Nougat 4

One wise person once said, ‘Who feels it, knows it’. And that is so true. That also applies to moments of Prayer. Consider Today’s Holy Nougat

‭1 Samuel 1:23 NIV‬

[23] “Do what seems best to you,” her husband Elkanah told her. “Stay here until you have weaned him; only may the Lord make good his word.” So the woman stayed at home and nursed her son until she had weaned him.

The Power and Place of Prayer

Brawta

Elkanah was, to some extent, Hannah’s accountability partner. More so, he was her husband. And in those days, despite the second wife, that counted for a lot. Nonetheless, it was Hannah who made the decision about honoring her vow to the Almighty. It is only fitting.

She was the one agonising year after year, to the point of eventually fasting for a child. She knew the fervent prayer/s sent up to Heaven, seemingly to no avail. She knew her husband’s jealousy of the unborn children (or was it jealousy of her desperation to have a child). She was the one taunted by the spare wife. She was the one facing down Eli’s misreading of her situation. She was the one who finally, desperately made a vow to YHWH about the son she hoped for.

She alone knew whether she was able to detach and honor her vow. And she did just that.

Hannah’s action teaches us something else about prayer. We must make vows that we’re willing and capable to keep. If we promise something to God, God isn’t a fool.

So God won’t be comforted by our false promises. May our yes be yes.

And, when we direct our promises God-ward, we know our prayer and accountability partners can’t make decisions for us. For what do we go to God?

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May all we seek be found in Christ