Prayers that Reach God's Heart and Move His Hand

Desperation for a move of God is the story of Hannah(Grace)! The weeping prayers of a barren womb wet the pages of the opening chapters of first Samuel. It is certain that when God sees a willing heart ready to partner with His purpose, He will lay a burden on that heart to pray according to the will for His kingdom. She did with the burden what believers are supposed to do; she fasted and travailed in prayer. Her prayers reached God’s ears and they moved His hand. Miracles are conceived in heaven when a person’s prayer intersects with God’s will. His will always surrounds saving His people for the purpose of establishing his kingdom, and this story is no different. Her heart longed for her empty womb to be filled with life, and God’s heart longs for heaven to be filled with people.

She was a desperate woman living in desperate times (Judges)—to understand the time of the Judges, is to understand how it flows within the big picture of God and His plan for the kingdom of God and the salvation of man.

Hannah had a heart for God and His will, but her heart was broken and needed a move from God. During this time, God’s heart was also broken. Her request was that God would give her a son, her promise was that she would give that son back to God. The time of the judges are marked by rebellion and disobedience of God’s people against His will. A time when His own people stopped their ears to His word. Society then was similar to the way it is now—“No king, the people did what was right in their own eyes”

Hophni and Phineas were the sons of Eli the high priest and were serving as priests in the house of God. It is unlikely that the rebellion against God’s word by Eli’s sons was ever surpassed by any other characters of the Bible. They were supposed to be leading God’s people; yet, they served themselves and performed their own will instead of God’s. The more I study God’s word, the more I realize that God has to repeatedly deal with this type of behavior from His people. I don’t mean to be negative. I know you came into the house of God to be encouraged by His word, and I believe that you will be, but I also feel as though the Lord is showing me, what He feels when His people rebel against His word, and how this isn’t something that happens only every now and then; instead, this is something that repeats itself throughout the Bible’s pages and repeats itself throughout our own lives. God’s heart is broken repeatedly by the rebellion of His people

Jeremiah 5:30 An appalling and horrible thing has happened in the land: 31 the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule at their direction; my people love to have it so, but what will you do when the end comes?

At times, all of us have directly disobeyed God’s word both the written word and the whisper of HIS voice. I was just sharing my testimony w Lilly and realized how many times in my life God has graciously spoken to me; yet, I was disobedient to His voice. God has revealed this to me recently as I’ve been asking Him to please let me hear His voice more clearly. Hannah’s weeping, fasted prayers for a son cross God’s ears at a time when He needed a pair of ears to hear His voice and obey His word.  God desires sons and daughters who will hear and obey. Thank God for Jesus— Amen!

John 10:17  Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.

Before we get into the story, I would like to say, the most precious things on earth are not diamonds or gold but His word and His presence that lead His people towards truth.

Proverbs 8:1-6 1 Does not wisdom call? Does not understanding raise her voice? 2 On the heights beside the way, at the crossroads she takes her stand; 3 beside the gates in front of the town, at the entrance of the portals she cries aloud: 4 “To you, O men, I call, and my cry is to the children of man. 5 O simple ones, learn prudence; O fools, learn sense. 6 Hear, for I will speak noble things, and from my lips will come what is right,