Radical Prayer: Prayers of a Mother 1 Samuel 1: 1-28

Mother’s Day  is a day of mixed feelings for many. But for some, your story is just like Hannah’s. Hannah, a great example of Radical Prayer. 1)  We should go to God in prayer.

: 1-28

This change in her attitude may be attributed to 3 factors.(1) she honestly prayed to God v11 (2) she received encouragement from Eli v17 and (3) She resolved to leave the problem with God v18. This is the antidote for discouragement: Tell God how you really feel leave your problems with HIM. The rely on those He will send your way as support GOOD FRIENDS and WISE COUNSELORS. #After her time in the temple, Hannah has a short conversation with Eli, he blesses her, and she leaves. The Bible says that early the next morning she woke up and worshiped before the Lord (). Purpose is not to get our prayers answered But to be in alignment with god. We have to understand that it is More about being with God than getting something from God Hannah prayed and waited… and worshiped.

“In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly.”(v10) Our problems are bigger than people.  

We praise Him for His provision. God’s amazing faithfulness was never lost on Hannah. After she has the answer to her prayer (), she brings Samuel to the temple so he might serve the Lord there. She makes good on her promise to dedicate her son to the Lord. It is after she brings this child back to the temple that she begins one of the most beautiful songs of praise that is recorded in Scripture. It starts, “Then Hannah prayed and said: ‘My heart rejoices in the Lord; in the Lord my horn is lifted high.’ () She goes on to praise and thank the Lord for answering her prayers and for His amazing provision of a blessed child in her life. Oh, that we would be willing and eager to praise God for every answer to prayer and every need that is met! The favor of God far exceeds the favor of man. Early on in Hannah’s story, we read how her husband gave her a double portion of meet because he loved her. It at least appears that he loved Hannah more than he loved Penninah. So he favored Hannah and gave her more meat as a result. But Elkanah’s favor couldn’t cause her to be free from barrenness. It took the favor of God. God’s favor in her life meant that she was blessed to bear a child when she had previously been barren. So we see something very important for us to remember. Sometimes we are jealous of man’s favor in the lives of others.those around us. But the favor of God far exceeds the favor of man. Always. Life has tremendous significance in God’s economy. This final Biblical truth has perhaps been the greatest burden on my heart as of late. Life has tremendous significance in God’s economy. Our culture and world has diminished the value and worth of life, but it is precious. And as we can see from Hannah’s story, it is the gift of God. This means that we are Christ followers are to cherish and protect life with all that we have. We are to recognize the inherent worth of every person alive on this planet regardless of age or size. God had a tremendous plan for Hannah’s baby, Samuel, and He has a tremendous plan for every life. tells us that God knows the plans He has for us, plans to give us a hope and a future. There is a challenge here not just for mothers, but for us all. In our barrenness, in our grief and anguish who will we turn to? We should not allow the taunts of others to distract us from the presence of the Lord. The answer is found in allowing our pain to push us to Radical Prayer. Maybe even through the tears of our hearts to lift it to God and to trust Him to bring fruitfulness and blessing out of our barrenness this morning.

It is God who has power and might to change our circumstances.

Prayer changes things.

Sometimes your pain pushes you to pray.

A mother’s radical prayer is birthed through serious pain. 1B) Some prayers have to be without words! v12-16 Radical prayer may make you look foolish

2)  Sometimes God withholds things so that we will dedicate them back to Him or trust Him with them.

Hannah was willing to make a vow with God. I don’t know for sure, but I’m not certain that Hannah would have so willingly dedicated her child to the Lord had she not needed to depend on Him fully for the child in the first place. Perhaps there is something you deeply desire for God to entrust you with.

Are you willing to dedicate you desire back to Him?

God calls us to trust Him with the gifts He passes on to us.

We must trust Him with our loved ones, our spouses, and our children just as Hannah herself had to do with Samuel. 2B) We should change our attitude about our situations. (v18) This change in her attitude may be attributed to 3 factors.(1) she honestly prayed to God v11 (2) she received encouragement from Eli v17 and (3) She resolved to leave the problem with God v18.

This is the antidote for discouragement: Tell God how you really feel, leave your problems with HIM. Then rely on those He will send your way as support.

3)  We worship while we wait. Worship before the Lord before the prayer is answered. (v19)

Purpose is not to get our prayers answered, but to be in alignment with god.

It is more about being with God than getting something from God. Are you willing to worship God regardless of whether or not you receive the desires of your heart? Worship Him while you wait.

It is more about being with God than getting something from God. Are you willing to worship God regardless of whether or not you receive the desires of your heart? Worship Him while you wait.

4)  God gives us the desires of our heart that are in line with His will. It is at the point that Hannah praises God that her story begins to change. She goes from being distraught and full of anguish to overjoyed It is at this point that everything changes for her. She has what she asked of the Lord. When we ask for things that are in line with His will we know that we can receive answers to prayer as well.

5) We praise Him for His provision. (2:1) We must praise and thank the Lord for answering our prayers and for His amazing provision in our  life. Be willing and eager to praise God for every answer to prayer and every need that is met! 6)  The favor of God far exceeds the favor of man. Early on in Hannah’s story, we read how her husband gave her a double portion of meat because he loved her. It at least appears that he loved Hannah more than he loved Penninah. So he favored Hannah and gave her more meat as a result. But Elkanah’s favor couldn’t free her from her barrenness.

5) We praise Him for His provision. (2:1) We must praise and thank the Lord for answering our prayers and for His amazing provision in our  life. Be willing and eager to praise God for every answer to prayer and every need that is met!

6)  The favor of God far exceeds the favor of man. Early on in Hannah’s story, we read how her husband gave her a double portion of meat because he loved her. It at least appears that he loved Hannah more than he loved Penninah. So he favored Hannah and gave her more meat as a result. But Elkanah’s favor couldn’t free her from her barrenness.

God’s favor cause us to be free from barrenness. The favor of God far exceeds the favor of man.

Life is the gift of God. God had a tremendous plan for Hannah’s baby, Samuel, and He has a tremendous plan for every life.

Conclusion: There is a challenge here not just for mothers, but for us all. In our barrenness, in our grief and anguish who will we turn to? We should not allow the taunts of others to distract us from the presence of the Lord. The answer is found in allowing our pain to push us to Radical Prayer.

Conclusion

There is a challenge here not just for mothers, but for us all. In our barrenness, in our grief and anguish who will we turn to? We should not allow the taunts of others to distract us from the presence of the Lord. The answer is found in allowing our pain to push us to Radical Prayer. Maybe even through the tears of our hearts to lift it to God and to trust Him to bring fruitfulness and blessing out of our barrenness this morning.