Are you provoked? Have you ever been provoked? Don’t give in!
Provoke means to incite, aggravate, inflame or irritate.
Do people, situations, or events you are going through incite, want to inflame, aggravate your emotions, irritate and provoke you? Don’t give in.
The singular purpose of provocation is to reduce you. Don’t allow it.
In 1 Samuel Chapter 1; Hannah, a gracious lady (Hannah means gracious) was being persistently provoked by Peninnah, a precious lady (Peninnah means Pearl). Hannah was being provoked so she could fret - be made troubled, worried and confused. May you not fret in the face of provocation in Jesus mighty name! Amen.
The Bible says in v6-7
6 And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb.
7 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.
Another translation of v6 states Hannah was reduced to tears. Provocation reduces a person - reduction in peace, joy, emotional strength, physical strength etc. May you not reduce but rather increase, in Jesus mighty name! Amen.
Note that Hannah was being provoked because of a problem only God could solve. When she turned to the Lord, pouring out her heart and soul to God in prayer, she was heard. God settled her. She was no more sad, no more crying, joy took over in the place of weeping, gladness in place of sorrow; the Almighty God blessed her beyond what she asked for.
When Moses turned to the Lord in the burning bush, his destiny and purpose was established and he became a good reference point for future generations.
In this year of divine greatness, I see God settling you all round. May God change issues on which you are being provoked to steps of promotion, weeping to laughter and where you have been sore to incidences of soaring; in Jesus mighty name! May the Lord who changed the story of Jabesh from sorrow to joy; give you everlasting peace and gladness; in Jesus mighty name! Amen.
