The Art of Leadership By Dag Heward-Mills
Do you know that there is a time for everything under the sun?
The Bible says, “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:” (Ecclesiastes 3:1). In his time, God makes all things beautiful. Do you want things to be beautiful? Are you ready to wait for the right time and season? Are you a leader? Then never forget that a leader is someone who is prepared to wait for his season. Wait for your season and you will be rewarded beautifully!
- While you wait, make a vow!
And she vowed a vow, and said, O Lord of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the Lord all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.
1 Samuel 1:11
Hannah made a promise to God: If He were to give her a child she would give him back to the Lord. She promised to give away what was most precious to her, even before he was born. Perhaps God is waiting for you to make such a promise to Him. Can you make a vow and keep it?
- While you wait, keep your vows!
Hannah kept her vow. Have you ever made vows in the face of difficulty? Are you keeping these vows? Have you made promises to the people you lead? Are you fulfilling those promises?
But Hannah went not up; for she said unto her husband, I will not go up until the child be weaned, and then I will bring him, that he may appear before the Lord, and there abide forever. And Elkanah her husband said unto her, do what seemeth thee good; tarry until thou have weaned him; only the Lord establish his word. So the woman abode, and gave her son suck until she weaned him.
And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house of the Lord in Shiloh: and the child was young. And they slew a bullock, and brought the child to Eli. And she said, Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the Lord. For this child I prayed; and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of him: Therefore also I have lent him to the Lord; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the Lord. And he worshipped the Lord there.
1 Samuel 1:22-28
Hannah gave unto the Lord and the Lord gave back to her. She gave God her only son (at the time) and God gave her more children. There are many blessings that are released when you pay your vows. Hannah gave one son to the Lord. God gave her five more children in return!
Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
Luke 6:38
3. While you wait, keep going to church.
And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the Lord of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the Lord, were there. And when the time was that Elkanah offered, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions: But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; For he loved Hannah: But the Lord had shut up her womb. And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the Lord had shut up her womb. And as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of the Lord, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat.
1 Samuel 1:3-7
What does one do while waiting for a miracle? What should you do while you wait for God’s answer?
Hannah kept going to church (Shiloh) in spite of her problems. There are many problems that we face today. You must not be turned away from your church in spite of your problems. Dear friend, your help comes from God. The devil would like to keep you from the source of your help.
Many problems have spiritual roots! Keep praying, there is power in prayer. As you study the Bible, you will realize that many people received blessings and breakthroughs through prayer. Hannah could have stayed at home in her depression. She could have worked all day and night. She could have resorted to witchcraft and all sorts of things to help her. But she kept going to Shiloh. Shiloh is the place where prayers and sacrifices were made to the Lord!
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