Main Verse: 1 Samuel 2:1-11

Good morning!

Hannah’s prayer is a “Shigionoth” or “A Strong Emotion and Impassioned triumphant song.” After enduring Peninah’s endless insults, Elkanah’s placation, and Eli’s defamatory statement, Hannah could have caved into despair. Instead, she wrote this prayer and praised the Lord for His faithfulness. Hannah could have given up hope and caved into despair instead, she held tighter to the hands of the Lord knowing that He is faithful and will honor the desires of His servants (Psalms 37:3-6).

Scripture tells us that prayer is the most important tool we have to use against the Devil, but it isn’t the only tool we have at our disposal. When the Lord answered Hannah’s prayer she could have pointed her finger at Peninah and said, “Boo Yah” but it would not have pleased God (Proverbs 24:17-18). She could have disregarded her promise to the Lord thinking, “I’ve finally gotten what I wanted and I am not about to surrender him to anybody”; Yet, she would have displeased God even with Abraham’s proof that God is faithful (Genesis 22, Deuteronomy 23:21-23). Instead, she used the 2^nd tool we have against the Devil “Faithfulness” by following through on her vow (Psalm 31:23-24). By writing this prayer and reciting it, she the 3^rd tool, “Praise” (James 4:7-10). By presenting the boy to Eli in observance of her vow, she used the fourth tool “Testify!” (Psalm 66:16, Revelations 12:11).

            The prayer did not paint a rosy picture to deny that bad things don’t happen nor that bad people do not prosper on the earth sometimes at the expense of others. Samuel’s birth was Hannah’s evidence that if people commit their lives to the Lord and never lose faith in Him, He will come through – and that is a promise we can hold on to. To those who were defeated and in need of encouragement this word was dynamite but to those who looked down on her, it was a word of admonishment; in both cases, the Lord is speaking to the hearts through their situation(s). When we pray and ask God for something, it is not a wish list to say, “God give me this __”  because he is not a doddering old man with an unlimited expense account. God is our Heavenly Father and knows the desires of our hearts; by asking for our needs we acknowledge He is the Lord our Provider (Genesis 22:13-14). Each time we ask for our needs and He comes through, our faith in Him increases (Matthew 7:7-8). My encouragement for you today is, to review this prayer model and consider it as you prepare your New Year’s Eve prayer for 2025.

I.H.S. MK

Father,

The prayers of your people are a sweet aroma to you (Psalm 141:2, Leviticus 2:2). You see the tears we shed, the pain and sorrow we endure but until we ask for Your help, You will not intercede. Father, I pray in the time of Your favor for this nation because she is broken and empty from the ravages of sin. The nation’s only hope is Jesus Christ. The USA will never come as one person to seek Your forgiveness so, I stand in the gap for her in concert with my brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus our Lord. I do not seek the Christian, Islamic, the world, nor my answer to our dilemma, I seek Your answer, Father. May the words from my mouth and the meditation of my heart please you.

In Jesus’ name