The Lord Has Granted my Petition~

Thursday greetings~

Today we revisit a woman named Hannah who was bold in her prayers. 

Hannah could not get pregnant, and it was heartbreaking.  To make matters worse, others in her community made fun of her because she didn’t have children.  (I guess mean girls have always existed), and surprise surprise, her own husband didn’t understand her.  “Don’t I mean more to you than 10 sons?” 1 Samuel 1:8. 

What did Hannah do?

1 Samuel 1:11-12, “Crushed in soul, Hannah prayed to God and cried and cried –   inconsolably.  ‘Oh God…take a good hard look at my pain, go into action for me by giving me a son.  I’ll give him completely, unreservedly to you.  I’ll set him apart for a life of holy discipline.’”

Hannah is crushed, and by now we know that her own husband doesn’t get it.  She could have nagged him, tried to get him to see it her way.  But Hannah shows us a better way.  Rather than complain that he is not meeting her needs, she goes straight to God and cries out to Him – not just telling Him how much it hurts, but also boldly asking Him to go into action for her.

When we are inconsolable, there is no one better to turn to than to God.  

And then we read verse 19 and learn that as Hannah and her husband made love, “God began making all the necessary arrangements in response to what she had asked.”

But wait a minute?  If Hannah asked God to go into action for her, why did she have to make love to get pregnant?

Sometimes we have to do something that is natural for God to move supernaturally.

It’s called taking a step of faith, and this is a principal we can apply to almost everything in life.

You want to get into a certain college?  God wants you to fill out the application first.

You need a job? God wants you to set up some interviews.

You want to get married?  God wants you to go out on a date and meet new people.

In other words, we pray, we take a step of faith, and then God acts accordingly.

Verse 20 says that “before the year was out, Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son.  She named him Samuel, which means, ‘I asked God for him.’”

This chapter concludes with Hannah joyfully testifying, “For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted my petition.”

When we pray amazing things happen in our families.  Samuel grew up to be a mighty man of God who was powerful and prominent in his nation of Israel.  

One more thing.  Hannah went from having no kids to having three more sons and two daughters for a total of six. AMEN!

PRAYER: Dear Lord, We have learned that in order for You to grant a petition, we have to offer it up.  So we pray today and ask You to go into action for us just like You did for Hannah.  Here is my specific petition for You: _________________________________. I have prayed, show me how and when to take a step of faith, and thank You that You will act accordingly.  In Jesus’ name, AMEN~