Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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Prayer: Constant Communion with God

Bible Reading: 1 Samuel 1:9-17

Key verse: vs12  Hannah was praying in her heart and her lips were moving, but her voice was not heard.

DEVOTION

“Pray without ceasing” (1 Thess 5:17).  Through prayer, we invite God’s presence into our lives and circumstances.  We see this in today’s passage, where Hannah is “pouring out [her] soul before the Lord” (vs 15).  Hannah did not have any children. Not only that, Elkanah’s other wife, Peninnah, would taunt and make fun of Hannah about this.  These were difficult circumstances.
But Hannah’s faith in God was not dependent on her circumstances.  She held on to what she knew to be true about her God – that He is good and faithful.  
Hannah’s requests were not granted immediately.  This is the case with many of our prayers.  Although our circumstances may not change right away, continuous communion with God changes us – for the better.  In vs 28, Hannah “went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.”  Hannah filled the spaces of her waiting with prayer.  Through prayer, we “cast our cares” on God (1 Peter 5:7) and invite “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, [to] guard [our] hearts and [our] minds in Christ Jesus” (Phil 4:7).  We learn that “in whatever situation [we are] to be content” (Phil 4:11).   This is because prayer also releases the power of God into our lives.  His power that is “made perfect in [our] weakness] (2 Cor 12:9).  
Prayer also touches the people for whom we are praying for.  Hannah’s fervent and faith-filled prayers for a son yet to be born reaped a harvest of blessing through Samuel – on of the most important prophets of the Old Testament.  Eli was also touched by the fervency of Hanna’s prayer.  His initial reaction of vexation and suspicion quickly changed to that of blessing and compassion once he realized that Hannah was in deep communion with God. 
Jesus gave us the best example of constant communion with God.  Several times in the gospels, we see that Jesus took time away to be alone with God.  After long days of healing the sick in Mark 1:35; immediately before choosing the 12 Apostles in Luke 6: 12-13; and immediately before His agonizing betrayal and crucifixion, Jesus prayed in Gethsemane for Himself, for His disciples and for all believers in Mark 14:32 and John 17.   Even now, “He is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us” (Rom 8:34).  
Let’s stop underestimating the power of prayer and instead, start living in that same power. 

PRAYER

Lord Jesus, teach us to model your commitment to constant communion with the Father. Amen.  

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

A day without prayer is a day without blessing, and a life without prayer is a life without power
-Edwin Harvey


Anila Thomas
Epiphany MTC, NY

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