1 Samuel 2:1-10

Hannah’s Prayer

1And Hannah prayed and said,

“My heart exults in the Lord;

my horn is exalted in the Lord.

My mouth derides my enemies,

because I rejoice in your salvation.

2 “There is none holy like the Lord:

for there is none besides you;

there is no rock like our God.

3Talk no more so very proudly,

let not arrogance come from your mouth;

for the Lord is a God of knowledge,

and by him actions are weighed.

4 The bows of the mighty are broken,

but the feeble bind on strength.

5Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread,

but those who were hungry have ceased to hunger.

The barren has borne seven,

but she who has many children is forlorn.

6 The Lord kills and brings to life;

he brings down to Sheol and raises up.

7 The Lord makes poor and makes rich;

he brings low and he exalts.

8 He raises up the poor from the dust;

he lifts the needy from the ash heap

to make them sit with princes

and inherit a seat of honor.

For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s,

and on them he has set the world.

9 “He will guard the feet of his faithful ones,

but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness,

for not by might shall a man prevail.

10 The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces;

against them he will thunder in heaven.

The Lord will judge the ends of the earth;

he will give strength to his king

and exalt the horn of his anointed.”

Psalm 118

1Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;

his love endures forever.

2Let Israel say:

“His love endures forever.”

3Let the house of Aaron say:

“His love endures forever.”

4Let those who fear the Lordsay:

“His love endures forever.”

5When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord;

he brought me into a spacious place.

6The Lordis with me; I will not be afraid.

What can mere mortals do to me?

7The Lordis with me; he is my helper.

I look in triumph on my enemies.

8It is better to take refuge in the Lord

than to trust in humans.

9It is better to take refuge in the Lord

than to trust in princes.

10All the nations surrounded me,

but in the name of the LordI cut them down.

11They surrounded me on every side,

but in the name of the LordI cut them down.

12They swarmed around me like bees,

but they were consumed as quickly as burning thorns;

in the name of the LordI cut them down.

13I was pushed back and about to fall,

but the Lordhelped me.

14The Lordis my strength and my defense;

he has become my salvation.

15Shouts of joy and victory

resound in the tents of the righteous:

“The Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!

16The Lord’s right hand is lifted high;

the Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!”

17I will not die but live,

and will proclaim what the Lordhas done.

18The Lordhas chastened me severely,

but he has not given me over to death.

19Open for me the gates of the righteous;

I will enter and give thanks to the Lord.

20This is the gate of the Lord

through which the righteous may enter.

21I will give you thanks, for you answered me;

you have become my salvation.

22The stone the builders rejected

has become the cornerstone;

23the Lordhas done this,

and it is marvelous in our eyes.

24The Lordhas done it this very day;

let us rejoice today and be glad.

Malachi 3:16-18

16Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another,

And the Lord listened and heard them;

So a book of remembrance was written before Him

For those who fear the Lord

And who meditate on His name.

17“They shall be Mine,” says the Lord of hosts,

“On the day that I make them My jewels.

And I will spare them

As a man spares his own son who serves him.”

18Then you shall again discern

Between the righteous and the wicked,

Between one who serves God

And one who does not serve Him.

Habakkuk 3:17-19

17Though the fig tree does not bud

and there are no grapes on the vines,

though the olive crop fails

and the fields produce no food,

though there are no sheep in the pen

and no cattle in the stalls,

18yet I will rejoice in the Lord,

I will be joyful in God my Savior.

19The Sovereign Lord is my strength;

he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,

he enables me to tread on the heights.

Romans 8:12-17

12 So then, brothers and sisters, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh 13 (for if you live according to the flesh, you will die), but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery leading again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness to our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 And if children, then heirs (namely, heirs of God and also fellow heirs with Christ) – if indeed we suffer with him so we may also be glorified with him.

Psalm 3: 1-7

1 Lord, how numerous are my enemies!

Many attack me.

2 Many say about me,

“God will not deliver him.” (Selah)

3 But you, Lord, are a shield that protects me;

you are my glory and the one who restores me.

4 To the Lord I cried out,

and he answered me from his holy hill. (Selah)

5 I rested and slept;

I awoke, for the Lord protects me.

6 I am not afraid of the multitude of people

who attack me from all directions.

7 Rise up, Lord!

Deliver me, my God!

2 Corinthians10:3-5

3 For though we live as human beings, we do not wage war according to human standards, 4 for the weapons of our warfare are not human weapons, but are made powerful by God for tearing down strongholds. We tear down arguments 5 and every arrogant obstacle that is raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to make it obey Christ.