Monday, April 22, 2013

By: Gwen Hitt

Day 3: Secret Services Mission Series: A Lesson on Prayer

Ordinary vs. Extraordinary

1 Samuel 1:16-17   "..... I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief." Eli answered Hannah, "Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of Him."

After miscarrying her first child, my oldest daughter, Claire, was devastated. Since having a large family had always been a childhood dream, she had a choice: wallowing in self-pity OR turning to God in prayer. Claire chose to go to the Lord in desperate PRAYER. Through God's faithfulness, her prayers were answered, and she gave birth to a beautiful baby girl a little over a year later.

A similar situation with a very different ending is included in the Old Testament. Hannah, one of the two wives of Elkanah, was constantly harassed by the other wife for being unable to have children. Although Hannah could have retaliated for this mistreatment, she did not. Instead, she chose to go to the Lord in PRAYER.

Hannah, a very ordinary person, was transformed into an extraordinary individual through her actions. Not only did she continuously pray for a baby, she went one step further. 1 Samuel 1:11 describes the vow that she presented to God: "Lord All-Powerful, see how sad I am. Remember me and don't forget me. If You will give me a son, I will give him back to You all his life...."

As today's scripture states, Hannah's prayer was one of such great anguish and grief that she was led to offer to God what she had been so desperately seeking. She was willing to give up the very child she so desired. The very child that could bring to an end the ridicule that she endured. The very child that was the answer to her prayers.

Hannah paid a price through her prayer and actions that few of us would willingly pay. By giving her son to be raised in the temple of God by the High Priest, God honored her faithfulness. Not only did her son grow up to be one of the greatest prophets of the Old Testament, she gave birth to three more sons and two daughters.

I challenge you today to go to God with your need in desperate prayer. Remember that even in your "ordinary" state, God is able to produce results that are extraordinary!

Dear Lord, I read in Your Word that you are searching the entire earth for hearts that completely belong to You. Hannah had such a heart. Help me to emulate Hannah's dedication to prayer in my time of desperation. I desire to be extraordinary in Your eyes.

I thank You, my Jesus, for dying for me. I believe that You are Lord and that God raised You from the grave so that I can have eternal life.