DEVOTION ~ RIVALRY

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Theme: Rivalry 
Text: 1 Samuel 1:4-7

 4 And whenever the time came for Elkanah to make an offering, he would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters. 5 But to Hannah he would give a double portion, for he loved Hannah, although the Lord had closed her womb. 6 And her rival also provoked her severely, to make her miserable, because the Lord had closed her womb. 7 So it was, year by year, when she went up to the house of the Lord, that she provoked her; therefore she wept and did not eat.


The home of Elkanah is a zone of rivalry as love was not proportionately shared. He had two wives but his focus on Hannah is much more than Peninnah. In sharing the offering, Hannah's portion is the largest which irritated Peninnah. In order not to conceit defeat, she will rather provoke Hannah. This is how the adversary (the devil) feels having being dethroned from heaven and cast into the abyss. 

In life, we must not create room for rivalry, it will only compound our troubles in life. It has been one of the greatest challenges in the scene of history. Even for us as children of God, the devil and his agents will not permit of us to enjoy God's glory in fullness that is why, we are constantly admonished to be on guard least the adversary overtakes us. 

The provocation of Peninnah made Hannah not to eat. Rivalry can make the sufferer to deny him/herself the basic needs of life. The Holy Spirit is our strength and we cannot go out successfully without Him that's why, the adversary our rival, will always find means to push us away from the presence of the Holy Spirit. His moves are beautiful deceits (no truth in them) that cripples our faith with fears as we allow anxiety to stir us up. The more you draw closer to God, the more the adversary also tries to discourage you. Don't give up, trust God and let faith speak for you where reasons fail.


Prayer: Dear God, I thank You for the knowledge of Your Word. I pray the Holy Spirit increase my faith that no deceit of the devil can have influence over my life. I pray the heart of flesh to love all just as Christ loves me. May every spirit of rivalry manipulating in my family, ministry, career, education, finances, business, health and every sphere of my life be extinguished by the power of the Holy Spirit. This I ask for in Jesus' name. AMEN! 

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