placed His Word in our hands for an intensely practical purpose–namely, to direct our walk and to regulate our deportment. The primary purpose for which God gave the Scriptures, is to make a practical use of them–ordering the details of our lives by its rules and regulations.

“Your Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psalm 119:105. The metaphor used here is taken from a man walking along a dangerous road on a dark night, in urgent need of a lantern to show him where to walk safely and comfortably, to avoid injury and destruction.

God, in His infinite condescension and transcendent grace, has given us His Word for this very purpose, so that we need not stumble along blindly, ignorant of what pleases or displeases Him–but that we might know His mind. That divine Word is not given to us simply for information, but . . .
to regulate our conduct,
to enlighten our minds,
and to mold our hearts.

The Word supplies us with an unerring chart by which to steer through the dangerous sea of life. If we sincerely and diligently follow, it will deliver us from disastrous rocks and submerged reefs–and direct us safely to the heavenly harbor. That Word has all the instructions we need for every problem, and every trouble we may be called upon to face. That Word has been given to us “that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:17. How thankful we should be, that God has favored us with such a Word!

This world is a dark place, and it is only as we take heed to the Word, to the light God has given us, that we shall be able to perceive and avoid “the broad road which leads to destruction,” and discern the narrow way which alone “leads unto eternal life.”

Our first duty, and our first aim, must be to take up the Scriptures to ascertain what is God’s revealed will for us–what are the paths He forbids us to walk, what are the ways pleasing in His sight.

The Scriptures are not given us, primarily, for our intellectual gratification, nor for emotional admiration, but for life’s regulation. Nor are the precepts and commands, the warnings and encouragements contained therein, simply for our information. They are to be reduced to practice–they require unqualified obedience. He who treasures the divine precepts in his heart, and diligently seeks to walk by their rule, will escape those evils which destroy his fellows.

Thus the great business of the Christian is to regulate his life by, and conform his conduct to–the precepts of the written Word, and the example left us by the Incarnate Word. As he does so, and in proportion as he does so, he is
emancipated from the darkness of his natural mind,
freed from the follies of his corrupt heart,
delivered from the mad course of this world,
and escapes the snares of the devil.

~  ~  ~  ~

This is how Jesus leads us.

Unfortunately, many believers in Christ do not read, study, reverence, obey, or do what God’s Word says. Then they wonder why they are not successful in their walk with God.

Simply put, they do not know God, His plan, His power, His knowledge, or His ways. Thus, they are unable to follow His clearly laid out plan for their lives.

May I challenge you to read and study your Bible daily. Then obey what it says. You will be amazed what God will do in your life.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001