How can we apply Eli's blessing in 1 Samuel 1:17 to our prayers? Setting the Scene in Shiloh • Hannah has poured out her soul in silent, tear-filled prayer (1 Samuel 1:10–13). • Eli, realizing she is not drunk but desperate, speaks: “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant the request you have made of Him” (1 Samuel 1:17). • Her countenance shifts immediately (1 Samuel 1:18). The blessing becomes a hinge between grief and joyful expectation. The Core of Eli’s Words 1. “Go in peace” – dismissal with assurance of God’s favor. 2. “May the God of Israel grant” – appeal to the covenant-keeping LORD, faithful to His promises (Exodus 3:15; Psalm 105:8). 3. “The request you have made” – recognition that a specific, heartfelt petition has been laid before God (Philippians 4:6). Principles We Can Carry into Our Prayers • Approach the throne confident of covenant mercy – Hebrews 4:16; Jeremiah 29:12–13. • Pray specifically, not vaguely – Hannah asked for a son; Jesus invites precise petitions (John 14:13–14). • Receive God’s peace before the answer appears – Philippians 4:7; Isaiah 26:3. • Trust His granting in His time and way – 1 John 5:14–15; Proverbs 3:5–6. • Speak blessings over others’ requests – Numbers 6:24–26; James 5:16. • Let gratitude replace anxiety once the plea is voiced Putting It into Practice Today 1. Begin prayer by recalling God’s covenant faithfulness; address Him as the same “God of Israel.” 2. State the petition plainly: “Lord, I am asking for ___.” 3. Hear Eli’s words echo: “Go in peace.” Pause, inhale, and accept the calm Christ gives (John 14:27). 4. Verbally bless your own household or a friend who is praying: “May the Lord grant the request you have made of Him.” 5. Rise from prayer refusing to pick the burden back up; let a changed countenance testify that you believe God has heard (1 Samuel 1:18). 6. When the answer comes, return and worship as Hannah did (1 Samuel 1:27–28), keeping the cycle of request, peace, and praise unbroken. |
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