Prayers of the Bible - Hannah

You are all probably familiar with the story of Hannah and her prayer for a child.  Have you ever really studied her prayer for what you can learn for those times when you have a long-standing petition heavy on your heart?  Read her prayer and add your thoughts about what you observe and how you can apply it to your life. 

1Sa 1:10 -18  NASB - She, greatly distressed, prayed to the LORD and wept bitterly. She made a vow and said, "O LORD of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a son, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and a razor shall never come on his head."  Now it came about, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli was watching her mouth.   As for Hannah, she was speaking in her heart, only her lips were moving, but her voice was not heard. So Eli thought she was drunk. Then Eli said to her, "How long will you make yourself drunk? Put away your wine from you." But Hannah replied, "No, my lord, I am a woman oppressed in spirit; I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have poured out my soul before the LORD.  Do not consider your maidservant as a worthless woman, for I have spoken until now out of my great concern and provocation."  Then Eli answered and said, "Go in peace; and may the God of Israel grant your petition that you have asked of Him."  She said, "Let your maidservant find favor in your sight. So the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.

Hannah left her burden with God and went away at peace.  Do I leave my burdens with the Lord or do I pick them back up with an anxious heart?

The name Hannah used in making her request was Lord of Hosts which indicates she acknowledged and petitioined a powerful God.  Do I truly believe God has the power to answer my request?  What name (or names) of God correspond to my request?

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Prayers of the Bible

The Bible provides many examples of prayers: some short, some long, joyful ones and ones that are cries for help, prayers made during times of hiding or times of celebration - all given as examples for us to learn how to pray.  Periodically a prayer will be posted here (with a brief background) for you to read, ponder and apply.  Share any lessons you see and/or any ways you could apply those lessons.  A few will be given to get you started.  As we study these examples of prayer, they will affect our Facetime with God.

The psalms of David contain many prayers and are favorites of many.  In Psalm 3, David acknowledges his trust in and deliverance by God's hand when threatened and surrounded by Absolom's army.

Psalm 3 (NASB)

Morning Prayer of Trust in God.

A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son.

3 O Lord, how my adversaries have increased!
Many are rising up against me.
² Many are saying of my soul,
“There is no deliverance for him in God.” Selah.

³ But You, O Lord, are a shield about me,
My glory, and the One who lifts my head.
⁴ I was crying to the Lord with my voice,
And He answered me from His holy mountain. Selah.
⁵ I lay down and slept;
I awoke, for the Lord sustains me.
⁶ I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people
Who have set themselves against me round about.

⁷ Arise, O Lord; save me, O my God!
For You have smitten all my enemies on the cheek;
You have shattered the teeth of the wicked.
⁸ Salvation belongs to the Lord;
Your blessing be upon Your people! Selah.

 

 

David acknowledges his circumstances but reminds himself of the truth about God. vv. 1-3 (An example of living by faith not sight - or emotions!)  What determines my outlook each day - my circumstances or the truth found in God's Word.

 

David's ability to sleep in this situation demonstrates his complete trust in God.  v. 5  How does my life show that I am trusting God completely?

"Daily Bread"

Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes  from the mouth of God.' Matt. 4:4       This is the place for you to share any scripture (or scripture based quotes) that have ministered to you recently.  You may add comments about why or how they were meaningful to you, if you wish.  It is a way to encourage your sisters in their walk with the Lord and point them to the Bread of Life.

Lori's Testimony

Lori Dorman posted this on Facebook 2 days after her diagnosis of breast cancer, June 6, 2012.  She gave permission to post it on our blog.  It is a wonderful tribute to the peace that passes all understanding that God gives His children through His Spirit, His Word, and His people. 

 

Picture courtesy of Lisa Cochran

 First, I just cannot put into words how very loved and blessed I am to have all of you praying for me!!! Thank you CBC (my home church), for Misty Dorman putting me on her prayer chain and Kristy Haney putting me on her church pray...er chain!
Here is the verse God gave me this morning " Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through YOUR PRAYERS and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always CHRIST will be exalted in my body." Phil 1 18b - 20
Is that now amazing!
Secondly, You may choose not to believe this, but it is true, I have not been plagued with the question "why me God?" about this cancer. I have felt so "held" in my Father's hand and my faith in God being in control of my life, that I have had such peace. I will be honest and tell you that I am afraid of "chemo"--but that dear friends is where you come in with your prayers! I will not know if chemo is necessary until the lab results come in after surgery...and again God says in v. 27 of Phil. "whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Jesus Christ....without being frightened in any way...(v. 28)
This is my prayer that through all of this I can be a flame to light your faith...to help YOU my friends to see and know that God IS REAL and there for you in WHATEVER you might be facing! Phil 1:9 "And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight" --for YOU and ME to draw close to God. I have experienced these past 3 days God's IMMENSE LOVE for me! Oh, how He loves...these are the tears I cry...not from fear, but for this GRACE - I don't deserve. He loves YOU too! That's all I need to say right now, please know I need and value your prayers!

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Pam's testimony - One Thousand Gifts

Jan asked me to share how the book 1000 Gifts has impacted my life.  That’s something to ponder.  It is sometimes hard to measure one’s own inward change.

Let me begin by sharing how I came to read this book.  My son, Jordan, took his life in March of last year.  At his funeral I became reacquainted with a gal I’d known ten years ago.  Like me, she had recently lost one of her sons to death.  She recommended Ann Voskamp’s blog and told me about the book One Thousand Gifts.

I began reading One Thousand Gifts as an ebook. (It carries along with me wherever I go on my smart phone.)  I quickly discovered that this would be a book I would savor rather than consume.  I read it slowly and still return to it frequently.  It is one of the most treasured books I’ve ever been privileged to read, one that I believe will continue to impact me the rest of my life.

Ann’s book was written as a result of the tragic death of her sister when they both were very young.  This event very negatively influenced Ann’s family as well as Ann as an adult.  In this book, she relates how a simple challenge from a friend to make a list of things for which she is grateful transformed her.

Have I followed the author’s lead and made a list of 1000 Gifts that I am thankful for?  You bet.  And I’m going to keep making these lists because God’s mercies are new every morning.  This giving of thanks to God by record keeping, by naming “Grace Moments”, by specifying “Gifts that I Already Have”, I believe, is transforming me.  

For one thing, my outlook is more hopeful.  Hope.  Now that is a little word of large consequence!  It was my (and my daughter Megan’s) word for the year 2011.  Don’t we all need hope?  After beginning to experience the most enormous loss of my life I needed renewed hope.  Because of Jesus Christ and God’s promises in His Word I had hope, sure hope.  This book came right alongside God’s Word to help make that hope more distinct, more tangible, sort of the way glasses are a tool to clear obscured vision and help us see things as they really are.

Through the encouragement of Ann’s insights regarding the Biblical giving of thanks and through the practice of specifically naming and recording items of which I am thankful to God, my faith is being shored up. I am growing in understanding of what I do have--even in the face of tremendous, temporary loss--and hope is giving birth to joy.

Learning to intentionally give thanks has very positively impacted my daily worship of God.  These lists are a personal testimony of God’s tailored love for me, His goodness.  It sometimes takes my breath when I discover one of God’s priceless gifts right in front of me, lavished on me, just waiting to be accepted from His loving heart.  Pausing to make that list, that takes attention.  I get to give God my full attention.  I get to recognize Him, worship Him.  I get to live life moment by moment aware of His presence.  I get to live life abundantly. 

I have also found this tallying to be a delightful tool for reflection.  It is a personalized history that recounts God’s activity in my life.  Remembering God’s precise goodness encourages me and makes me smile and spurs me onward, especially when I am discouraged.

Not only do I derive pleasure from counting my blessings, but also from reading about others’ blessings.  Here and there, Ann shares from her list of gifts and what she is learning. I find myself celebrating our great God with her.  I would like to share with you a few of God’s gifts to me and then close with a verse of scripture.  I hope you are blessed and reminded that God loves you so very much.

Here goes:

Meal time together with family

Starry sky
Warm sweater hugging me tight
Timeless hydrangea, good for little girls’ bouquets, dried for year-round enjoyment, beauty lavished  on my eyes
Lessons I’m learning from my bus kids
My husband’s companionship
Distant flashes of lightning
Power naps
Eyes, individual, expressive, beautiful, full of life
Henry, the dog, nose pressed close to my bus door
Squirrel friends chasing each other in the morning
Messy, lived-in house
A friend’s encouragement
Talking with Megan
Laughing together
A note with our names in beautiful calligraphy
A friend’s visit
Hearing my child’s heartbeat, hearing them breathe as they sleep
Phone call from Mama
Dazzling frost on my windshield
Daniel, so funny
Christmas lights
Banjos and bagpipes
Moonflower seeds

Ps. 40:5 Many, O Lord my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward:  they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee:  if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.

 

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