Prayer

Hello to anyone who happens across this. It has been a while so if you've read before you may have given up on me or moved on. I am here today and that is all that matters.

My devo time has been a scattered lately and quite sparadic so in an effort to have a more focused devotion time I have found myself in 1 Samuel. I would like to share what God has laid on my heart so far.

1 Samuel starts out with story of Samuel's mother Hannah. Hannah was married to Elkanah who also had a second wife, Peninnah. Peninnah was able to bear children and Hannah could not. As the story went Elkanah loved Hannah more than Penninah and out of jeleousy Penninah made fun of Hannah and made her life misserable. Hannah wanted nothing more in life than to have a child. She endured this hardship for years. So Hannah went to the one who has all the answers, God, and pleaded for a child, in fact in her pleas she vowed that if she was to be given a child, she would give the child back to the Lord for His service in the temple.

Great story, so what, right?

What I was impressed with was the manner in which Hannah prayed. She prayed silently , intimately in her heart. No fancy words or actions, she just silently poured out her heart. The other thing I noticed was that she didn't fight back when oppressed by Penninah. She endured it all those years and when she couldn't take it anymore, She took it to the Lord. In her words, to the Priest Eli, who thought she was drunk because she was moving her lips but no words were coming out, "I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the Lord".   ......"I have been praying out of my great anguish and grief."1 Sam. 1:15-16. The part I like about the last part is "praying out of ". It may not mean this, but I think it works.  In her time of great need her prayers will take her out of the situation that was bringing her great sorrow. What is the best way to get out of situations that are bringing us sorrow. Pray. Pray out of. Seek God first in any and all situations we don't have the answers for.

Does it work?

1 Sam 1:19-20 "and the Lord remembered her.......in the course of time Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son" God heard and answered. Pastor Roger pointed this out to me. Not only did God give Hannah a son, he gave Israel a leader that would help shape the future of Israel, Samuel. God also honored Hannah for following though with her pledge to give Samuel to the Lord. 1 Sam 2:21 " And the Lord was gracious to Hannah; she gave birth to three sons and two daughters." God is faithful.

God is listening.

God Bless you,

Russ.