Hannah Turns To God In Prayer

In her profound desire for a child, Hannah turns to the Lord in prayer. There is a very simple lesson here. When we have desires, we take them to the Lord. Giving priority to prayer is not to shirk our duties to our family, ministry, or profession. It is to give them the firmest of all foundations. The happiness of many others, first of all our family very much hangs on whether we live a life of prayer. 'After they had eaten and drunk in Shiloh, Hannah rose.... She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord, and wept bitterly. And she vowed 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 to your maidservant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head." (Cfr. to 1 Samuel 1: 9-20 of the Holy Bible) (Graphic: Ann Bates saved to Bible women Miriam Pinterest) Hannah's final prayer written down - perhaps one of the finest in Scripture and even quoted by Mary - isn't Samuel-centered. It's God-centered.