A Woman Who Devoted Herself with God’s Desire in Her Heart
A Woman Who Devoted Herself with God’s Desire in Her Heart (1 Samuel 1:21–28) 8/23/2026
To live with a desire is a privilege given only to human beings. Animals do not have desires. They simply live from day to day. They live because they were born (instinct for survival) and they search for food in order to live (the law of the jungle). Then, as time passes, they die when they become sick or grow old and lose their strength.
Who are human beings? If we set aside, for a moment, the biblical and theological meaning of humanity, we can describe a person as a being who lives with desires and aspirations.
When this desire develops, it becomes a dream and then a vision. We live by holding onto that desire, challenging ourselves to fulfill it, and experiencing a sense of worth and happiness when it is fulfilled.
That is why there are two kinds of people in the world. Those who have desires and aspirations, whether great or small, and those who have none at all. Some people live in such poverty that their only desire is simply to eat well and survive. Others had dreams when they were young, but after being chased by the realities of life, they lost those desires, or simply forgot what their desires were.
- This desire is also extremely important for those who are saved.
1) God works in us to give us the desire to do what pleases Him (Philippians 2:13).
① If we are truly saved people of God, then God’s desire should be placed within us, and we should enjoy the blessing of having God’s desire become our own desire. This is because the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit, dwells within us (1 Corinthians 2:10).
② This does not mean that we must abandon everything else and live only for God’s desires. Rather, we should discover here the reason why God blesses and answers us as we pursue the things we want to do and the things we need.
This is what it means when Scripture says, “Whether you eat or drink, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).
③ Especially when we face difficulties, problems, and crises, we should pray and search for this. What is God’s will for me? Why does God not allow what I want?
What is God’s purpose in allowing this problem, difficulty, or conflict? Why does this kind of problem come only to me? The thoughts, will, and way that God has prepared are greater beyond my thoughts, my will, and the path I want to take (Isaiah 55:8–9). Throughout the Bible, those whom God greatly blessed and used all experienced this blessing (Genesis 45:8).
2) Try meditating on the Word and praying with the desire to be used by God to accomplish His desire. Through the Word, you realize God’s promises. That desire becomes a vision, then a dream, then a prayer, and finally something we are challenged to pursue. We call this the CVDIP that God gives us. Continue to pray and receive strength. You will begin to see and experience things in advance.
① In your ordinary life, make time to truly focus on listening to the Word, meditate on it (the time when you hold onto God’s promises for you) and pray. The problem for many believers is that they have no time or space for God to place His desire within them. Because there is no desire within them, the Word does not enter their hearts, and they have nothing to pray about. That is the kind of life Satan wants.
On the other hand, because they have no time to hold onto and meditate on the Word, God’s promises are not understood within them. Naturally, there is no vision, no dream, and nothing to challenge them.
② Even when doing small things, carry this desire in your heart, and when doing important things, hold onto it even more (Matthew 6:33).
③ Especially, times of problems, conflict, despair, and failure are the greatest opportunities to experience this blessing. Hannah entered into this prayer during an extremely painful and difficult period. She did not merely receive one son because of her prayer. As she came to understand God’s desire and God’s plan, that desire became a dream and vision for a Nazirite. Samuel was born from that vision. Through Samuel, Israel was restored, and David, the ancestor of Christ, arose.
3) This does not happen to just anyone. There is an absolute reason why all our problems, despair, and suffering can become a blessing.
① It is because Christ became our Savior, Redeemer, and Intercessor.
He set us free from eternal our, fate, and the authority of Satan (Savior). He took upon Himself the curse and punishment that we deserved (Redeemer). Through the Holy Spirit, He prays for me in my weakness (Romans 8:26), and He intercedes for me before the throne of God (Romans 8:34, Intercessor).
② Therefore, when Christ has become our imprint, root, and nature, even the way we see problems changes. We may look at the exact same problem, but we see it with different eyes. Everything changes depending on how we see it. Rather than seeing it as a problem, we see it as an opportunity through which God heals us (Luke 22:32), strengthens us (2 Corinthians 12:9), and gives us a greater answer (Jeremiah 33:3). Some people fall into trials and give up because of their problems. Others discover what they must do because of their problems and rise up to accomplish something even greater.
- As our eyes are opened, faith grows, and upon that faith, God’s masterpiece is created. This is what God is speaking about through today’s passage, and He has shown us the evidence of it.
1) Samuel was born through Hannah’s prayer and faith, which were restored in the midst of her problems and suffering.
① To what extent was Hannah’s faith restored? There were three stages. The first stage was that she was able to pray. The second stage was that, through prayer, she came to understand God’s plan (the covenant of the Nazirite). The third stage was when she received the blessing of Eli the priest, and Scripture says that Hannah no longer had a sorrowful expression on her face (1 Samuel 1:18).
② She received peace in her heart. This was the work of the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit governs our hearts (Romans 14:17). She had now completely entrusted everything to God (1 Peter 5:7). We must reach this point for it to become true faith. At that moment, the darkness that had continued within her through anger, despair, and suffering was broken, and the kingdom of God came upon her (Matthew 12:28). It is not merely a matter of having the problem solved. The problem itself is transformed into good and becomes God’s masterpiece (Genesis 50:20; Romans 8:28).
2) The next step is important. When the Holy Spirit begins to work within us, there is something we must do in cooperation with God. This is called devotion and dedication. Salvation is God’s unilateral choice and grace, but answers and blessings involve our cooperation with God. God does not need us because He lacks power, nor does He desire our devotion because He cannot accomplish His work without us. Rather, He gives us the opportunity for our devotion to become our joy, our blessing, and our eternal reward (Galatians 6:7, 9). What kind of devotion did Hannah make?
① She fulfilled the prayer (vow) she had made concerning what she had desired and prayed for. Only then can even something small in our lives become God’s masterpiece (Psalm 50:14–15). When God gives us the desire of our hearts, we should act upon it (the “three bulls”). God is the One who causes us to act, and God is also the One who gives us the ability to act.
② True devotion requires sacrifice on our part (Matthew 16:24–25). As soon as Samuel was weaned, Hannah took him to the temple. He was no longer simply her son, he became a son dedicated to God. God would bless him, but this required an enormous decision of sacrifice. Devotion without sacrifice is not devotion. It is merely selfish desire.
③ She completely entrusted the outcome of her prayer, vow, and devotion to God. She entrusted Samuel to Eli the priest. She trusted the servant of God, but in reality, she was trusting the God who would use him.
Conclusion – May God bless us so that God’s desire is placed within us, that desire becomes our faith, and through our devotion, God’s masterpiece is created.
8.23.26 A Woman Who Devoted Herself with God’s Desire in Her Heart