FAITH CAPSULE: Persistence for God’s intervention is the evidence of faith.

1 Samuel 1

At the age of forty, Isaac took Rebekah as his wife. The bible recorded that at sixty years of age Isaac had his first child. Evidently, Isaac waited for twenty years before Rebekah’s barrenness ceased. Twenty years must have been long years for Isaac. However, Isaac was not quiet before God during the season of waiting. It is written, “Now Isaac pleaded with the LORD for his wife, because she was barren; and the LORD granted his plea, and Rebekah his wife conceived.” (Genesis 25:21) History and time of his father’s waiting was not enough to stop Isaac from asking and pleading with God. Have you been pleading to God for His intervention concerning any area of challenge in your life? Be encouraged and know that it is never too late to keep on pleading for God’s intervention.
The children of Israel spent over four hundred years in the bondage of Egypt before God sent Moses as His agent to deliver them. The bible recorded, “Now it happened in the process of time that the king of Egypt died. Then the children of Israel groaned because of the bondage, and they cried out; and their cry came up to God because of the bondage.  So God heard their groaning, and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God acknowledged them.” (Exodus 2:23-25) The time you think it is too late to receive your breakthrough is the time of God visitation if you will not stop crying to Him alone. Time and process of time belongs to God, do not pay attention to man-made clock. It is important that we remain persistent when praying to God for His divine intervention. Persistence for God’s intervention is the evidence of faith. To stop asking when expectation is yet to be manifested represents shutting down faith.
Hannah experienced mockery at the time of her barrenness. It is written, “Because the Lord had closed Hannah’s womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her. This went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the Lord, her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat.” (1 Samuel 1:6-7) Despite Hannah’s experience of mockery from her rival, Hannah remained focus and her continuity waiting and trusting God dwindles not. Hannah did not stop praying to God and there was no record of her going against her rival. Hannah’s prayer yielded when she gave birth to Samuel. Be encouraged, ignore your mockers. In the coming day, week, month or year your mockery shall be converted to miracle in Jesus name. The God who granted Isaac’s plea will grant yours in Jesus name. The same God that acknowledged the crying of the Israelites will acknowledge your crying to favor you in Jesus name.

Prayer for today: Ask God for the grace to remain focus on His gracious and merciful name.