DCLM Daily Manna – 31 December 2025: Gratitude To God

DCLM Daily Manna – 31 December 2025 Devotional Message Written By Pastor W.F Kumuyi

Read DCLM Daily Manna – 31 December 2025, Wednesday Devotional Message.

TOPIC: Gratitude To God

KEY VERSE
“And Hannah prayed, and said, my heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: My mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation” (1 Samuel 2:1)

SCRIPTURE READING — 1 Samuel 2:1-9

In 1972, singer and activist Joan Baez was in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, during a 12-day American bombing campaign. She described being in the basement of her hotel, terrified and thinking she was going to die. Baez noted that during the crisis, even atheists and agnostics were praying. However, once the danger passed, people returned to their previous beliefs and structures. This experience taught her about human behaviour in times of crisis and the tendency to revert to familiar beliefs afterward.

From today’s passage, Hannah returns praise to God. She is not a stranger to adversity. During her earlier visit to God’s house, she spoke in her heart; her voice was not heard. From the context, we, of course, know what her prayer was. It certainly matched with her vow: “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 to thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head” (1 Samuel 1:11). And the Lord answered her prayer and gave her a son, Samuel.

Hannah’s second prayer is a poem and song of praise, celebrating her deliverance from reproach and oppression. She praised God not just for the birth of Samuel, but also for dedicating him to the temple when he was young.

As the year comes to an end, it is a time to reflect on God’s faithfulness and provision in the face of challenges. Many of us have turned to God in times of need, finding Him to be our refuge in the storms of life. However, it is easy to forget His goodness once the crisis has passed. Like Hannah, we should offer heartfelt praise and thanksgiving to God for His abundant mercies as we approach a new year. Let us remember to express gratitude for all that He has done for us, acknowledging His blessings and favour in our lives.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: There’s something wrong when our prayers are louder than our praises to God.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR
Revelation 21-22

About Author – Pastor W.F. Kumuyi
Listed among “500 most powerful people on the planet” by the Foreign Policy magazine in 2013, Pastor (Dr.) William F. Kumuyi is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM) headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria. DCLM started in 1973 as a 15-member Bible study group right in Kumuyi’s apartment at University of Lagos where he was a lecturer. His revolutionary Bible teaching on personal holiness and commitment to evangelism soon gained so much traction and resulted in a widespread revival.