FaithInspiration

LESSONS FROM THE SUPPOSED DRUNK HANNAH

 When Elkanah sacrificed, he passed helpings from the sacrificial meal around to his wife Peninnah and all her children, but he always gave an especially generous helping to Hannah because he loved her so much, and because GOD had not given her children. But her rival wife taunted her cruelly, rubbing it in and never letting her forget that GOD had not given her children. This went on year after year. Every time she went to the sanctuary of GOD she could expect to be taunted. Hannah was reduced to tears and had no appetite.

So Hannah ate. Then she pulled herself together, slipped away quietly, and entered the sanctuary. The priest Eli was on duty at the entrance to GOD’s Temple in the customary seat. Crushed in soul, Hannah prayed to GOD and cried and cried—inconsolably. Then she made a vow: Oh, GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies, If you’ll take a good, hard look at my pain, If you’ll quit neglecting me and go into action for me By giving me a son, I’ll give him completely, unreservedly to you. I’ll set him apart for a life of holy discipline.

It so happened that as she continued in prayer before GOD, Eli was watching her closely. Hannah was praying in her heart, silently. Her lips moved, but no sound was heard. Eli jumped to the conclusion that she was drunk. He approached her and said, “You’re drunk! How long do you plan to keep this up? Sober up, woman!”
Hannah said, “Oh no, sir—please! I’m a woman hard used. I haven’t been drinking. Not a drop of wine or beer. The only thing I’ve been pouring out is my heart, pouring it out to GOD. Don’t for a minute think I’m a bad woman. It’s because I’m so desperately unhappy and in such pain that I’ve stayed here so long.” Eli answered her, “Go in peace. And may the God of Israel give you what you have asked of him.” “Think well of me—and pray for me!” she said and went her way. Then she ate heartily, her face radiant.
1 Samuel 1:4-18 (MSG)

You are probably familiar with this story. Let me share these seven points that will get you your own Samuel every time.

1. TEARS DOES NOT NECESSARILY MEAN WEAKNESS
Try and put yourself in her shoe. You are the first wife but without a child, while the younger wife does not only have a child but children, boys and girls. If with that you don’t see yourself driven to tears even if your stepwife is all loving and not the crazy and provoking type Hannah had, you will still cry. Tears are God’s invention, his way of helping humans shed their emotional weight. Also, a means to make the people around aware of the sorrow locked within the soul. You can read more related to this in my previous post. I titled TEARS: GOD’S GREATEST BUT UNNOTICED INVENTION.Read (TEARS: GOD’S GREATEST BUT UNNOTICED INVENTIONS)

2. BEING BITTER ALONE CHANGES NOTHING
Have you ever being in a situation where you needed a miracle desperately, you needed something to come through and nothing seems to be happening, no help, no change in view, it is just very natural to be disturbed and bitter. But we both know that being bitter will change absolutely nothing, it will rather affect you adversely. Complains and being bitter cannot move your situation an inch talk-less of God

3. YOU ARE NOT SET FOR A MIRACLE UNTIL YOU GET DESPERATE
It is funny how we say we are in need of a change, help, supplies and on but our actions and desperation does not show it. I once heard the story of a young man who asked for the secret to a life of abundance, affluence and success from an old rich man, in reply, the old man thrust him inside a pool and held him down beneath the water watching him struggle for breath. Just at that point where he was desperate for that last breadth or else he was dead, the old man pulled him up and said until he is desperate for success just exactly the way he was desperate for that last breath, he is not qualified for success.
Hannah got desperate that she was ready to give up what she was dying to get, leading to the vow she made. That was the beginning of her long-awaited miracle.

4. ASK
The only secret to getting what you need is to ask. A lot of times we expect people or God to automatically or supernaturally know what we are experiencing and we expect Him (them) to pity us and throw what we want on our laps. But God said, “Ask and you will get whatever you ask for…everyone that asks receives”. (Matt 7:7-8). Don’t just assume God knows what you need, of course, He does, but Jesus still asked a blind man what he will have Him to do for him. He wants you to see if you trust Him enough to give you what you need, how? By asking!

5. BE SPECIFIC
Have you ever heard some complain that God isn’t answering their papers and you ask what the prayer request is and they go “so many things”? By prayer and petition (definite request)…continue to make your wants known to God (Phil 4:6 AMP). The Amplified version added “definite request”. Are you making a request or just lodging complaints? God answers prayers, not complaints.
Hannah specifically asked for a boy child, not just any child. I bet if I was the one in her situation, any child will do after waiting for that long, but no, she trusted God, trusted His ability to keep His promise which is that he will answer when we call and grand the petition of our heart. (Jer 33:3, 1 Jn 5:15)

6. IT MUST BE HEARTFELT
The bible recorded that she spoke in her heart, only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard that she was thought to be drunk. While you are making your request to God, check if your heart is in it at all. The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer makes tremendous power available, dynamic in its working.

Match your desperation with a heartfelt prayer, let it go beyond your lips and you can be sure that your request is on its way.

Like Hannah, pour out your soul before the Lord. It may require you to set out a time and maybe seek a quiet place like Hannah did, but it will pay off.

7. BELIEVE IT IS DONE AND ACT LIKE IT IS
Right after the man of God Eli declared that she should go in peace, that God will grant her petition. She did not continue crying, that marked the end of the tears. You are permitted to cry only before you ask, once you have asked, trust God to keep his part of, his promise. So do like Hannah, “she went away, ate and was no longer sad. This is just like what Jesus said in Mark 11:24, “Whatsoever you desire when you pray, believe that you have received them and you shall have them”.

I strongly believe this truths will secure the very thing or everything you desire of God whether it has been a long-awaited case like Hannah or a new desire, remember that our God is the same yesterday today and forever, if He did it before, He will do it again, I will like to suggest you also read this article I titled YOUR BIG DEALS ARE NO DEAL AT ALL! (READ HERE,) it will embolden your faith and deliver your own Samuel into your hands. God bless you.

 

About author

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Tolulope Oludapo is a young Christian who lends his voice through the media by sharing practical wisdom for everyday living in the most experiential and simplified fashion. This has fetched him the direct followership of over 30,000 users on his blog, lifegiva.com. A blog he founded. He loves to write on varying subjects that affect life, faith, relationship...everyday living.
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