PRAY BIG THINGS (Week 3)

A MOTHER’S PRAYER

Today is Mother’s day. Even though we may not be able to do for mom’s what we had wanted, we can still show them our love. As we begin today, I want to share a poem about moms.

A Mother’s Love By Carol Matthews A mother loves right from the start, She holds her baby close to her heart. The bond that grows will never falter, Her love is so strong it will never alter. A mother gives never ending love, She never feels that she has given enough. For you she will always do her best, Constantly working, there’s no time to rest. A mother is there when things go wrong, A hug and a kiss to help us along. Always there when we need her near, Gently wipes our eyes when we shed a tear. A mother’s prayer means so very much, Believing in God and his gentle touch. Keeping you safe both day and night, Your mother’s prayer will time it just right. So on this day shower your mother with love, Gifts and presents are nice but that is not enough. Give your mother a day to have some peace of mind, Be gentle, be good, be helpful, be kind.

J.R. Miller tells a story of a time when he walked in on his mother. He says, “Once I suddenly opened the door of mother’s room, and saw her on her knees beside her chair, and heard her speak my name in prayer. I quickly and quietly withdrew, with a feeling of awe and reverence in my heart. Soon I went away from home to school, then to college, then into life’s sterner duties. But I never forgot that one glimpse of my mother at prayer, nor the one word — my name — which I heard her utter.”

And I think of Mary, who knew what it was like to have a child that was unusual, different from the others, a bit peculiar. A child that everyone else wanted to label. And Mary knew what it was like to have her child ridiculed. It must have caused her tremendous pain to hear the lies they would speak about Jesus. It must have made her angry to have his motives and his intentions misrepresented. And so, Mary prays together with all those mothers who feel the pain of having their children misunderstood or mistreated.

Let me ask you a question. When you pray, what do you pray for? And, perhaps even more important, who do you pray for? And to really make you think, if God answered “yes” to all the prayers you prayed this past week, what would change in this world? Would God’s kingdom be advanced? Would other people’s lives be changed, or just your own?

For some of us, if all our prayers were answered, we’d finally be rid of our back pain, we would have received an unexpected check in the mail, and we would have found parking spaces a whole lot closer to the entrance to Walmart. But I’d like to think that our prayers carry more significance than that.

So, what are you praying for? And who are you praying for?

And even though I know very little about being a mother, I do know that one thing you mothers can do that will help your sons and your daughters to grow up to be godly men and women is to pray for them.

A Mother knows where to go to pray. (time with Jesus is important.

1 Samuel 1:9–10 CSB On one occasion, Hannah got up after they ate and drank at Shiloh. The priest Eli was sitting on a chair by the doorpost of the Lord’s temple. Deeply hurt, Hannah prayed to the Lord and wept with many tears.

It is clear to see that Hannah had a heavy burden upon her heart. If we go back to the beginning of 1 Sam we see where this burden comes from

1 Samuel 1:2 CSB He had two wives, the first named Hannah and the second Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah was childless.

1 Samuel 1:6 CSB Her rival would taunt her severely just to provoke her, because the Lord had kept Hannah from conceiving.

From these verses we see that Hannah was unable to have a child and that she wanted to be a mother. What is worse is that Peninnah would taunt her. As if the burden of not being able to have a child was not bad enough she would be taunted about it. This helps us to see the deep and heavy burden that was on the heart of Hannah.

Hannah did the best thing she could possible do with her situation. She did not try to fix it on her own. She did not try and blame her problems on someone else.

She went to the one person that could make all the difference. She went to God.

Mom’s and Dad’s alike can learn a valuable lesson here from Hannah. No matter what our situation may be, God should be our first stop. Often we go to Him as a last resort. We try to fix things on our own and when that does not work out the way that we think it should, then and only then do we go to God.

Prayer is an incredible tool that we have as Christians. It is a two way conversation between us and God. No matter what weighs down our hearts, we can take that problem, that concern to God in prayer.

As the Famous Hymn says:What a friend we have in Jesus All our sins and griefs to bear And what a privilege to carry Everything to God in prayer

When our hearts are burdened and heavy laden, where do we take our problems. Do we try and fix it ourselves? Do we try to go to someone else? Do we try and run and hid. Or do we fall down on our faces and cry out to all mighty, Holy, God.

One of the greatest acts of love a mother gives her child is her prayers. It is an honor to come before God and intercede for your children.

I want to challenge us all today to take the time and pray for our children. If you don’t have children yet, take the time to pray for them in the future that they will be holy and live for God.

2. A Mother’s Prayer is Specific

1 Samuel 1:11 CSBMaking a vow, she pleaded, “Lord of Armies, if you will take notice of your servant’s affliction, remember and not forget me, and give your servant a son, I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and his hair will never be cut.”

If we remember from the first few verses, Hannah was not able to have a child. She wanted to be a mom and so she comes to God asking for Him to give her a child. Notice also that she prayed for a son. She did not beat around the bush.

She came to God with exactly what she wanted and prayed for that. Lord give your servant a son.

Lord be with so and so and we leave it at that. What does so and so need. Be specific for God already knows

Lord help me with my sin. What sin, be specific. Name your sin before God.

Pray they come to know Jesus (Present the gospel)

Pray they grow up to be holy men and women of God

Pray they will do well in school

Pray for their health

Pray for their spouse.

3. A Mother Sacrifices in life and prayer

1 Samuel 1:11 CSBMaking a vow, she pleaded, “Lord of Armies, if you will take notice of your servant’s affliction, remember and not forget me, and give your servant a son, I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and his hair will never be cut.”

if He gave her a son, she would give him back to the LORD.

Hannah would follow through on this promise

1 Samuel 1:24–28 CSBWhen she had weaned him, she took him with her to Shiloh, as well as a three-year-old bull, half a bushel of flour, and a clay jar of wine. Though the boy was still young, she took him to the Lord’s house at Shiloh. Then they slaughtered the bull and brought the boy to Eli. “Please, my lord,” she said, “as surely as you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the Lord. I prayed for this boy, and since the Lord gave me what I asked him for, I now give the boy to the Lord. For as long as he lives, he is given to the Lord.” Then he worshiped the Lord there.

Hannah has wanted a child for a long time to the point that she is pouring out her heart and soul before the Lord. Even so, she tells God that she will give the child back to Him.

Can you imagine given up a child that you waited so long for?

Hannah was willing to give up her son to serve the Lord

Think of all the things that your mom has given up for you

I must take a few minutes today to brag on my wife. She is a wonderful mother to our son. I can’t count the times that she eats cold food or eats later or goes without food just to make sure Easton is taken care of. Or the times that she is not able to sleep as much or have time to herself. She has sacrificed so much to be a great mom to Easton.

This is what moms do

They give up things for us

4. A Mother is Passionate about prayer

1 Samuel 1:12–17 CSBWhile she continued praying in the Lord’s presence, Eli watched her mouth. Hannah was praying silently, and though her lips were moving, her voice could not be heard. Eli thought she was drunk and said to her, “How long are you going to be drunk? Get rid of your wine!” “No, my lord,” Hannah replied. “I am a woman with a broken heart. I haven’t had any wine or beer; I’ve been pouring out my heart before the Lord. Don’t think of me as a wicked woman; I’ve been praying from the depth of my anguish and resentment.” Eli responded, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant the request you’ve made of him.

”Hannah was persistent. She continued praying. 1 Th 5:17 “Pray Constantly”

Hannah poured out her heart before the LORD.

She was passionate about her prayer

She was so passionate, Eli thought she was drunk

She was not worried about those around her as she prayed.

She knew that her prayer was between her and God.

Are we consistent in our prayers?

Are we passionate in our prayers?

Once Eli sees the heart of this great woman he responds with great encouragement, “ may the God of Israel grant the request”