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Glorious Gumption: Hannah

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You don’t hear the word gumption used very often. I like the sound of it. It makes me think of courage. It involves wisdom, discernment, spirit, ability, and judgment, among other things. It also requires good old-fashioned get-up-and go! When gumption is utilized in a godly way, I call it glorious. Join me this week as we look as some women who displayed glorious gumption in their lives and understand how we can do something similar!

 

Hannah

 

And she made this vow: “O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, if you will look upon my sorrow and answer my prayer and give me a son, then I will give him back to you. He will be yours for his entire lifetime, and as a sign that he has been dedicated to the Lord, his hair will never be cut. 

1 Samuel 1:11 NLT

Wednesday_Day_Three_Pic-HandsHannah desperately wanted to be a mother, but she had no children for many years. She’d been picked on and looked down on all this time by another wife who had children (Peninnah). Hannah became sad and depressed over her infertility and cried often because of it. Although her husband loved her more than his other wife, and brought her extra portions of food, he didn’t understand her anguish. We read his words in 1 Samuel 1:8, “…Hannah, why are you weeping? Why don’t you eat? Why are you downhearted? Don’t I mean more to you than ten sons?” (1 Samuel 1:1-10).  He might ‘ve meant well but he definitely didn’t get it. He sounded like his focus was really on himself!

Read today’s Dose verse. Hannah looked to God for control of her situation. She conceded her helplessness and confessed her need of God’s power to end her anguish. She faithfully laid her infertility before God and made a conscience commitment to God to relinquish to His service the son He might bless her with. She even planned a sign (his hair would not be cut) to show the Lord her sincerity. Hannah wasn’t making some shallow faithless wish or some spontaneous bargain with God, as we do sometimes. God doesn’t bargain with us.

Can you even imagine how hard it would be to have gone all those years barren and then upon being blessed with a child, surrendering him back to the Lord? Sacrifice and release of control is not my strong suit, nor that of many people I know. Our tendency is to hold on tightly to virtually everything we have.  Hannah showed a tremendous amount of sacrifice, commitment, and faith. This was Hannah’s glorious gumption! God granted her plea and she was faithful to loyally honor her commitment.

Sometimes the realization of our utter lack of control is just what is needed to turn us to the only One truly in control: God. God calls us to hold the earthly things He gives us loosely because He is the giver and taker of them all, including our children. When we understand and accept that without God’s intervention, we’re powerless to extinguish our anguish, sufferings, and unmet needs, we can learn to surrender control and fully rely on God.

Are you hanging onto control today? Why don’t you surrender your control for the Lord’s?

Glorious gumption through surrendering control,

Rita

[Read 1 Samuel Chaps 1 & 2 for more of this story]

What To Do When You’re Doing Too Much: Choose Commitments Carefully

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Are you often overwhelmed? Overcommitted? Do you have a hard time saying no? Then hang around this week. We’re going to start off the new year by learning to say “no” to filling our days with busyness and say “yes” to the things God wants in our lives.

 

Choose Commitments Carefully

Answer me quickly, O LORD! My spirit fails! Hide not your face from me, lest I be like those who go down to the pit. Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.
Psalm 143:7-8, ESV

Basic RGBHello, my name is Amy Greene, and I’m a commitment-aholic.

If you’re like me, your mind is spinning from one task to another from the time your feet hit the floor in the morning (sometimes before) until you collapse in an exhausted heap on the bed at night. Or early the next morning, because you’re up til after midnight getting things done. I get it. I really do.

Admitting you’re overwhelmed is the first step. We have to learn to be honest with ourselves about how much we can really handle, and how much time we will have to commit to any particular project. There are always going to be demands on our time. You probably know from experience that once you’ve proven to be someone who will step up, the requests seem to increase exponentially. The trick is learning which to accept and which to politely decline.

So how do you know? How do you decide, especially when all the choices are good choices?

Honestly, I’m still learning this myself. But here are a few things I’ve begun doing.

1.  PRAY FIRST. This is probably the most important point. Don’t say “yes” or “no” right away. If someone is pressing for an immediate decision and won’t let you take the time to pray about it, politely decline. Don’t be rushed into a decision that may not be right for you. If you’re not being rushed, then take the time to bring the request to Jesus, listen carefully when you pray, and let the Holy Spirit lead you.

2. Remember your other commitments. This may seem obvious, but I can’t tell you how many times I’ve said “yes” to something only to look at my calendar later and remember I already had something planned on that date or at that time. Keep track of appointments and such on a smart phone or computer calendar. A quick glance could save you a world of headache.

3. Don’t be afraid to say no. This one is probably one of the hardest things I’ve had to learn. Because I am a people pleaser by nature, and I really want to help everyone who crosses my path, saying “no” is hard! I guess I’ve always been afraid someone would be upset with me if I turned them down, or that there would be no one else to help if I was unavailable. What I’ve learned is that saying “no” often gives someone else the opportunity to step up, someone who might not even have been asked if I hadn’t declined.

Pray. Remember prior commitments. Don’t be afraid to say no. Three simple things that I’m learning to do that will (hopefully) make my life a bit less stressful this year. Perhaps they’ll help you, too.

In His Love,

Amy