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  document.writeln("<span class=\"body\"><b><span class=\"headings2\"><span class=\"actsititle\">Choosing God Above All Else</span></span></b><br>");
  document.writeln("<span class=\"actsilinks\"><a href=\"#\" onclick=\"window.print()\">Print this page</a></span>");document.writeln("<br><div id='actsartcl1'>");document.writeln("<font face=\"Times New Roman\" size=\"3\">");
document.writeln("</font><p style=\"margin: 0in 0in 8pt;\"><span style=\"line-height: 107%; font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\">Then Hannah prayed: \"My heart rejoices in the Lord! The");
document.writeln("Lord has made me strong. Now I have an answer for my enemies, I rejoice because");
document.writeln("you rescued me. No one is holy like the Lord! There is no one besides you, there is no Rock like our God.<sup>\"1</sup></span></p><font face=\"Times New Roman\" size=\"3\">");
document.writeln("</font><p style=\"margin: 0in 0in 8pt;\"><span style=\"line-height: 107%; font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\">It has been said that people like receiving gifts, but do");
document.writeln("NOT like take aways. If we were given something we had been wanting for a long");
document.writeln("time, but then we had to give it back, I am sure that the majority of us would");
document.writeln("complain! However, Hannah\'€™s story is all the contrary, which is why it is so");
document.writeln("inspiring to me. </span></p><font face=\"Times New Roman\" size=\"3\">");
document.writeln("</font><p style=\"margin: 0in 0in 8pt;\"><span style=\"line-height: 107%; font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\">Hannah had been unable to have children; something she had");
document.writeln("so desperately wanted. She had endured insults and had been disrespected by her");
document.writeln("husband\'€™s other wife, who had multiple children. Elkanah, Hannah\'€™s husband, loved");
document.writeln("her dearly despite her infertility, but Hannah still longed for children more");
document.writeln("than anything. Therefore, Hannah prayed to God for a son, but also promised");
document.writeln("that if He answered her prayer, she would give this son back to God. As a");
document.writeln("mother myself, I could not imagine making this promise. Falling in love with");
document.writeln("your children is inevitable once you hold them in your arms, and you look forward");
document.writeln("to watching them grow. </span></p><font face=\"Times New Roman\" size=\"3\">");
document.writeln("</font><p style=\"margin: 0in 0in 8pt;\"><span style=\"line-height: 107%; font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\">While I am sure it was difficult for Hannah, she kept her");
document.writeln("promise and took Samuel to the temple where he stayed to serve the Lord. What");
document.writeln("is even more inspiring is that Hannah did not regret nor resent this, but");
document.writeln("instead we see her response of gratitude to the Lord. She chose to worship the");
document.writeln("Giver of this blessing, instead of focusing solely on the gift. Because of this,");
document.writeln("Samuel was used in great ways by the Lord. What joy it brings when our");
document.writeln("obedience and gratitude lead to much greater things that God has in store!</span></p><font face=\"Times New Roman\" size=\"3\">");
document.writeln("</font><p style=\"margin: 0in 0in 8pt;\"><span style=\"line-height: 107%; font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\">Suggested prayer: Dear God, you have given me more blessings");
document.writeln("than I can number. Gifts that I have asked for, and others that I have received");
document.writeln("simply because you saw fit. Help me never forget that every good and perfect");
document.writeln("gift comes from you, and that you are always worthy of my thankful praise.");
document.writeln("Whether that gift is here to stay, or simply to enjoy for a moment, I am");
document.writeln("thankful for it all. Allow me to always obey your will, and trust that");
document.writeln("everything you give or take away in my life will be used for something greater. In the name of Jesus I pray, amen.</span></p><font face=\"Times New Roman\" size=\"3\">");
document.writeln("</font><ol style=\"list-style-type: decimal; direction: ltr;\"><li style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;\"><p style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-top: 0in; margin-bottom: 8pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\"><span style=\"line-height: 107%; font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\">1");
document.writeln("Samuel 2:1-2 (<i>NLT</i>). </span></p></li></ol><font face=\"Times New Roman\" size=\"3\">");
document.writeln("</font><p style=\"margin: 0in 0in 8pt;\"><span style=\"line-height: 107%; font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\">&nbsp;</span></p><font face=\"Times New Roman\" size=\"3\">");
document.writeln("</font><p style=\"margin: 0in 0in 8pt;\"><span style=\"line-height: 107%; font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\">Today\'€™s Encounter was written by: Crystal B. </span></p><font face=\"Times New Roman\" size=\"3\">");
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  document.writeln("<p style=\"font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;font-size: 10pt;\">This and other devotionals by Richard (Dick) Innes <a href=\"http://www.actsweb.org/archives.php\" target=\"_blank\">can be read online</a>.<br><br>Copyright &copy; 1990 - 2025<br /><a href=\"http://www.actsweb.org/\" target=\"_blank\">ACTS International</a></p>");
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