1 Samuel 1:12
“And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her mouth.”
Most people have heard of Hannah and her desire for a child. For a reason unbeknownst to her husband and her, God had closed her womb. This was a grief to her soul because she desperately wanted a child. It wasn’t until she prayed to the LORD that God opened her womb and gave her Samuel, who became one of the greatest prophets of Israel.
What was it that caused her prayer to be answered? It wasn’t the money that she and her husband gave that got God’s attention. There is certainly nothing wrong with giving money to God in an offering, but it wasn’t the size of their offerings that grabbed God’s attention. It wasn’t her faithfulness to church that got her prayer answered. Though she and her husband yearly went to the house of the LORD, that is not what got her prayer answered. It wasn’t that she was a submissive wife that caused her prayers to be answered. How she met her husband’s needs and submitted to his leadership was not what got God’s attention. There is nothing wrong with any of these things, but this is not what got her prayer answered.
I believe the answer is found in the verse above when it says, “…as she continued praying…” It was the continual prayer that caused her prayer to be answered. It was that willingness not to leave the throne of God that got her prayer answered. When Hannah had the determination to stay on her face before God no matter how long it would take, it was that action that caused her prayer to be answered. It was the determination to stay at Jesus’ feet until He granted her request.
I believe one of the reasons Christians don’t get their prayers answered is because they are not willing to continue until the LORD comes through. At the first moment of inconvenience the average Christian quits praying. When the prayer isn’t answered in the desired timeline of the individual praying, most quit the prayer and complain that God doesn’t hear their prayers.
Let me ask you, are you serious enough to stay on your face before God in prayer? Are you willing to stay there until God answers your prayer? It was Jacob who wrestled with God to the point that he said, “I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.” (Genesis 32:26) Jacob had that continuing power in prayer just like Hannah, and it was that continuing power that got her prayers answered.
My friend, the five-minute prayer is not what grabs God’s attention. It is the “…The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” (James 5:16) You can read every book on prayer, but you will see a scant amount of prayers answered until you are burdened and hungry enough to stay on your face before God.
Do you need God to supply your financial need? Do you need God to come through for your health needs? Do you need God to work a miracle in your marriage? Do you need something to change in your life? Let me give you one word: CONTINUE! It is the prayer of the saint who continues until they get the answer who sees God do great works through their lives. When everything else has failed, let me encourage you to continue.