Pour Out Your Soul Before God!
Have you ever wanted something so badly that you would promise the Lord anything if He would only give to you what you so desperately needed? Our text come from the story of Hannah recorded for us in 1 Samuel 1. In v. 15 we find these words, I have been pouring out my soul before the LORD. Hannah was one of the two wives of Elkanah. Even though her husband did everything to show her that he loved her more than his other wife, it bothered her that she did not have any children for him, while the other wife had sons and daughters. In addition, the other wife used the fact that she was childless to laugh at her. Hannah cried constantly, and at the times of the yearly sacrifice, as the family went to make their offerings, she refused to eat. Hannah fervently prayed to God for the miracle she needed in her life. Always her prayer was the same. Give me a son Lord, and I will give him back to you, to serve you all his life. One day as she was praying, the priest, Eli, noticed her. Convinced that she must be a drunkard since she just stood there weeping and not saying anything, he confronted her. It is in response to the priest that Hannah says ‘I have been pouring out my soul before the LORD’.
Here we have a woman who believed that God was able to change her situation, so she prays to Him. She does not pray the usual prayer but she travails in prayer, denying herself and weeping before the Lord. Let me ask you, how much do you want the desire of your heart? Have you been praying long and hard and there seems to be no answer? Hannah prayed for years. She never gave up hope, she never stopped believing that God would hear and answer her. If you really need that answer, that breakthrough, then you need to pour out your heart before God. This was deep, heart rooted prayer. This was sacrificial praying as she denied herself in order to approach God. Are you prepared for such travailing? Will you pray from your heart, emptying yourself before God? Will you allow the Holy Spirit to transform your prayer into words that God will respond to? Whatever it is that you face today, whatever it is that you need, regardless of how long you have been asking, let me implore you, pour out your heart before God. He will hear and reward you accordingly.
The word of God encourages us in our praying to ‘pray without ceasing’ 1 Thes. 5: 17, that is we should not give up but in faith we should keep praying. There is also the assurance that when we fall short on words, the Holy Spirit will come to our assistance. Romans 8: 26 tells us but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. We also have the assurance that when we pray and believe, when we pray the prayer of faith, then we will be answered. The following scripture references support this. Proverbs 15: 29 the Lord hears the prayer of the righteous. James 5: 16 The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. John 14: 13 – 14 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
ThereÂ’s another lesson for us. When the elderly priest, Eli saw her, he chided her for being drunk. When she explained herself however, Eli sensed her seriousness, her sincerity and the purposeful way in which she had approached God. The man of God responds by blessing her and committing her request to God for the expected answer. Well the rest is history as we say, because the baby Samuel was born and true to her promise, later given to the Lord. Friends, have you been praying long and hard about a situation and the answer just wonÂ’t come? Have you been pouring out your heart before the Lord and not been getting an answer? Hannah did not even tell Eli what she was praying for, all he saw was the sincerity and purpose in her praying. I want to encourage you today to find a man or woman of God, to stand in the gap with you, to commit your sincerity to God, to hold you up as you pray. Eph 6: 18 tell us, always keep on praying for all the saints. As Christians we are committed to praying for each other so no one should be alone in their praying.
Let me encourage you this morning then saints of God, to seek Christ with your situation, whatever it is. Pour out your heart before God, and when the journey seems long and lonely, get someone to lift you up before God. Remember in Exodus 17, Aaron and Hur held up MosesÂ’ hands when they became tired, and God gave victory to the Israelites. Allow someone to approach God with you, to lift you up as you pray, and receive your blessing, the answer to your prayer.
John 6: 37 assures us, anyone who comes to me, I will never drive away.
Till next Tuesday, be blessed!
The word of God encourages us in our praying to ‘pray without ceasing’ 1 Thes. 5: 17, that is we should not give up but in faith we should keep praying. There is also the assurance that when we fall short on words, the Holy Spirit will come to our assistance. Romans 8: 26 tells us but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. We also have the assurance that when we pray and believe, when we pray the prayer of faith, then we will be answered. The following scripture references support this. Proverbs 15: 29 the Lord hears the prayer of the righteous. James 5: 16 The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. John 14: 13 – 14 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
ThereÂ’s another lesson for us. When the elderly priest, Eli saw her, he chided her for being drunk. When she explained herself however, Eli sensed her seriousness, her sincerity and the purposeful way in which she had approached God. The man of God responds by blessing her and committing her request to God for the expected answer. Well the rest is history as we say, because the baby Samuel was born and true to her promise, later given to the Lord. Friends, have you been praying long and hard about a situation and the answer just wonÂ’t come? Have you been pouring out your heart before the Lord and not been getting an answer? Hannah did not even tell Eli what she was praying for, all he saw was the sincerity and purpose in her praying. I want to encourage you today to find a man or woman of God, to stand in the gap with you, to commit your sincerity to God, to hold you up as you pray. Eph 6: 18 tell us, always keep on praying for all the saints. As Christians we are committed to praying for each other so no one should be alone in their praying.
Let me encourage you this morning then saints of God, to seek Christ with your situation, whatever it is. Pour out your heart before God, and when the journey seems long and lonely, get someone to lift you up before God. Remember in Exodus 17, Aaron and Hur held up MosesÂ’ hands when they became tired, and God gave victory to the Israelites. Allow someone to approach God with you, to lift you up as you pray, and receive your blessing, the answer to your prayer.
John 6: 37 assures us, anyone who comes to me, I will never drive away.
Till next Tuesday, be blessed!
Comments
No comments