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November 26, 2016 begins Advent 2017. It will be the fourth Sunday before Christmas. The word Advent comes from the Latin word “Adventus,” which means “coming.” The definition of advent is the arrival of a notable person, thing or event.
Two thousand years ago, Israel was waiting on a notable person to arrive. They were watching and expecting their long awaited Messiah to arrive. Four hundred years had passed since Israel had heard a word from God through His anointed prophets. They were four hundred years of silence.
What do you do in the seemingly silence of heaven?
I know what a woman named Hannah did.
“There was a certain man from Ramathaim, a Zuphite from the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Elkanah son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. He had two wives; one was called Hannah and the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none. Year after year this man went up from his town to worship and sacrifice to the LORD Almighty at Shiloh, where Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, were priests of the LORD. Whenever the day came for Elkanah to sacrifice, he would give portions of the meat to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters. But to Hannah he gave a double portion because he loved her, and the LORD had closed her womb. Because the LORD had closed Hannah’s womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her. This went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the LORD, her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat. Her husband Elkanah would say to her, “Hannah, why are you weeping? Why don’t you eat? Why are you downhearted? Don’t I mean more to you than ten sons?” Once when they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah stood up. Now Eli the priest was sitting on his chair by the doorpost of the LORD’s house. In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the LORD, weeping bitterly. And she made a vow, saying, “ LORD Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the LORD for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.”
Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk and said to her, “How long are you going to stay drunk? Put away your wine.” “Not so, my lord,” Hannah replied, “I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the LORD. Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief.” Eli answered, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.” She said, “May your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast. Early the next morning they arose and worshiped before the LORD and then went back to their home at Ramah. Elkanah made love to his wife Hannah, and the LORD remembered her. So in the course of time Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, “Because I asked the LORD for him.””
1 Samuel 1:1-11, 13-20 NIV
http://bible.com/111/1sa.1.1-11,13-20.niv
There may be times when it seems God is silent, but in reality He is only whispering, “Wait for it! Something exceedingly, abundantly is coming your way.”
Don’t quit in the silence. God is there. We just have to persevere, because if the Lord remembered Hannah, He will remember you also.
Join me this Advent Season as we eagerly await Christmas. Make this a Christmas to remember. Soar with the ghost of Christmas past and walk past the veil into the very presence of God as Zechariah meets the angel Gabriel.
My first book will be re-released in November with revisions. You can purchase your copy here.
I am donating $3 for every book sold to James Mission.
Merry Christmas Everyone