It Is All By His Grace

Then Hannah prayed and said: "My heart rejoices in the LORD; in the LORD my horn is lifted high. My mouth boasts over my enemies . . .  there is no Rock like our God.  . . . She who was barren has borne seven children, but she who has had many sons pines away.
The LORD brings death and makes alive; He brings down to the grave and raises up.
The LORD sends poverty and wealth; He humbles and He exalts.
He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; He seats them with princes and has them inherit a throne of honor.
For the foundations of the earth are the LORD's; on them, He has set the world.
He will guard the feet of His faithful servants, but the wicked will be silenced in the place of darkness. It is not by strength that one prevails . . . "  1 Samuel 2:1-9

When Hannah was desperate and needy, she cried out to God. When God heard her prayer, she blessed the LORD with her son and offered a prayer of thanksgiving to God. Hannah was grateful that God had lifted her up from her lowly and desperate condition. Her mouth could now boast over her enemies who looked down on her and derided her as a failure.
The Rock who has no equal, the Almighty God, had redeemed her from her sorrows.

Hannah's song was in praise of the God who sovereignly controls all things and who has the power to reverse situations:
It is God who brings death and makes alive.
God brings down to the grave and raises up.
God sends poverty and wealth.
God humbles and exalts.
God raises the poor from the dust.
God lifts up the needy from the ash heap.
God causes the poor to be seated with princes.

The very foundations of the earth belong to God.
God has the power to exalt or debase.

The Bible tells us that our God is in Heaven and He does whatever pleases Him (Psalm 115:3).
Everything we are and have is purely by the grace of God. Hannah soberly reminds us: "It is not by strength that one prevails . . . "

Would you pause and thank God for His grace upon your life?

 
Prayer: Father, I thank you that all that I am and ever hope to be is by your grace alone. I can never prevail by my strength but purely by your grace. Thank you, Lord. Amen