Articles
The Pleasing Prayer of Faith
The Birth of Samuel
1 There was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim of the hill country of Ephraim whose name was Elkanah the son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Zuph, an Ephrathite. 2 He had two wives. The name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other, Peninnah. And Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children. 3 Now this man used to go up year by year from his city to worship and to sacrifice to the Lord of hosts at Shiloh, where the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests of the Lord. 4 On the day when Elkanah sacrificed, he would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters. 5 But to Hannah he gave a double portion, because he loved her, though the Lord had closed her womb. 6 And her rival used to provoke her grievously to irritate her, because the Lord had closed her womb. 7 So it went on year by year. As often as she went up to the house of the Lord, she used to provoke her. Therefore Hannah wept and would not eat. 8 And Elkanah, her husband, said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep? And why do you not eat? And why is your heart sad? Am I not more to you than ten sons?”
9 After they had eaten and drunk in Shiloh, Hannah rose. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat beside the doorpost of the temple of the Lord. 10 She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly. 11 And she vowed a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head.”
12 As she continued praying before the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. 13 Hannah was speaking in her heart; only her lips moved, and her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli took her to be a drunken woman. 14 And Eli said to her, “How long will you go on being drunk? Put your wine away from you.” 15 But Hannah answered, “No, my lord, I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the Lord. 16 Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation.” 17 Then Eli answered, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition that you have made to him.” 1 Samuel 1:1-17
Hannah demonstrates a pleasing faith and prayer before God, selflessly finding a way to put aside her own desires to serve God’s will, recognizing also that there is not anything too hard and or impossible for God pertaining to righteousness. Even the joy of receiving the child that Hannah prayed for did not prevent her from keeping her promise and giving Samuel to God that he may serve before the Lord all his days.
God is a Spirit and those that worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in truth, requiring me to read, meditate and reread the Scriptures in order to know God’s everything pertaining to life and godliness. Therefore, I pray to Him and He communicates to me through His holy, inspired Word, which communicates His will and desire for all men; that in my faith and obedience to His commands as a Christian, I am blessed beyond measure by the free gift of grace that my Savior Jesus offers to this condemned world, to whoever would answer His call to obedience. As I continue to spend time reading God’s Word, my faith can grow believing in God’s love, power, and deliverance for His people. The Apostle Paul would write, “16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”
I ask my Lord to remove any insincerity, doubt, and fear from my life and prayers, so that I may have a pleasing faith before Him. In faith, I continue to ask my Lord for humility, love, and wisdom, so that I can demonstrate a life before Him that pleases Him--which I submit totally to His will and not my own; as it is written, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” See John 8:31-32
Lastly, we are reminded that:
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. James 1:5-8
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