Prayer is important. In fact the word pray is in the Bible 121 times, the word prayer is used 106 times, and praying is used 36 times, if you combine that with the word prayed which appears 68 the grand total of references int eh Bible for prayer is 375 times - that is 10 more times than we have days in the year.
Prayer has shaped and transformed my life in many ways. But today isn't about me. One of the neatest examples though comes from the story of Hannah. Hannah was a woman broken and tired. She longed for a child. She loved her husband Elkanah, but his other wife Peninnah made her life miserable. Peninnah bore children to Elkanah but because he loved Hannah more, she often used what God meant as a blessing to torment Hannah.
Finally, she could take it no more and so she went to the temple to pray. Her family traveled to Shiloh where the temple was at that time and Hannah bowed in reverence but with a heavy heart before God. Hannah knew that God cared, that God would listen and this is her prayer.
"Making a vow, she pleaded, “Lord of Armies, if you will take notice of your servant’s affliction, remember and not forget me, and give your servant a son,[d] I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and his hair will never be cut.”[e] (1 Samuel 1:11 - CSB).
As Hannah prayed quietly, Eli thought she was drunk, but after discovering her prayer instead he blessed her and asked that God would answer her prayer. And God did hear Hannah and Eli's words and soon Hannah became pregnant. She had a little boy, Samuel and he would grow up to eventually become the last great judge over Israel before they turned to a king as their leaders instead of the way God had intended their lives to be led.
Hannah's joy overflowed and her prayer later shows it. In 1 Samuel 2: 2-10 we see her prayer.
"Hannah prayed:
There is no one holy like the Lord.
Do not boast so proudly,
or let arrogant words come out of your mouth,
for the Lord is a God of knowledge,
and actions are weighed by him.
4
The bows of the warriors are broken,
but the feeble are clothed with strength.
5
Those who are full hire themselves out for food,
but those who are starving hunger no more.
The Lord brings death and gives life;
he sends some down to Sheol, and he raises others up.
7
The Lord brings poverty and gives wealth;
he humbles and he exalts.
8
He raises the poor from the dust
and lifts the needy from the trash heap.
He guards the steps[b] of his faithful ones,
but the wicked perish in darkness,
for a person does not prevail by his own strength.
10
Those who oppose the Lord will be shattered;[c]
he will thunder in the heavens against them.
Prayer has shaped and transformed my life in many ways. But today isn't about me. One of the neatest examples though comes from the story of Hannah. Hannah was a woman broken and tired. She longed for a child. She loved her husband Elkanah, but his other wife Peninnah made her life miserable. Peninnah bore children to Elkanah but because he loved Hannah more, she often used what God meant as a blessing to torment Hannah.
Finally, she could take it no more and so she went to the temple to pray. Her family traveled to Shiloh where the temple was at that time and Hannah bowed in reverence but with a heavy heart before God. Hannah knew that God cared, that God would listen and this is her prayer.
"Making a vow, she pleaded, “Lord of Armies, if you will take notice of your servant’s affliction, remember and not forget me, and give your servant a son,[d] I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and his hair will never be cut.”[e] (1 Samuel 1:11 - CSB).
As Hannah prayed quietly, Eli thought she was drunk, but after discovering her prayer instead he blessed her and asked that God would answer her prayer. And God did hear Hannah and Eli's words and soon Hannah became pregnant. She had a little boy, Samuel and he would grow up to eventually become the last great judge over Israel before they turned to a king as their leaders instead of the way God had intended their lives to be led.
Hannah's joy overflowed and her prayer later shows it. In 1 Samuel 2: 2-10 we see her prayer.
"Hannah prayed:
My heart rejoices in the Lord;
my horn is lifted up by the Lord.
my horn is lifted up by the Lord.
My mouth boasts over my enemies
because I rejoice in your salvation.
2
because I rejoice in your salvation.
2
There is no one besides you!
And there is no rock like our God.
3
3
or let arrogant words come out of your mouth,
for the Lord is a God of knowledge,
and actions are weighed by him.
4
but the feeble are clothed with strength.
5
but those who are starving hunger no more.
The woman who is childless gives birth to seven,
but the woman with many sons pines away.
6
but the woman with many sons pines away.
6
he sends some down to Sheol, and he raises others up.
7
he humbles and he exalts.
8
and lifts the needy from the trash heap.
He seats them with noblemen
and gives them a throne of honor.[a]
and gives them a throne of honor.[a]
For the foundations of the earth are the Lord’s;
he has set the world on them.
9
he has set the world on them.
9
but the wicked perish in darkness,
for a person does not prevail by his own strength.
10
he will thunder in the heavens against them.
The Lord will judge the ends of the earth.
He will give power to his king;
he will lift up the horn of his anointed.[d]" (Christian Standard Bible)
he will lift up the horn of his anointed.[d]" (Christian Standard Bible)
We can learn a lot from Hannah. Not only did she take her sorrows to God, but she also trusted that God could give her the child she desperately longed for. She went home after delivering Samuel to Eli and had more children.
God longs to hear our prayers. He will and can answer our questions and He isn't afraid of them, He gave us a brain after all, why would He not expect us to use that gift?
Maybe today is a tough day for you. Maybe you feel like God is distant, know that He loves you, He longs to spend time with you and He sees you even when you think you are alone.
Abba Father,
Thank you so much that we can come to You any time, day or night. Thank you that no matter what, You hear us, You laugh with us, You weep with us. Lord, teach us to pray and seek You each and every day.
Amen
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