“17 Then Eli answered and said, “Go in peace; and may the God of Israel grant your petition that you have asked of Him” (1 Samuel 1:17)
“Mom, can you buy me that?” Paxton pointed enthusiastically. Paxton petitions me daily for his needs, he is honest and forthright with everything he wants. His heart tells him, that whatever he wants, I long to provide. When did we stop believing God for the best? When did we stop petitioning God for our needs?
Hannah, a woman of sorrow in the Bible did just that. (1 Samuel 1) Her hearts desire was for a baby, she longed for a baby, and so she took her desires before the throne. One of the many facets of God is that he is our judge, he is the ultimate lawgiver. Bring your requests before the court, petition him for your cause. (Romans 2)
God loves his children. Petition him for favor. Petition him for a job that you enjoy, a family that is united, a child to come back to the Lord, a heart that aligns with his will. Our Heavenly Father hears our cries, he longs to aid the persecuted, he desires open communication. Petition him in hardship with humility, and thanksgiving. Lastly, petition him for someone who has a hard heart, petition him for change, look to him as the author and finisher of your faith. God desires for you to intercede for others on his behalf. Our lives are made to effect those around us. He has put you in a specific place to do just that today. Your prayers are his handiwork, a life-altering weapon that can be used to change the Kingdom for good. Are you using the heavenly courts by lifting up your voice?
In the text above you stated, “Lastly, petition Him for a hard heart, ” why would we want a heart that is hard? This confused me to an extent, but then I thought that perhaps it may have been an error made while typing and overlooked by a proof deader.
Thanks SO much, Barbara! I totally missed that. It definitely could be taken the wrong way. It was supposed to mean, “petition God for someone else’s hard heart…” It was very personal to me and what I was petitioning God for at that moment in time. It was not supposed to mean petition God that WE have a hard heart! Whew! Glad you caught that!