In the Know, Vol. 9: Shaping the Posture of Our Hearts in Prayer
As we’ve journeyed through the topic of prayer this month, the story of Hannah has resonated strongly with me. Hannah was honest and open, bringing the desires of her heart, and her deep hurts to God in prayer.
When we read 1 Samuel 1, we quickly learn that Hannah, who is barren, is constantly tormented by her husband Elkanah’s other wife, Peninnah, who is quite fertile.
Elkanah does his best to convince Hannah he loves her, but she still struggles daily with her situation. So much so that when Hannah and Elkanah took their yearly trip to worship the Lord and offer their sacrifices, Hannah slipped away to pray alone. I think she wanted to be alone because she had simply had enough and sought refuge in the only One who could provide peace amid her personal storm. She needed a safe place where she could honestly share her heart, free from ridicule. The Message paraphrase of 1 Samuel 1:10 paints a detailed picture of Hannah’s emotional state, “crushed in soul, Hannah prayed to God and cried and cried – inconsolably.”
This part of Hannah’s story gets me every time. It’s a reminder that God invites us to come to Him no matter our emotional state. Whether we’re inconsolable or elated, He lovingly welcomes us, no reservations required.
As Hannah’s story continues, God hears her broken-hearted tears and begins “making the necessary arrangements in response to what she had asked.” What a sweet insight into who God is.
Hannah ends up conceiving a boy, Samuel, the author of this story. God answered Hannah’s prayer in a way that showcases His ultimate plan and story as the ripple effects of Hannah’s prayers not only affect her but influence the nation of Israel for years to come.
That’s the funny thing about prayer. We think it’s about what’s going on with us in our own world, but when we bring our requests before an all-knowing God who does immeasurably more than all we hope for or imagine, the answers to our prayers often birth opportunities that reach far beyond us and our immediate circumstances.
Throughout her story, we see how the posture of Hannah’s heart shaped her approach to prayer. Have you ever considered your posture towards God as you approach prayer? It’s a new idea for me, and the Craft & Character podcast recommended below really helped me grasp how important our posture is when it comes to prayer.
CRAFT & CHARACTER: INTO ME YOU SEE WITH DERWIN GREY
BLOG POST: PRAYING SCRIPTURE
In this blog post, author Mary Kassian provides guidance and suggestions on incorporating Scripture into our daily prayer time. Her four-step approach is easy to follow and one we hope you find beneficial. It’s a great practice anytime, but especially when you feel stuck in regards to prayer.
NO ONE CAN ARGUE WITH YOUR STORY
PRAYING SCRIPTURE JOURNAL PAGE
Scripture is full of truth that can guide us as we tackle all types of situations and circumstances. And praying through the wisdom found in Scripture is a great way to enhance your prayer practice. In just a few simple steps, you can take the truth found in Scripture and craft it into a prayer for anything you may face. We created a printable journal page to walk you through how to do it!
Pro-tip: Print these pages for your mentees to use with the Scripture portion of their homework each month.
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