Nougat 26

“When the going gets rough, the tough gets going”, they say. How about you, what do you do when your going gets rough? Consider Today’s Holy Nougat

‭1 Samuel 1:10-11 NIV‬

[10] In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly.

[11] And she made a vow, saying, “Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.”

The Power and Place of Prayer

Earnestly Pray

Siblings in Christ, prayer is serious business. Ephesians 6 counts it as that which keeps us standing when the battle rages.

Enough was enough. There was only so much taunting and dejectedness that she could take on her own. She waited on no one, no instructions from her husband, nothing. She didn’t even argue with them.

But she did fight.

Hannah went away from them and placed her case before the Great Judge, YHWH, Who knows all hearts. Before Elohim, Hannah held nothing back. Her weeping revealed her heart to God, and underscored the sincerity of her words. And this time, her prayer was more of a vow than a petition.

As we think about the power of Hannah’s prayer, might we ask ourselves:

What is our heart’s desire?

How badly do we need it?

Do we honestly believe God has the capacity to give to us that which we seek?

In a world where so many, Christians and others alike, are looking to fortune tellers, witch doctors, obeah men, voodoo priests etc, we must adopt Hannah’s posture. She went directly to The Source, despite Eli being nearby. That’s a very crucial aspect of our prayer – going to God only, and eschewing all others. In some instances, not even our close friends or family members ought to know what we’ve prayed.

Especially when it’s a serious as Hannah’s. Jesus Himself encouraged us to pray in secret. To find that tiny space and close out the world, and earnestly pray (see Matthew 6:6), so that our secret prayer is rewarded in public. It’s best that we go to God in our secret places, rather than the public space where the birds wait to prey on what we’re saying. For not every amen is agreement.

We note that Hannah was so keen on her prayer being answered that her vow involved a great sacrifice. She was giving the same son she pleaded for back to God! And she dedicated him as a Nazarite from birth … what are we prepared to give (back) to God in thankfulness for our answered prayer?

And, having done all, let’s stand.

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May all we seek be found in Christ