What requests are on your prayer list today? Do others think you are crazy for still praying and holding out hope that an answer will come? May I encourage you to continue in your prayers even if others think you are nuts! It just may be your example in faithful, long, praying that others need to see. May I encourage you to know your God and to trust that His answers are on the way? Maybe it isn’t about the answer as much as it is the work God wants to do in your heart today.
Prayer Part 1
Posted on April 8, 2020 by Catey Stover in Victory Call
“And it happened that, as she continued praying before the Lord, that Eli watched her mouth. Now Hannah spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli thought she was drunk.” 1 Samuel 1:12-13
I love Hannah and her story of prayer. In 1 Samuel 1:13 did you catch that Hannah continued praying before the Lord? Little did she know that Eli was observing her and watching her lips move as she spoke privately to her God. Certainly, Eli got the wrong idea. Assuming she was drunk on wine Eli scolded Hannah. Let me stop here and comment. I appreciate Hannah’s example of praying hard and long. I am praying hard and long for a few things that I would like to see scratched off on my prayer list. I can’t wait for that day! I am encouraged that an 11-year prayer request may be- just may be – getting scratched off soon! I still don’t know how the answer will come but it is coming. I think of the four years I prayed for my husband to come to Christ. While Dave’s salvation was still a prayer request I remember hearing a woman share that she was praying for over 47 years for her father-i- law’s salvation! I thought “Please Lord, I could never pray that long”! You and I have often heard that prayers get answered in three ways- yes, no and wait. I like quick answers in the affirmative; I don’t like the other two answers. But when the “no” and “wait” answers come they are teaching me valuable lessons. Do I trust God enough that if an answer is “no” that I am not owed an explanation? Do I trust that my good answer isn’t God’s best answer? If the answer is “wait” do I wait patiently, continue to pray and seek God? Do others see us filled with W-H-I-N-E when our lips move? Nothing but complaining that God didn’t answer the way we wanted Him to. Or are we truly pouring out our hearts before the Lord and just being misunderstood?
The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. James 5:16b
Written by Kathy Withers: Kathy Withers is on staff at America’s Keswick and serves as Director of Partner Care. Kathy has been married to her husband Dave for 30 years. They have two adult children. Kathy is active in her local Church and teaches a Bible Study for women. Her passion is to encourage women to deepen their walk with Jesus Christ by finding and living out the truths of God’s Word.
Think About This: “Though we may get our hearts broken from the effects of sin in this in-between time, God’s goodness will eventually set the world right.” ―
The Daily Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles 18-22| You can download our 2020 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here.
This Week’s Verse to Memorize: The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction. – Proverbs 1:7
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the doctrinal and theological views held by America’s Keswick.
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