A Prayer-Vow for your child (1 Sam 1.1-13) and an example prayer

“O LORD of hosts,
if only you will look on the misery of your servant,
and remember me, and not forget your servant,
but will give to your servant a male child,
then I will set him before you as a nazirite
until the day of his death.
He shall drink neither wine nor intoxicants,
and no razor shall touch his head.”

As she continued praying before the LORD, Eli observed her mouth. Hannah was praying silently; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard.

“I have been pouring out my soul before the LORD.

“Go in peace; the God of Israel grant the petition you have made to him.”

We all know people who deeply desire a child, but cannot seem to become pregnant. Perhaps you have been through such a difficulty. It is difficult: the unknown, the waiting, the fear that perhaps you will never be able to have a child.

Hannah is just such a woman. And in her world, being a “barren woman” (even if it wasn’t her body that was the issue) was shameful, much more so than in our world.

This is her prayer. Includes a vow, that is, she not only asks for what she wants, but she vows to do something for God if he grants her wish.

It is well-structured, a structure we can use in our prayers. Here is a brief example, based on her prayer, that we could use in similar circumstances.

Dear God in heaven, please hear me in my difficulty.

You know how badly I have been desiring a child. If you can see fit to grant me this blessing,

I will do my best to raise him as your child. I will teach him about you, and help him to be faithful and strong in his belief and actions.

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