1 Samuel 1:1–28 (NKJV)
Hannah’s Desperation, Prayer, and the Birth of Samuel
1 Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim Zophim, of the mountains of Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite.
2 And he had two wives: the name of one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.
3 This man went up from his city yearly to worship and sacrifice to the Lord of hosts in Shiloh. Also the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the Lord, were there.
4 And whenever the time came for Elkanah to make an offering, he would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters.
5 But to Hannah he would give a double portion, for he loved Hannah, although the Lord had closed her womb.
6 And her rival also provoked her severely, to make her miserable, because the Lord had closed her womb.
7 So it was, year by year, when she went up to the house of the Lord, that she provoked her; therefore she wept and did not eat.
8 Then Elkanah her husband said to her,
“Hannah, why do you weep? Why do you not eat? And why is your heart grieved? Am I not better to you than ten sons?”
9 So Hannah arose after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat by the doorpost of the tabernacle of the Lord.
10 And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the Lord and wept in anguish.
11 Then she made a vow and said:
“O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head.”
12 And it happened, as she continued praying before the Lord, that Eli watched her mouth.
13 Now Hannah spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli thought she was drunk.
14 So Eli said to her,
“How long will you be drunk? Put your wine away from you!”
15 But Hannah answered and said,
“No, my lord, I am a woman of sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor intoxicating drink, but have poured out my soul before the Lord.
16 Do not consider your maidservant a wicked woman, for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief I have spoken until now.”
17 Then Eli answered and said,
“Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition which you have asked of Him.”
18 And 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.
19 Then they rose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord, and returned and came to their house at Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her.
20 So it came to pass in the process of time that Hannah conceived and bore a son, and called his name Samuel, saying,
“Because I have asked for him from the Lord.”
1 Samuel 2:1–10 (NKJV)
Hannah’s Song of Thanksgiving
1 And Hannah prayed and said:
“My heart rejoices in the Lord;
My horn is exalted in the Lord.
I smile at my enemies,
Because I rejoice in Your salvation.
2 “No one is holy like the Lord,
For there is none besides You,
Nor is there any rock like our God.
3 “Talk no more so very proudly;
Let no arrogance come from your mouth,
For the Lord is the God of knowledge;
And by Him actions are weighed.
4 “The bows of the mighty men are broken,
And those who stumbled are girded with strength.
5 Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread,
And the hungry have ceased to hunger.
Even the barren has borne seven,
And she who has many children has become feeble.
6 “The Lord kills and makes alive;
He brings down to the grave and brings up.
7 The Lord makes poor and makes rich;
He brings low and lifts up.
8 He raises the poor from the dust
And lifts the beggar from the ash heap,
To set them among princes
And make them inherit the throne of glory.
“For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s,
And He has set the world upon them.
9 He will guard the feet of His saints,
But the wicked shall be silent in darkness.
For by strength no man shall prevail.
10 The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken in pieces;
From heaven He will thunder against them.
The Lord will judge the ends of the earth.
“He will give strength to His king,
And exalt the horn of His anointed.”
PRAYER POINTS
- Thank you, Lord Jesus Christ, because you are the Lord that answers prayer.
- Father, I come before You in full confidence, knowing that if I ask anything according to Your will, You hear me, as 1 John 5:14 says: “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.”
- Lord, I call upon You today, trusting in Your promise from Jeremiah 29:12: “Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.” I believe You hear my prayer.
- Heavenly Father, Your Word in Psalm 34:17 assures me that “The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles.” I trust that You hear my cries and will deliver me.
- Jesus, I ask in Your name, believing that You will do it, as You promised in John 14:13-14: “And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.”
- Lord, Your Word in Psalm 145:18-19 declares: “The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry and save them.” I call on You, trusting You are near and will fulfill my desires.
- Father, I thank You that You hear the prayers of the righteous, as Proverbs 15:29 says: “The Lord is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous.” I ask in righteousness, knowing You hear me.
- Lord, I rejoice in Your promise from Isaiah 65:24: “It shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear.” I trust that even before I ask, You have already answered.
- Father, I believe that when I pray, I receive, as You promised in Mark 11:24: “Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.” I pray with faith and expect to receive in the Name of Jesus Christ.
- Lord, let my prayers be effective and fervent, for James 5:16 says: “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” I pray with earnest faith, knowing my prayers are powerful.
- God, I ask, I seek, and I knock, trusting in Your promise from Matthew 7:7-8: “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” I trust You will answer.
- Heavenly Father, I come before You in repentance for any sins or disobedience that may be hindering my prayers for conception. I ask for Your forgiveness and cleanse me from all unrighteousness, as Your Word says in 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
- Lord, I repent of any unforgiveness or bitterness in my heart that may be blocking my prayers for conception. I release all offenses, as Your Word in Mark 11:25 says: “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.”
- Father, I repent of any unbelief or doubt that may have caused me to waver in trusting Your promises concerning conception. Help me to align my faith with Your Word, for James 1:6 says: “But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.”
- Lord, I repent of any generational curses or negative patterns from my family line that may be hindering my conception. I break these curses by the power in the blood of Jesus Christ, claiming the promise in Galatians 3:13: “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us.”
- Father, I repent of any involvement in unhealthy practices or lifestyles that may have contributed to delay in conception. I surrender all areas of my life to You, asking You to purify me, as You promise in 2 Corinthians 7:1: “Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”
- Father, I thank You for hearing my prayers, just as You heard Hannah’s cry. I trust that You will remember me and grant my request for conception, in Jesus’ Name.
- Lord, I thank You for Your love and provision in my life. May Your love surround me and bring the blessing of conception, by the power in the blood of Jesus Christ.
- Father, just as You opened Hannah’s womb, I pray for You to open mine according to Your perfect timing, in Jesus’ Name.
- Lord, I bring my tears before You, just as Hannah did. I ask You to lift my grief and replace it with joy and conception, in the Name of Jesus Christ.
- Father, like Hannah, I make my petition to You today. Grant me the gift of conception, and may my child be a blessing to Your kingdom, in Jesus’ Name.
- Lord, I pour out my soul before You, asking You to remember me and bless me with the gift of conception, by the power in the blood of Jesus Christ.
- Father, I dedicate my future children to You, just as Hannah did. I promise to raise them for Your glory, in Jesus’ Name.
- Lord, just as You remembered Hannah, I pray that You will remember me and grant me the blessing of conception, in Jesus’ Name.
- Father, I pray that You open my womb and bless me with the fruit of the womb, just as You opened Hannah’s womb, in Jesus’ Name.
- Lord, just as You removed the shame from Hannah, I ask You to remove any shame or hindrance to my conception, by the power in the blood of Jesus Christ.
- Father, I trust in Your timing. Like Hannah, I believe that in due time, You will bless me with a child. I declare it, in the Name of Jesus Christ.
- Lord, I thank You for Your faithfulness in answering prayers. As You answered Hannah, I trust that You will answer mine and grant me conception, in Jesus’ Name.
- Father, just as Hannah gave her child to You, I dedicate my future child to You and ask for Your blessings over my pregnancy and motherhood, in the power of the blood of Jesus Christ.
- Father, I come before You with a sorrowful spirit, asking You to take away my grief and bring joy through conception, in the Name of Jesus Christ.
- Lord, I receive Your peace today, just as Hannah received peace through Your servant Eli. Let Your peace reign over me and my body as I trust You for conception, in Jesus’ Name.
- Father, I believe in Your power to conceive and bring forth life. Grant me the desire of my heart for conception, in the Name of Jesus Christ.
- Lord, as You answered Hannah’s prayer, I believe You will answer mine. I speak fertility and conception into my womb, by the power in the blood of Jesus Christ.
- Father, just as Hannah’s faith led her to conceive, I place my faith in You. Bless me with the fruit of the womb in Your perfect timing, in Jesus’ Name.
- Lord, I pray for Your grace to cover me, just as You favored Hannah. Grant me favor in the area of conception, in the Name of Jesus Christ.
- Father, I thank You for Your faithfulness. Just as You remembered Hannah, I declare that You will remember me and bless me with a child, in Jesus’ Name.
- Father, I thank You for bringing joy and rejoicing into my heart. Just as Hannah said, “My heart rejoices in the Lord,” I praise You for the miracle of conception that You are bringing into my life, in the Name of Jesus Christ.
- Lord, I thank You for exalting my horn in the Lord, just as You did for Hannah. I rejoice in Your salvation and give You glory for the blessing of conception You are bestowing upon me, in Jesus’ Name.
- Father, I praise You for silencing my enemies and rejoicing in Your deliverance. Just as Hannah said, “I smile at my enemies,” I thank You for overcoming every obstacle to my conception and bringing victory into my life, by the power in the blood of Jesus Christ.
- Lord, I thank You for Your holiness and power, knowing that there is none besides You. As Hannah declared, “No one is holy like the Lord,” I give thanks for Your faithfulness in fulfilling Your promises of conception, in Jesus’ Name.
- Father, I thank You for the knowledge You possess, and that all things are weighed in Your hand. I trust in Your perfect timing and wisdom for the gift of conception, in the Name of Jesus Christ.
- Lord, I thank You for breaking the bows of the mighty and strengthening the weak. Just as Hannah said, “The bows of the mighty men are broken,” I thank You for lifting me up in my season of conception and making me strong, by the power in the blood of Jesus Christ.
- Father, I thank You for turning my situation around. Just as Hannah said, “Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, and the hungry have ceased to hunger,” I thank You that You are filling my life with the blessing of conception, in Jesus’ Name.
- Lord, I thank You for making the barren fruitful. Just as Hannah declared, “Even the barren has borne seven,” I praise You for making me fruitful and blessing me with the ability to conceive, in the Name of Jesus Christ.
- Father, I thank You for making me strong in the midst of my waiting. As Hannah said, “Those who stumbled are girded with strength,” I give You praise for strengthening me in my journey to conceive, by the power in the blood of Jesus Christ.
- Lord, I thank You for Your sovereignty over life and death. Just as Hannah proclaimed, “The Lord kills and makes alive,” I thank You for bringing life to my womb and granting me the gift of conception, in Jesus’ Name.
- Father, I praise You for Your power to raise the poor from the dust. Just as Hannah said, “He raises the poor from the dust,” I thank You for lifting me up from my struggles and making conception a reality, by the power in the blood of Jesus Christ.
- Lord, I thank You for Your provision and care. As Hannah said, “He brings low and lifts up.” I thank You for lifting me up and blessing me with the gift of conception, in Jesus’ Name.
- Father, I thank You for setting me among princes and giving me an inheritance of glory. Just as Hannah said, “To set them among princes and make them inherit the throne of glory,” I thank You for making me a mother and giving me the honor of parenthood, by the power in the blood of Jesus Christ.
- Lord, I thank You for Your protection and care over my life. As Hannah declared, “He will guard the feet of His saints,” I thank You for guarding me and my baby in this journey of conception, in the Name of Jesus Christ.
- Father, I thank You for Your judgment and strength, knowing that You are in control. Just as Hannah said, “The Lord will give strength to His king, and exalt the horn of His anointed,” I thank You for exalting me and granting me strength in my journey toward conception, in Jesus’ Name.
- Thank you, Jesus Christ, for you are the Lord who answers prayer.
- Amen.
