Prayers
GOD-CENTRED PRAYING
So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the LORD.
And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore.
And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of Hosts, If thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life…..1Samuel 1:9-11;
The above was the prayer that Hannah prayed at Shiloh in the year God visited her and put an end to her many years of barrenness. According to the scriptures, that year was not her first time at Shiloh; she has been going to Shiloh with her family year after year before, praying and asking for a child from the Lord. Hannah’s repeated prayers of the previous years did not bring her the breakthrough she wanted. However, this particular year was different; she received answer to her prayer and had reproach of many years taken away from her life. What was the secret of her breakthrough in that year? What did she do that she didn’t do at the other times? Why didn’t she receive answer until that year? These are questions that come into one’s mind.
The secret was that Hannah prayed differently that year. Something was significant about the prayer she prayed. Going through her prayers, we see that God alone was the theme and the focus. Perhaps Hannah’s prayers in the previous years centred on herself and her need of a child, but this particular year she prayed differently which made God to pay attention to her.
Indeed Hannah needed a child to put an end to her many years of childlessness. Interestingly, God also needed a man to raise as a priest and a prophet in Israel in order to restore his people, since the entire lineage of Eli had corrupt the people and profaned God’s temple. God was therefore in a dire need of a man whilst Hannah was in dire need of a child, what a coincidence! So when Hannah prayed ‘IF THOU WILT GIVE UNTO THINE HANDMAID A MAN CHILD, THEN I WILL GIVE HIM UNTO THE LORD ALL THE DAYS OF HIS LIFE…’ God paid her immediate attention. It was this very thing that God has been waiting for! By this selfless prayer, Hannah seemed to have touched a sensitive part of God’s heart, her breakthrough came without further delay.
So many people may think that it was Hannah’s vow that made God to respond to her prayers, no, it was her selfless heart and God-centered prayer. No ‘incentive’ or ‘motivation’ can compel the Almighty God to move or respond against His will or plans. To let you know that Hannah’s consideration was no longer herself but God alone, she said ‘I WILL GIVE HIM UNTO THE LORD ALL THE DAYS OF HIS LIFE.’ This implies that the child would never be regarded or considered as Hannah’s child but God’s own continually forever.
True to it all, Hannah brought the boy to the feet of the LORD at a very tender age and it was so that Samuel was forever lent to the LORD!
In our prayers and pursuits, there is the need for us believers to place the Almighty God alone at the centre. The scripture reveals that many people ask but receive not because they ask amiss. To ask amiss is to ask with selfish motive, wrong purpose, self glory, with the intention to lavish it on worldly pleasures or self gratification without any consideration whatsoever for God or His interests. ‘Give me’ believers, who are self-centred in their prayers, will hardly secure God’s commitment no matter how much they pray. If we want God to be readily committed to us and our pursuits, then His interests alone must be the centre of our prayers. When God is the focus, we can be sure that all our needs would be met.
Dearly beloved, can we confidently establish that those things we ask for and pursue with hours of prayers and days of fasting are things that would bring glory and honour to God and His kingdom? What are the real motives behind our pursuits in prayers? Our God remains a prayer-answering God, but what kind of prayers? We need to change our focus immediately to pave way for our breakthroughs. Maybe what we need to get the long-awaited answers to our prayers is a change of prayer. God-centered praying is the fifth gear! Change your gear now!
Shalom.
PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
The opinions expressed by authors do not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com. This is especially true with articles that
deal with personal healthcare and prophecy. We encourage the reader to make their own decision in consultation with God, His Word, and others as needed.
This article has been read 1241 times < Previous | Next >
Read more articles by Ezekiel Olukolajo or search for other articles by topic below.
This article has been read 1241 times < Previous | Next >
Search for articles on: (e.g. creation; holiness etc.)
Read more by clicking on a link:Free Reprints
Main Site Articles
Most Read Articles
Highly Acclaimed Challenge Articles.
New Release Christian Books for Free for a Simple Review.
NEW - Surprise Me With an Article - Click here for a random URL
God is Not Against You - He Came on an All Out Rescue Mission to Save You
...in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them... 2 Cor 5:19
Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Acts 13:38
LEARN & TRUST JESUS HERE
FaithWriters offers Christian reading material for Christian readers. We offer Christian articles, Christian fiction, Christian non-fiction, Christian Bible studies, Christian poems, Christian articles for sale, free use Christian articles, Christian living articles, New Covenant Christian Bible Studies, Christian magazine articles and new Christian articles. We write for Jesus about God, the Bible, salvation, prayer and the word of God.
Thomas