May the Lord give you children. … I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. … God has surely listened and has heard my prayer.

God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. … I will make you very fruitful. … Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. … Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! … The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him. … For the Mighty One has done great things for me—holy is his name. … Giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. … Sarah said, “God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.” … Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. … Sing for joy, you heavens, for the Lord has done this.

So the next generation would tell their children. Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands. … So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord. … For to us a child is born, to us a son is given. … Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

1Sa 2:20, 1Sa 1:27, Ps 66:19; Ge 1:28, Ge 17:6, Ps 127:3-5, Lu 1:42, Ps 28:7; Lu 1:49, Ep 5:20, Ge 21:6, Ps 126:2, Is 44:23, Ps 78:6-7, 1Sa 1:28, Is 9:6, 2Co 9:15

Most of this verse compilation, originally in the King James’ Version, is from: Anne Graham Lotz. Daily Light for Life’s Moments. In: Daily Light for Every Day. J. Countryman. Nashville, TN. 1998.

Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®, Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.