Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. 1 Samuel 1:13a
“And this Hannah in the first book of Kings, who was a type of the Church, maintains and observes, in that she prayed to God not with clamorous petition, but silently and modestly, within the very recesses of her heart. She spoke with hidden prayer, but with manifest faith. She spoke not with her voice, but with her heart, because she knew that thus God hears; and she effectually obtained what she sought, because she asked it with belief.”
Cyprian of Carthage (190-258) Sermon 4 On the Lord’s Prayer.
It was a fruitful time in Perth. Jenni and I have safely arrived in Adelaide. I am turning my attention to the Lenten discipline of prayer.
Today Cyprian celebrates the example of Hannah and teaches us that she was a type of the church and shows us how to practice hidden prayer with manifest faith and belief.
This reminds me afresh to place my needs in the trustworthy hands of God.
The generous life calls us to put ourselves in a posture of perpetual dependence on God. This is not easy because often God places bigger challenges in our paths.
I felt convicted by the “clamorous petition” comment.
God, help us silently and modestly entrust our desires and difficulties to you and through hidden prayer and manifest faith and belief watch you do the impossible. Amen.