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Dear Woman of God,
I wanted to start this blog post as a letter. I wish I could sit across
from you over coffee and share our stories of how we came to
know the Lord Jesus Christ. I wonder how many of you are new in
your faith or are seasoned in the scriptures. Or maybe you are
reading this and you have never encountered the Lord Jesus
Christ. It is my prayer today that as you read this blog, that you
will glean some wisdom to take with you on your journey of
becoming a kingdom woman. I don’t think any of us have ever
really arrived until we reach glory. We are all a work in progress
growing closer to the LORD together.
There are many examples of Kingdom women in the bible, but I
chose to use Hannah’s example in 1 Samuel 1-2 because I believe
she displays many good qualities of a kingdom woman. Hannah
was married to a man named Elkanah who also had another wife.
Back in biblical times many men of the Old Testament had
multiple wives. Now this is not a post on why would God allow
that, but maybe the following scriptures will add some clarity to
that.
Romans 15:4 says, “For whatsoever things were written aforetime
were written for our learning, that we through patience and
comfort of the scriptures might have hope”
Corinthians 10:11 says, “These things happened to them as
examples, and they were written for our instruction, on whom the
ends of the ages have come”
I think the bottom line here is that we don’t always have to go on
the field trip to learn the lesson. Let’s face it, human nature and
relationships are messy especially when we don’t wait on the
Lord. I think that is why the bible is so interesting in that it can
teach us things without us actually having to experience them. It
can relate and speak into our situations because it tells us about
imperfect people that lived imperfect lives. Either way, two
women fighting over one man is going to cause problems. People
claim the bible is unrelatable, but this scenario isn’t too far off of
today’s society, nowadays it’s not just two women fighting over
one man but multiple at that.
Nevertheless, in Hannah’s case, which we will soon find out, she
didn’t react like the world, she handled it with dignity and class.
In 1 Samuel verses 1-8 we glean our first couple of kingdom
woman qualities.
It says, (and I’m paraphrasing), that Hannah was barren and
Peninnah who was his other wife had multiple children. Elkanah
would worship and sacrifice to the LORD year after year. He
would provide for Peninnah his wife and all of her sons and
daughters. But with Hannah he gave a double portion, because he
loved her. Then in 1 Samuel 1:6, it says, “and her rival used to
provoke her grievously to irritate her, because the LORD had
closed her womb. So it went on year by year. As often as she went
up to the house of the LORD, she used to provoke her.”
1. Kingdom women take their distress to the LORD
Hannah ignored her provokes. She didn’t retaliate, get even, or
even respond to her mess. Hannah kept her class and reacted
accordingly. She went to God. Kingdom women do not get caught
up in the comparison trap or the competition trap that the enemy
would like to throw in their face. They don’t go on social media
and go on a rant about whoever is trying to provoke a response.
They respond in the Spirit not react in the flesh. We don’t know
why Peninnah provoked her, maybe she was jealous that Elkanah
loved her more but either way Hannah let God deal with her
enemies. Proverbs 19:11 says, “A man’s discretion makes him slow
to anger, and it is his glory to overlook a transgression.” Kingdom
women reflect the glory of God when they ignore the offense and
not react in anger. They entrust their hurt to the LORD.
2. Kingdom women stay in the presence of God
Notice how Hannah went to the House of the LORD often. It
wasn’t every now and then but she had a deep intimate
relationship with the LORD. The bible doesn’t mention the other
woman going to be in the LORD’s Presence. It’s interesting to
note that as hard as Peninnah was coming after her with
harassment, the deeper Hannah dove closer to God. Hannah was
a worshiping woman. Kingdom women worship God harder when
they are going through persecution.
1 Samuel 1:7b says, “Therefore Hannah wept and would not eat.
And Elkanah, her husband, said to her, “Hannah, why do you
weep? And why do you not eat? And why is your heart sad? Am I
not more to you than ten sons? After they had eaten and drunk in
Shiloh, Hannah rose.”
3. Kingdom women have an obedient spirit
Hannah was stressed out over this woman but she knew her
priorities. God first, and husband next, with that being said she
listened to her husband and obeyed him. I’m sure she did not feel
like eating or getting up, but she respected her husband and
obeyed what he said. Kingdom women have a submissive obedient
spirit first to God then to their own husbands. Single ladies if you
are reading this, how will you ever submit to a husband if you
aren’t willing to submit to the God man? Submit to the Lord and
watch Him bring you to your husband.
1 Samuel 1:9b-11 says, “Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat
beside the doorpost of the temple of the LORD. She was deeply
distressed and prayed to the LORD and wept bitterly. And she
vowed a vow and said, “O LORD of hosts, if you will indeed look
on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget
your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give
him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch
his head.”
4. Kingdom women are prayerful
Hannah talked to God over and over about her heart. She
didn’t go to her girlfriends she went straight to the LORD.
Kingdom women don’t pose and posture before man they
know the one who ultimately has the answer. They continue
to petition the King of heaven until they receive an answer.
Notice also that her prayers were very specific she told God
what she was going to do with the blessing if she received it.
5. Kingdom women have a servant attitude
Three times Hannah refers to herself as the Lord’s servant.
Kingdom women have a humble spirit about themselves. Their
attitude is one of servant hood. It’s the servant attitude that shows
up to church saying what can I give instead of what can I get? It
says how can I serve others instead of what can I take from others? This attitude puts others first and thinks of others before self. This isn’t the attitude that shows up to church to get a word for their life but goes to church to get to know the LORD better.Philippians 2:3 says, “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit (through factional motives or strife) but with (an attitude of) humility (being neither arrogant nor self-righteous) regard others more important than yourselves.” Amp version.
6. Kingdom women know the LORD intimately
Hannah calls him the LORD of Hosts. This name means: God as Lord over earthly or heavenly armies. Hannah knew she was in a spiritual battle concerning Peninnah. She knew that she needed to call on one of God’s specific names to win this battle for her. She understood Ephesians 6:12 which says 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over thispresent darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” She needed the strong name of the LORD. Kingdom women spend time with God and know him intimately!
1 Samuel 1:12-18 “As she continued praying before the LORD, Eli observed her mouth. Hannah was speaking in her heart; only her lips moved, and her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli took her to be a drunken woman. And Eli said to her, “How long will you go on being drunk? Put your wine away from you.” But Hannah answered, “No my lord, I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the LORD. Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation.” Then Eli answered, “Go in peace and the God of Israel grant your petition that you have made to him.” And she said, “Let your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then the woman went on her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.
7. Kingdom women respect their earthly authority and have a healthy fear of God
Hannah could’ve easily been offended for being accused of being drunk. She could have easily snapped back at Eli to try to defend herself. But instead she softened her tone and was careful with her words. Maybe she knew Proverbs 15:1 which says, “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” Kingdom women know the scriptures and apply them to everyday situations. She also had a healthy fear of the LORD. She understood and revered Eli’s position. She understood Eli was God’s servant.
Romans 13:1-4 says, “There is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. The LORD answered Hannah’s prayer. It says in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, which means “God has heard.”
1 Samuel 1:24 says, “And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine, and she brought him to the house of the LORD at Shiloh. 27…For this child I have prayed and the LORD has granted me my petition that I made to him.Therefore I have lent him to the LORD. As long as he lives, he is lent to the LORD.”
8. Kingdom women keep their word and vows to the LORD
Remember back in verse 11 Hannah vowed to give her child to the LORD all the days of his life. It must have been very difficult to release him to the LORD but she understood that earthly children are a gift from God. They really belong to the LORD and our job isto raise them into kingdom citizens. Nurture them to become young men and women who fear God and obey Him. Later on in the end of the story God blessed her with three sons and two daughters. Obedience and follow through always yields blessing and when God blesses he does it exceedingly abundantly above what we could ever ask think or imagine.
9. Kingdom women model worship before their children
When she went to take Samuel up to the house of the LORD she brought her offering and her sacrifice. She modeled true worship before her son. The scriptures say raise up a child in the way they should go and when they are old they will not depart. Modeling before our children worship, prayer, and thanksgiving will give them a good foundation to stand on. Kingdom women view their children as a trust from God. They know they are responsible for raising them up in the LORD. 10. Kingdom women are grateful for God’s blessings.In Chapter 2 of 1 Samuel Hannah writes a long prayer of Thanksgiving to the LORD for what he had done. Kingdom women don’t forget to say thank you. They remember the blessings of the LORD and they express it through praise, prayer, and thanksgiving.
In conclusion, ultimately what makes a woman a kingdom
woman is her fear of the LORD. I want to encourage each and
every one of us to grow closer to the LORD and to become a
kingdom woman in a dark and deprived world.
You Are Loved,
Rock ya faith!
PS: Just a side note, Hannah means ‘favor of God’ so it’s safe to
say that she lived up to her name! Let’s live up to ours ladies!