Introduction
Prayer is the opening up of the heart to God as to a friend. Not that it is necessary in order to make known to God what we are, but in order to enable us to receive Him. Prayer does not bring God down to us, but brings us up to Him. It is in your most broken place that you can pray the most heartfelt and sincere prayers. One of the most intimate and authentic prayers is given by a woman in the bible by the name of Hannah in 1 Samuel 1:11. Here are 9 lessons I learnt from Hannah’s prayer.
1. When Despondency sets in your Spirit begins to groan
1 Samuel 1:2 ends by saying “Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children”. The lack of any children in comparison to Peninnahs “children”, began the prayer journey for Hannah. Each year she waited like any married woman does for a child, but none was forthcoming. Unfortunately this was not so for her co-wife, each year she had a bundle of joy. Each year as Hannah watched what seemed to be blessings in her co-wife’s house, she begun to regard herself a little lower than Penninah. Unknown to her, this is when her spirt began to be stirred as she yearned for a hearing before the throne of He who alone is just. Job 23:2-4 “Even today my complaint is bitter; his hand[a] is heavy in spite of[b] my groaning. If only I knew where to find him; if only I could go to his dwelling! I would state my case before him and fill my mouth with arguments.
2. Your prayer changes when you ask the Lord “What do you want to do in my life?” instead of “Why me?”
Twice the 1 Samuel 1 states ” the Lord had closed her womb”, in verses 5 and 6. Its apparent that both Hannah’s husband Elkanah and her co-wife Penninah understood that it was the Lord who had closed her womb. Knowing that her womb was closed by the Lord, Hannah could have asked the Lord why, like many of us often do in similar circumstances. Interestingly she did not dwell on the “why me?” but rather began to look for what the Lord wanted to do in her life by delaying her child bearing. Her actual prayer in 1 Samuel 1:11 she makes a vow, Hannah had got the reason why God had closed her womb!
3. Provocation is the fuel that lights up the Prayer Altar
1 Samuel 1:6 “And her rival also provoked her severely, to make her miserable, because the LORD had closed her womb..” The enemy knows where it hurts the most. That place of your greatest pain, that is the place you are most vulnerable. Hannah’s co-wife knew where she could hurt Hannah deepest. Not once or twice did she provoke her but several times. Little did Hannah know that the words that pierced her soul were the best fuel to light up her Prayer Altar. Always take that which hurts you deepest and use it as fuel for your Prayer Altar it will change your prayers.
4. Let your weeping lead you to your Prayer Altar
1 Samuel 1:7 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. Hannah wept until she could not eat. When your soul is in anguish you will weep. Tears will run down your cheeks like a flowing river. Hannah lost herself to her pain, she stopped eating. No one could console her, not even her husband who loved her. Her appetite for food and those around her was lost. She desired a child more than anything else. Her husband did not understand her pain. He thought he was worth more than ten sons to her. She wanted a child of her own, she wanted to be called a mother. She longed to hold her child at her breast and feel the warmth and joy of motherhood. This desire lead her to seek the Prayer Altar she knew only God could give her what she needed.
5. Pour your heart at the Prayer Altar
1 Samuel 1:9 “So Hannah arose… She made up her mind to pray in the tabernacle of the Lord. In bitterness of the soul, she prayed to the Lord and wept in anguish of the soul. Let me paint this picture for those who have never been here. Hannah was not herself, the only thing she visible to her was the invisible God. She didn’t even notice Eli seated by the doorpost of the tabernacle. Her broken heart was too much for her to bear, the minute she entered, everything she had been holding back poured out. Her frustration over the years, her shame, her bitterness, her desperation… these all came pouring in. It was like someone opened the door to overflowing dam and all the water came rushing in. She did not care who was watching, she did not bother with how she looked or how what she said, it all came pouring out. The Prayer Altar needs to be the place where you unlock all the doors you dare not open in public.
6. Let your prayer request be a Partnership with God:
No one ever sees this coming. All the while as Hannah came and went from Shiloh, she noticed a need in the temple. The priests who were the sons of Eli were wicked and lead God’s people to sin. Each year as Hannah came to Shiloh with her family she saw the need for a Godly priest. God’s desire became her desire. She began to open her soul heavenward. Then she understood, God needed her attention. He wanted to give her special gift, but He could only give it to her when she first understood the need and gave the gift willingly. Hannah now understood how she needed to pray. When she goes into pray, she makes a vow to God. She asked the God of Hosts to give her a son who she would give back to God to serve in the temple all the days of his life. What a vow! An amazing request, it was not about her anymore it was all about God. Give me and I will return him back to you. There was no way God was not going to answer such a prayer!
7. Pray until your prayer is answered
Hannah continued to pray, until Eli the priest who was watching was drawn to her because of the way she prayed. He thought she was drunk due to the manner in which she prayed. I leave that to you to imagine how it is she prayed that made the priest make such a remark. Then, when Eli had confirmed why she prayed as she did he asked the Lord to grant her that which she asked. Hannah’s demeanor changed, she was no longer sad and went and ate. See the faith of Hannah, she had not received the child she had asked the Lord for but she was certain he was on the way. Take a hold of faith and pray until the Lord answers your prayer.
8. Always keep your vow
The Lord will answer your prayers. When He does always keep your vow. It must not have been easy for Hannah to keep her vow. She got the one thing she so deeply desired a male child. But she did not hesitate to give him to the Lord as she promised. Always keep your vow. God blessed Hannah with many more children after she gave back to Samuel. Not only that Samuel lived to be one of the greatest prophets of his time, serving God sincerely and with great humility. In the laps of Hannah as a little boy, he learnt many things that he took with him into the temple. And each year she went to Shiloh and took to him gifts and even though it is not mentioned she must have continued to remind him continuously of how the Lord had given him to her as His precious gift! Give the Lord back what you vow and see him open up great treasures for not only you but for those around you.
9. Return back to the Lord with Thanksgiving
A heart of gratitude carries the day for Hannah. She worships the God who took away her shame and gave her back her joy. Her thanksgiving is recorded in 1 Samuel 2: 1-10, one of the most heartwarming praise from the lips of a woman who is now whole. Give thanks to God in all circumstances, praise Him for who He is and for what He does in your life. Glorify God, for He dwells in the praises of His children. Lift up your voice and say thank you Lord!
Conclusion
“The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit,” Psalms 34:18. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise“, Psalm 51:17. When perplexities arise, and difficulties confront you, look not for help to humanity. Trust all with God. The practice of telling our difficulties to others only makes us weak, and brings no strength to them. It lays upon them the burden of our spiritual infirmities, which they cannot relieve. We seek the strength of erring, finite man, when we might have the strength of the unerring, infinite God.
Podcast Link: https://www.buzzsprout.com/814151/episodes/14291702