Safe Haven
Pastor Naomi Eden

Psalm 46:1 New Living Translation
1 God is our refuge and strength,
always ready to help in times of trouble.

Psalm 119:103 New International Version
103 How sweet are your words (Your living promises) to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

1. God is your refuge

Psalm 46:1 New Living Translation
1 God is our refuge and strength,
always ready to help in times of trouble.
God is calling us to be participators in a new way of living and thinking.

1 Samuel 1:1-3, 5-7 New International Version
1 There was a certain man from Ramathaim, a Zuphite from the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Elkannah son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite.
2 He had two wives; one was called Hannah and the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none.
3 Year after year this man went up from his town to worship and sacrifice to the Lord Almighty at Shiloh, where Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, were priests of the Lord. 4 Whenever the day came for Elkannah to sacrifice, he would give portions of the meat to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters. 5 But to Hannah he gave a double portion because he loved her, and the Lord had closed her womb.
6 Because the Lord had closed Hannah’s womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her. 7 This went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the Lord, her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat.

1 Samuel 1:1
1 There was a certain man from Ramathaim, a Zuphite from the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Elkannah.


God's refuge will send Gods Strategic person

1 Samuel 1:2
2 He had two wives; one was called Hannah and the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none.

Isaiah 43:18-19 New International Version
18 “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.
19 See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.

1 Samuel 1:3
3 Year after year (Elkannah), this man went up from his town to worship and sacrifice to the Lord Almighty at Shiloh, where Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, were priests of the Lord.

God is growing your spirit

1 Samuel 1:6,7
6 Because the Lord had closed Hannah’s womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her. 7 This went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the Lord, her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat.

2. The sweetness of God's word.

Psalm 119:103 New International Version
103 How sweet are your words (Your living promises) to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

Ephesians 6:12 New International Version
12 Your hand-to-hand combat is not with human beings, For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Psalm 31:20 New Living Translation
20 You hide them in the shelter of your presence, safe from those who conspire against them.
You shelter them in your presence, far from accusing tongues.

Matthew 13:24-30 The Message
24-26 He told another story. “God’s kingdom is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field. That night, while his hired men were asleep, his enemy sowed thistles all through the wheat and slipped away before dawn. When the first green shoots appeared and the grain began to form, the thistles showed up, too.
27 “The farmhands came to the farmer and said, ‘Master, that was clean seed you planted, wasn’t it? Where did these thistles come from?’
28 “He answered, ‘Some enemy did this.’
“The farmhands asked, ‘Should we weed out the thistles?’
29-30 “He said, ‘No, if you weed the thistles, you’ll pull up the wheat, too. Let them grow together until harvest time. Then I’ll instruct the harvesters to pull up the thistles and tie them in bundles for the fire, then gather the wheat and put it in the barn.’”


1 Samuel 1:8
8 Her husband Elkannah would say to her, “Hannah, why are you weeping? Why don’t you eat? Why are you downhearted? Don’t I mean more to you than ten sons?”

1 Samuel 1:9-10
9 Once when they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah stood up. Now Eli the priest was sitting on his chair by the doorpost of the Lord’s house. 10 In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly.

Romans 8:26 The Voice
26 A similar thing happens
when we pray
. We are weak and do not know how to pray, so the Spirit steps in and articulates prayers for us with groaning too profound for words.

James 5:13 Amplified Bible, Classic Edition
13 Is anyone among you afflicted (ill-treated, suffering evil)? He should pray.

3. God's Faithfulness

1 Samuel 1:11
11 And she made a vow, saying, “Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.”

Jeremiah 29:12 The Message
12 “When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I’ll listen.

John 14:26 New International Version
26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

1 Samuel 1:17-18
17 Eli answered, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.”
18 She said, “May your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast.

Psalm 27:5-11 New Living Translation
5 For he will conceal me there when troubles come; he will hide me in his sanctuary.
He will place me out of reach on a high rock.
6 Then I will hold my head high above my enemies who surround me.
At his sanctuary I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy, singing and praising the Lord with music.
7 Hear me as I pray, O Lord. Be merciful and answer me!
8 My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.” And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.”

1 Samuel 1:19-20
19 Early the next morning they arose and worshiped before the Lord and then went back to their home at Ramah. Elkanah made love to his wife Hannah, and the Lord remembered her. 20 So in the course of time Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, “Because I asked the Lord for him.”

Psalm 23:1-4 The Passion Translation
23 1 The Lord is my best friend and my shepherd. I always have more than enough.
2 He offers a resting place for me in his luxurious love. His tracks take me to an oasis of peace, the quiet brook of bliss.
3 That’s where he restores and revives my life. He opens before me pathways to God’s pleasure and leads me along in his footsteps of righteousness so that I can bring honor to his name.
4 Lord, even when your path takes me through the valley of deepest darkness,
fear will never conquer me, for you already have!
You remain close to me and lead me through it all the way.Your authority is my strength and my peace.The comfort of your love takes away my fear.
I’ll never be lonely, for you are near.