So, let’s talk about Hannah—she knew how to bring the drama! She prayed like she was writing a love letter to God:
“My heart exults in the LORD;
My strength is exalted in my God...
There is no Holy One like the LORD,
No one besides you;
There is no Rock like our God.” 1 Samuel 2:1-2
I mean, come on! That’s next-level gushing. She went full-on fireworks and confetti. Now, I don’t know about you, but I’m not naturally the kind of person to get all extra like that. I come from solid, no-nonsense prairie stock—the kind of folks who smile like it costs money and only when absolutely necessary. If you see a smile on my face, it is because I have worked to put it there through years of dedication My natural go-to expression? Let’s just say it’s somewhere between “resting scary face” and “don’t mess with me.” You know, “prairie folk.”
But even this prairie-hardened heart knows there’s a time for extravagance. Case in point: Fall of 1981. I was 18, and life was all neatly planned out. Budget? Check. Schedule? Check. Girlfriend? Nope—and for good reason. Girlfriends weren’t in the budget, and I was sticking to the plan. Then along came Beverly.
We went hiking at Snoqualmie Falls, and when we got back, we spent the rest of the day talking. And just like that, the plan? Out the window. The budget, I was going to need more money. Monday morning, I marched into the Financial Aid Office and declared, “I met her. I like her. I need more money.”
I took out a $2,000 student loan and blew the whole thing, courting her. Fancy dinners, dancing, you name it. It was what they call in the business world “false advertising.” In law enforcement, they call it “bait and switch.” Was it a tad extravagant? Sure. Did it work? You bet. By July 3rd, there was a ring on her finger.
Sometimes, you have to go big. Nobody wants a “bare minimum” kind of love. Imagine a marriage like this:
A marriage certificate? Just a work permit.
Love is blind, but marriage is an eye-opener. Yikes.
Holding hands before marriage is love; afterward, it’s self-defense? Double yikes.
Nobody signs up for that! Real love isn’t about playing it safe. It’s about jumping in, all-in, head-first, heart-full. It’s passionate, it’s boundary-breaking, and sometimes, it’s just plain crazy. Think about it:
“She’s In Love with the Boy” (Trisha Yearwood) Katie doesn’t care what anyone thinks—she’s following Tommy anywhere. That’s extravagant!
“I Cross My Heart” (George Strait) He’s giving all he’s got to make all her dreams come true. That’s extravagant!
“I Swear” (John Michael Montgomery) “For better or worse, till death do us part.” Yep, still extravagant!
“Forever and Ever, Amen” (Randy Travis) He’s loving her forever and ever and ever (and ever). Extravagant to infinity!
Sometimes, life calls for that kind of love—the crazy, over-the-top, write-it-in-the-sky kind. And that’s precisely the kind of love Hannah talked about in her prayer. She wasn’t holding back. She wasn’t doing the polite nod to God. She went full-on extravagant.
There’s a word for that kind of love-talk in the Bible: PRAISE. So, here’s my challenge: Don’t take another step, another breath, another moment without giving it a try. Picture Jesus—close your eyes—and let the praise fly:
“My heart exults in you, O LORD;
My strength is exalted in my God...
There is no Holy One like the LORD,
No one besides you;
There is no Rock like our God.”
Go ahead—get extravagant. You’ll be glad you did.
Have a Great Week!
Pastor Corey