Day 1: Prayerfulness and Humility

Hannah enters her God moment with prayerfulness and humility. Read the following passage and discover how you might do the same.

1 Samuel 1: 11 (ESV)

And she vowed a vow and said, “O LORD of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head.” 

(For more of the story, read 1 Samuel Chapters 1—2.)

Reflection

Hannah’s story is an amazing one that gives us wonderful insight into prayer and humility before God. Among these revelations are:

• Hannah’s prayer was not answered immediately.  But we learn from Scripture that she kept praying, consistently asking God for a son.  For years she endured the pain of being childless and the constant ridicule from her husband’s other wife.  But she did not give up.  She trusted God and was humble as to how God would answer her prayers.  
• Hannah offered something to God in her on-going prayers:  If He would grant her a son, she would give him to God at an early age for a lifetime of service to the Kingdom.  God, in His omniscience, knew that Hannah would in-fact keep this promise.  When her beloved and long-awaited son Samuel was three years old, she placed him in the temple with Eli, the Chief Priest in Israel, where his entire life would be one of service to God.
• God used Samuel – the result of Hannah’s prayers – to do mighty things in Israel.  Samuel was one of the priestly pillars of the Old Testament.
• It is Hannah’s prayerful nature that always sought God in her difficult life and humility to accept whatever God had in mind – not her own gain but the gain and praise of God. 
• Hannah called herself “God’s servant” and acknowledged God’s power and sovereignty. She was humble and recognized her dependence on God. 

Food for Thought

• How can each of us apply Hannah’s prayerfulness and humbleness to our most pressing needs?
• Although they are not necessary, what promises or sacrifices are we willing to make when our prayers are answered?
• How do we ensure that we fulfill those promises to God after He has answered our prayers?

Prayer

Most gracious Heavenly Father, thank you for Your Holy Word and the lessons we can find in it daily.  Lord, as we pray, help us to do so consistently, with a pure and expectant heart.  Thank You for showing us what amazing things You can do through our prayers to You.  We pray this in the name of Your Son Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Submitted by Dan Houston