SACRED STORIES

“Don’t Miss The Miracle”
Pastor Joy Levy – July 23, 2023

1 Samuel 1:1-10 — There was a man from Ramathaim-zophim in the hill country of Ephraim. His name was Elkanah…He had two wives, the first named Hannah and the second Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah was childless. This man would go up from his town every year to worship and to sacrifice to the Lord of Armies at Shiloh,… Whenever Elkanah offered a sacrifice, he always gave portions of the meat to his wife Peninnah and to each of her sons and daughters. But he gave a double portion to Hannah, for he loved her even though the Lord had kept her from conceiving. Her rival would taunt her severely just to provoke her, because the Lord had kept Hannah from conceiving. Year after year, when she went up to the Lord’s house, her rival taunted her in this way. Hannah would weep and would not eat. “Hannah, why are you crying?” her husband, Elkanah, would ask. “Why won’t you eat? Why are you troubled? Am I not better to you than ten sons?” On one occasion, Hannah got up after they ate and drank at Shiloh.The priest Eli was sitting on a chair by the doorpost of the Lord’s temple. Deeply hurt, Hannah prayed to the Lord and wept with many tears.

1. You can either RUN FROM God or you can RUN TO God.

Psalm 55:22 (AMP) — “Cast your burden on the Lord [release it] and He will sustain and uphold you.”

Jeremiah 29:12-13 — Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

2. Prayer is GOD’S MIRACULOUS GIFT to you.

James 4:8 — Come near to God and he will come near to you.

Psalms 16:11 (CSB) — You reveal the path of life to me; in your presence is abundant joy;

Hannah’s Story Continued: And she made a vow, saying, “Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.” As she kept on praying to the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk and said to her, “How long are you going to stay drunk? Put away your wine.”

“Not so, my lord,” Hannah replied, “I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the Lord. Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief.”

Eli answered, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.”

She said, “May your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast.

3. When you cultivate a life of prayer, it impacts who YOU BECOME.

Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NKJV) — Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT) — Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Prayers are prophecies. They are the best predictors of your spiritual future. Who you become is determined by how you pray. Ultimately, the transcript of your prayers becomes the script of your life. - Mark Batterson.

Hannah’s Story Continued: 1 Samuel 1:20 — So in the course of time Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, “Because I asked the Lord for him.”

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