September 19, Evening

C. H. Spurgeon · Modern retelling

"For this child I prayed." — 1 Samuel 1:27 · KJV

Devout souls delight to look on the mercies they have gained in answer to prayer, for in them they can see God's special love. When we can name our blessings Samuel — that is, "asked of God" — they will be as dear to us as her child was to Hannah. Peninnah had many children, but they came as common blessings, unsought in prayer; Hannah's one heaven-given child was far dearer, because he was the fruit of earnest pleading. How sweet was that water to Samson which he found at "the well of him that prayed"! As a cup of bitter wood turns all water bitter, so the cup of prayer puts a sweetness into the draughts it brings. Did we pray for the conversion of our children? How doubly sweet, when they are saved, to see in them our own petitions fulfilled! Better to rejoice over them as the fruit of our pleading than as the fruit of our bodies. Have we sought of the Lord some choice spiritual gift? When it comes, it will be wrapped in the gold cloth of God's faithfulness and truth, and so be doubly precious. Have we asked for success in the Lord's work? How joyful is the prosperity that comes flying on the wings of prayer! It is always best to get blessings into our house by the lawful way, the door of prayer; then they are blessings indeed, and not temptations. Even when prayer does not speed, the blessing grows all the richer for the delay; the child Jesus was all the more lovely in Mary's eyes when she found Him after seeking Him sorrowing. What we win by prayer we should dedicate to God, as Hannah dedicated Samuel. The gift came from heaven; let it go to heaven. Prayer brought it, gratitude sang over it; let devotion consecrate it. Here will be a special occasion for saying, "Of Thine own have I given unto Thee." Reader, is prayer your element, or your weariness? Which?