What does a godly mother look li
ke?
She’s a woman of prayer and a woman who knows God.
Hannah is such a mother.
She is one of my favorite people in the Bible. You can read about her in 1 Samuel 1-2. She wanted a child so much but was barren and therefore distraught. She cried out to God to give her a son, and when He answered her prayer, Hannah kept her promise to “give him to the LORD all the days of his life” (1 Samuel 1:11).
So Hannah brought her young son Samuel to the tabernacle at Shiloh, “so that he may appear in the presence of the LORD and dwell there forever” (1 Samuel 1:23). Then we get to read this prayer of a godly mother – please take time to read it now and learn how to pray a God-focused prayer of praise.
1 “My heart exults in the Lord;
my horn is exalted in the Lord.
My mouth derides my enemies,
because I rejoice in your salvation.
2 “There is none holy like the Lord:
for there is none besides you;
there is no rock like our God.
3 Talk no more so very proudly,
let not arrogance come from your mouth;
for the Lord is a God of knowledge,
and by him actions are weighed.
4 The bows of the mighty are broken,
but the feeble bind on strength.
5 Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread,
but those who were hungry have ceased to hunger.
The barren has borne seven,
but she who has many children is forlorn.
6 The Lord kills and brings to life;
he brings down to Sheol and raises up.
7 The Lord makes poor and makes rich;
he brings low and he exalts.
8 He raises up the poor from the dust;
he lifts the needy from the ash heap
to make them sit with princes
and inherit a seat of honor.
For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s,
and on them he has set the world.
9 “He will guard the feet of his faithful ones,
but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness,
for not by might shall a man prevail.
10 The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces;
against them he will thunder in heaven.
The Lord will judge the ends of the earth;
he will give strength to his king
and exalt the horn of his anointed.”
(1 Samuel 2:1-10)
This is one of my favorite prayers in the Bible. It is filled with much truth about God, for both His attributes and His actions are on display: from His holiness, knowledge, and sovereignty to His salvation, provision, protection, and judgment. Indeed, this prayer reveals the heart of a woman who knew her God well.
May Hannah’s prayer teach us much about God, and may we strive to know Him and exult in Him all the days of our lives.
And for a deeper dive into the life of Hannah in 1 Samuel 1-2, you can read and/or listen to this teaching:
How to Be a Godly Mother, a sermon by John MacArthur, is available for free in audio (MP3) and PDF formats here:
https://www.gty.org/library/sermons-library/1279/how-to-be-a-godly-mother
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