Seize the Moment – Day 731
The Power of Petition!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Friday, March 18.
Have you ever petitioned God passionately for a miracle in your life?
Hannah did and, in doing so, she was misunderstood by Eli, the head priest. Hannah was a righteous woman and a good wife. But she was tormented by a rival concubine and oppressed by an empty cradle. Weeping bitterly, she went to the temple of the Lord in Shiloh where she petitioned God passionately by making a vow that if God would grant her a son, then she would dedicate him as a Nazirite. Watch how Eli responds to what he saw, but couldn’t hear, in 1 Samuel 1:14-18:
Then Eli said to her, “How long will you make yourself drunk? Put away your wine from you.” But Hannah replied, “No, my lord, I am a woman oppressed in spirit; I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have poured out my soul before the Lord. Do not consider your maidservant as a worthless woman, for I have spoken until now out of my great concern and provocation.” Then Eli answered and said, “Go in peace; and may the God of Israel grant your petition that you have asked of Him.” She said, “Let your maidservant find favor in your sight.” So the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.
The good news is that both Hannah’s passionate petition and Eli’s priestly blessing were heard by God, and God bestowed a son on Hannah (19-28). This is the birth narrative of Samuel, the last Judge of Israel, and the great prophet of God, who would ultimately anoint the first two kings of Israel – Saul and David. Samuel, the namesake of two books of the Bible, was Hannah’s baby. All because of the effective prayer of a righteous woman (James 5:16).
Seize the moment and petition God passionately for the needs of your life.