Faith in Prayer — E.A. Johnston

Hannah’s Faith-Filled Prayer

We're in our series on lessons in faith and today we'll be in the lesson faith and prayer. In 1st Samuel chapter 1 we read. So Hannah rose up after they had eaten and shallow and after they had drunk.

Hannah’s Prayer in Bitterness and Tears

Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by post to the temple of the Lord and she was in bitterness a soul and prayed unto the Lord and wept sore and she vowed a vow and said Oh 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 and there should be no razor come upon his head.

Specificity and Desperation in Prayer

We'll notice several aspects of Hannah's prayer. She asked God for something specific that he would give her something a baby boy. She knew if she became pregnant with a son It would be a miracle from God because the Lord had shut up her womb.

So she couldn't have children. So her prayer is specific. Also, her prayer is desperate. She pours her soul out to God in prayer and her prayer is bathed in tears of desperation and bathed in faith. She is in bitterness a soul and she is at the end of her rope.

The Prayer of Faith Versus Casual Prayer

Her only hope is in God and it is here where her faith and prayer is evidenced by her turning to God and Believing prayer. She prays the prayer of faith. Having proper faith in God Will energize one's prayers with power that will accomplish the petition.

Sought. Very thing sought will be realized not a casual prayer. Casual prayers go no higher than the ceiling. The kind of prayer that rents the heavens and enters God's throne room is desperate prayer, but not only desperation it must be accompanied with faith and perspiration.

Fervent Prayer and Hannah’s Tears

Heaven is taken by violence and it is the trembling heart. Wrenching cries of pathos that make the Almighty sit up and take notice of a Hannah's prayer for a son. Did she obtain the thing sought by prayer and faith?

Samuel as the Answer to Hannah’s Prayer

Yes. Samuel became one of God's great prophets and he was a man of faith.