Tuesday, August 24, 2010

God Honors Memorial Prayer




Notice that when we mix a proper prayer with generous giving, it becomes, as the Amplified Bible says, “preserved before God [so that He…is about to help you.]” I can hear someone ask, “Brother John, this is the first time I have ever heard of mixing prayer with giving. Are you sure it’s really okay to do it?”

Please know I am not suggesting you make a memorial prayer on the strength of only one mention of it in Scripture. In fact, in many instances in the Word of God, people just like you mixed their giving and praying for the purpose of drawing God’s attention to their desires.

The Book of 1 Samuel tells about a godly woman named Hannah. She mixed her prayer with her gift and saw God’s hand move almost immediately to fulfill her request. Hear her prayer.

And she vowed a vow, and said, O Lord of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thin handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the Lord all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head. 1 Samuel 1:11

Hannah’s special prayer is for a child. Hear her heart’s cry as she desperately asks God to remember her. Then observe closely as she adds giving to her prayer. She adds a gift of significant value, for she offers her firstborn son to God. Please notice that she makes this new prayer after years of asking and not receiving. However, when she adds giving to her praying, only a few hours pass before God responds by granting her request.

And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the Lord, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the Lord remembered her. 1 Samuel 1:19

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