According to a USA TODAY 2007 report, “Seven in 10 Protestants ages 18 to 30 — both evangelical and mainline — who went to church regularly in high school said they quit attending by age 23.”[i] Another report said that 60% of young Christians disconnect from their church after age 15.[ii] There has never been a greater need for mothers with character who will prepare their children to serve the Lord.

The most important occupation on earth for a woman is to be a godly, devoted, Christian mother to her children. No woman has a greater ministry than leading her children to Christ and preparing them to serve God. Hannah, the mother of Samuel, was a mother with that kind of character.

Transition

Hannah had three character traits that every mother here today desperately needs.

Hannah was a Godly Mother

  1. She placed her faith in God
    1. She called herself God’s handmaid (v.11). She humbly considered herself a maidservant of the LORD. She had humbly placed her faith in the Lord.
    2. It is impossible to be a godly mother without being a true child of God. To become a child of God, you must place your faith in Him to save you from hell. Like the physical birth, spiritual birth also has a date, day, and hour. Note what Jesus told the religious man Nicodemus. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. (John 3:3)
  2. She lived as a godly woman
    1. When she was childless, she sought the Lord’s help.
      1. Godly people look to the Bible for the answers in life. (2 Timothy 3:16-17) All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
      2. Alcohol, drugs, cigarettes, worry, and psychologists are not going to remove your burdens. Only the Lord can do that. (Proverbs 3:5-6) “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. (6) In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. (Philippians 4:6-7) “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. (7) And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
    2. After God gave her a son, Hannah taught him biblical truth. It was not an accident that Samuel grew to love and serve the Lord. In the first 4-5 years of his life, Hannah prepared him for a life of service for the Lord.
      1. Training in the early years of a child’s life is very important. Church and Sunday school can help, but the consistent, loving, biblical discipline and training of a godly mother is the key.
      2. Godly mothers read the Bible and pray with their children. They teach them biblical character. Character is doing right even when you do not feel like it. (Proverbs 22:6) Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Hannah was a Praying Mother

  1. She prayed sincerely (v.10)
    1. She took her bitter soul to the Lord in prayer.
    2. She wept or cried as she prayed.
    3. She addressed her prayer to the “LORD of Hosts” (v.11). She recognised Him as Lord of all the stars, all the angels, and all the heavenly armies. She sincerely believed that God controls all things, that He alone could give her a child, and that He alone can do the impossible.
  2. She prayed specifically (v.11).
    1. She asked the Lord specifically for a son.
    2. She specifically promised that if God gave her a son he would be a Nazarite and she would lend him to the Lord for life. (A Nazarite was a special vow to the Lord).
  3. She prayed repeatedly (v.12).
    1. She did not ask just once, she continued to pray until the answer came.
    2. Though it is not expressed, we can assume that she continued to pray for Samuel after he was born. She no doubt prayed for wisdom to rear him.
  4. She prayed expectantly (v.18).
    1. She yielded to Eli assurance.
    2. She believed and rejoiced even before fulfilment. If we are right with God and pray according to His will, we can expect Him to answer (Matthew 7:7).
  5. She prayed effectively (v.19)
    1. The Lord did answer her prayer.
    2. She gave birth to a baby boy (v.20)
      ☆ Mum, how much do you pray for your children?

Hannah was a Lending Mother

  1. Before conception, she lent Samuel to the Lord.
    1. She wanted the Lord to use him mightly.
    2. She vowed (promised) he would be a Nazarite for life.
  2. At birth, she prepared to lend Samuel to the Lord.
    1. She nurtured him physically.
    2. She taught him spiritually. God gives no specifics, but she must have prepared him to be a servant, taught him to love God, and instilled in him the fear of the Lord.
    3. Mum, you need to teach your children to fear God.
      1. Teach them that God is holy—He hates sin and loves righteousness. (Proverbs 8:13) The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
      2. Teach them the doctrines of the Bible, (2 Timothy 3:15) And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
      3. Teach them to put God before gold. (Proverbs 15:16) Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith.
  3. When weaned she did lend Samuel to the Lord.
    1. She fulfilled her vow (v.24). As a young boy, Samuel went to live with Eli the priest.
    2. According to Fred Wight, in his book Manners and Customs of Bible Lands, Hebrew children often drank their mother’s milk for 3 years and sometimes as long as 5 years before they were weaned. Samuel was probably between 3 and 5 years old when Hanna lent him to the Lord. From that day on he lived with Eli the priest.

Conclusion

Mum, what are your dreams for your children? Have you lent them to the Lord? Have you dedicated them wholly to Him? Have you said, Lord they are all yours, make them whatever you want (pastor, missionary, pastor’s wife, etc.). Send them anywhere Lord. Are you praying that God will call your boys to be preachers and your girls pastor’s wives?

If so, are you preparing them to serve Him? Everything in child’s upbringing either prepares him to serve the Lord or to serve self. Evaluate your home environment. Are the language, entertainment, music, magazines, books, discipline, instruction, and training in your home preparing your child to be spiritual or carnal, godly or ungodly, to serve the Lord or to serve themselves? Why not ask God to help you control your home environment for His glory?

Hanna was a godly mother, a praying mother and a lending mother. We can learn much from her example. Hannah was a child of God, are you? You will never be a godly mum without being part of God’s family. Christ died to pay the debt of your sin. If you will admit your guilt and need of God’s salvation, by faith you can be saved today and become a child of God.

If you are a Christian, do you pray like Hannah prayed? Have you lent your children to the Lord? There is no better time than now.

Song: 388 Have thine own way
Song: [i] http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/religion/2007-08-06-church-dropouts_N.htm
Song: [ii] http://www.christianpost.com/news/study-why-young-christians-leave-the-church-56722/
—
A Mother with Character
10 May 2015 am – 1 Samuel 1:9-28– Mother’s Day – Scott Childs