Week: Prayer - Hannah
Each day we will simply pray (P.R.A.Y.) together.
P: PAUSING to be still.
R: REJOICING with a Memory Verse and REFLECTING on some verses from the Bible.
A: ASKING God to help us and others.
Y: saying YES to God’s ways.
We start by pausing and taking a deep breath:
In and out.
In and out.
We remember that God is here, and so together we prepare ourselves to be with God.
Pause
Father God, as we draw near to You, please draw near to us too. Teach us to pray. Speak, Lord, we’re listening.
We REJOICE and celebrate God’s goodness with this week’s memory verse:
Read by Zoë
Jeremiah 29:12
Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.
Jeremiah 29:12 (NIV)
God, help us to remember Your Word.
Today, we’re REFLECTING on how God encountered Hannah when she brought her pain to Him in prayer. Eli the priest was sitting nearby while Hannah was asking God to give her a son, and so he decided to speak with her.
Read by Zoë
1 Samuel 1:13,15,17
[Hannah] was praying in her heart so her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk. Hannah answered, ‘No, sir, I have not drunk any wine or beer. I am a deeply troubled woman, and I was telling the Lord about all my problems.’ Eli answered, ‘Go! I wish you well. May the God of Israel give you what you asked of him.’
1 Samuel 1:13,15,17 (NCV)
There are times when we just can’t find the right words to say or pray. Hannah poured out her heart with tears and silent whispers from a broken heart. She must have felt so sad. Even though at first Eli didn’t understand what was happening, he eventually blessed her and agreed with her prayer, asking God to give her a son. When we bring our requests and questions to God, even if we can’t find the words to express them, He is faithful to meet with us and speak to our hearts.
Let’s press pause and try a little exercise together, which is: Let’s silently mouth a sentence to someone else in the room and see if they can work out what we are saying.
When we feel angry, sad, or fearful, sometimes it’s difficult to know how to express these feelings to God – it’s difficult to find the right words. But the Bible shows us that we can bring all of our big emotions to God.
Let’s take some time now to ASK God to hear the silent prayers and whispers in our hearts as we quietly sit before Him.
Who do we know that seems ‘deeply troubled’ like Hannah was? Do we know about any of the problems that they are facing? Let’s pray for them now and imagine saying Eli’s words to them as we pray for them… ‘Go in peace. May God give you what you asked of Him.’
Holy Spirit, we join our prayers to the prayers of our friends and family. We ask that You would answer the big prayers they are holding before you and that You would bring them peace in your presence.
As we read the Bible again, let’s listen for a word or a phrase that the Holy Spirit might want to say to us from today’s verses.
1 Samuel 1:10-11a
Hannah was so sad that she cried and prayed to the Lord. She made a promise, saying, ‘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.’
1 Samuel 1:10-11a (NCV)
What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?
And now, let’s say YES to God together.
Lord God, we say YES to being with You. We’re grateful that You are with us, whatever we are feeling. We want to encounter You and be changed by You.
After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:
Jeremiah 29:12
Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.
Jeremiah 29:12 (NIV)
Let’s put a hand on our heart.
Father God, fill us with Your love. Help us to love You, and everything that You’ve made.
Let’s point to our eyes.
Lord Jesus, help us to see You, and to see others the way that You see them too.
Let’s point to our ears.
Holy Spirit, help us to hear You, and give us courage to do what You say.
Chris lives in Melbourne, Australia with his wife and two boys. He works for 24-7 Prayer Australia and Red Church and is also a professional musician. When he’s not working or drumming Chris enjoys going on long hikes in the mountains with his boys and playing table tennis.
Zoë Thandeka (Thandi) lives in Guildford, in the UK, with her family. She loves football (her favourite football team is Liverpool FC), Top Gear and car-spotting. When she’s older, Zoë wants to be a photographer or work with animals in some way.
