1 Samuel 1:12-18 – “Now it came about, as she continued praying before the Lord, that Eli was watching her mouth. 13 As for Hannah, she was speaking in her heart, only her lips were moving, but her voice was not heard. So, Eli thought she was drunk. 14 Then Eli said to her, “How long will you make yourself drunk? Put away your wine from you.” 15 But Hannah replied, “No, my lord, I am a woman oppressed in spirit; I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have poured out my soul before the Lord. 16 Do not consider your maidservant as a worthless woman, for I have spoken until now out of my great concern and provocation.” 17 Then Eli answered and said, “Go in peace; and may the God of Israel grant your petition that you have asked of Him.” 18 She said, “Let your maidservant find favor in your sight.” So, the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.”
As I read, prayed, and pondered the Word of God today, I could not help but note something that reveals the heart of God. God is compassionate. He operates in unique but often predictable ways. He always requires a surrendered heart.
In 1 Samuel 1:12-13, we see something needful. Prayer is vital, but prayer cannot be pressed into a box, limited by human understanding, or become ritualistic. Hannah prayed non-verbally from her heart. The key is “from” or “in” the heart. The only prayers that have any hope of moving the heart or hand of God are FROM THE HEART!
Prayers from the heart are rooted in recognizing God’s person, trusting God’s graciousness, and faith. Prayers of ritual are, at best, wishes and usually attempts to check the boxes—religiosity, not relationships.
In Paul’s experience on the Damascus Road, we are brought face-to-face with the reality of the Body of Christ. If we touch believers (even those we disagree with), we touch Jesus!
Acts 28:26-27 is a powerful reminder and warning that unless we hear or read without preconceived ideas and bias, we will NEVER be convinced otherwise. We judge other members of the Body through the grid of our doctrinal position. Therefore, before anything is said, we have decided. We categorize people, and if a person has been categorized as a part of a rejected category, nothing they say is acceptable or heard. We do this to our loss.
The warning in Romans 2:1-6 is needed. When we judge others and are guilty of similar practices, we open the door to deception. In Romans 1, we realize that the presence of prejudicial deception often leads to a life of perversion.
Our hope is repentance coupled with total Surrender. Repentance, or, in most cases, remorse, is insufficient without a positive commitment to God. Saying “I’m sorry” is meaningless without the full reality of repentance (doing a 180-degree shift). We not only admit and feel remorse but also take definitive steps to live differently.
God’s Grace empowers us to live righteously and receive God’s full deliverance. It is a dual effort. God’s Grace and our Action. Basically, it is Surrender. It is to decide to go ALL IN with God. It is to DIE to self. It is to resign as master of our fate and captain of our ship. It is to choose to become a Doulos of Jesus.
What we choose determines our now and eternity.
