Introduction
Do you know who the Bible’s preeminent prayer warriors are? You’d be wrong if you guessed Moses, Elijah, or Peter. Though all of these biblical figures had powerful prayers, the title of “prayer warrior” is most fittingly given to mothers.
Yes, mothers. The Bible is filled with stories of mothers who prayed fervently for their children. And their prayers were answered. In this article, we’ll look closely at four mothers: Hannah, Elizabeth, and Mary. We’ll explore their powerful prayers and see what we can learn from them.
Introduction to Praying Mothers of the Bible
Do you have a mother? Chances are, your answer is yes. And if you’re like most people, your mother has greatly influenced your life. You go to her for comfort, wisdom, and support.
The Bible is full of mothers who prayed—mothers who were brave enough to approach God with their fears and their hopes and were relentless in their prayers for their children. In this series, we’ll take a closer look at some of these prayerful mothers of the Bible.
We’ll start with the story of Hannah, a woman who was barren and longed for a child. She prayed for years, and God finally answered her prayers. We’ll also look at the story of Mary, the mother of Jesus. Mary faced some pretty daunting challenges, but she never stopped praying.
These are just two examples of mothers in the Bible who prayed with faith and received God’s blessings in return. If you’re a mother or have a mother in your life, I hope you’ll be encouraged by these stories. May we all learn to pray with faith and abandon ourselves to God’s care?
Hannah: A Mother Who Pleaded With God
Hannah is one mother from the Bible who is known for her powerful prayers.
In 1 Samuel, we see Hannah praying in the temple for a child. She was barren and had been for many years, so she begged God to give her a son. She vowed that if she were to have a son, she would consecrate him to the Lord’s service. And God answered her prayer!
What’s so inspiring about Hannah is that she never stopped praying, even when things were tough. She kept pleading with God until He finally answered her prayers. What a fantastic example of faith!
Mary: The Mother of Jesus
Mary, the mother of Jesus, is one of the most revered mothers in the Bible. She was a woman of faith who prayed fervently for her son, even in the darkest times.
Many passages in the Bible describe Mary’s prayer life. One such passage is Luke 1:46-55, in which Mary sings praise to God after learning she will be the mother of Jesus. In this song, she praises God for His mercy and His faithfulness.
Another example is Luke 2:19, which describes how Mary and Joseph took Jesus to the Jerusalem Temple to present Him to God. As they did so, “Simeon [took] him in his arms and praised God, saying: ‘Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation'” (NIV). Mary was a woman who prayed with faith and confidence in God.
Elizabeth: A Mother of Faith
Let’s take a closer look at the story of Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist. When Elizabeth was promised a son against all odds, she sang praises to God and declared that nothing is too hard for Him. She shared her faith with others and showed them God’s power.
Elizabeth trusted God’s miraculous power and clung to Him during her difficult pregnancy. Think about it – in those days, not many people lived past 50; yet, despite her age and physical condition, Elizabeth managed to carry a baby to full-term. By doing so, she showed us that being a mother is an excellent opportunity to have faith in God’s power for our and our children’s lives.
Elizabeth also demonstrated how powerful prayer can be – when Mary visited her cousin, Elizabeth’s baby leaped inside her with joy because he was filled with the Holy Spirit after hearing Mary’s voice! This remarkable event proved that prayer has incredible strength and will always be answered by God if we have patience and trust in Him.
The Shunammite Woman: Praying in Hope
Barrenness was seen as a curse or punishment in the ancient world, and you can see this in the story of the Shunammite woman. She prayed to God and asked for a son. After she received her son, she continued to pray faithfully and devoted time to be with her son.
What sets her apart is that she not only prayed out of desperation but also out of hope. She believed God could grant her son a long life, so no matter how old he grew, she still had faith that he was blessed.
Her story displays how mothers can trust their prayerful faith – whatever the answer may be – and stand by it confidently. The Shunammite woman’s unwavering hope provides an example for all of us mothers today who trust God’s promises without fail, regardless of our circumstances.
What Can We Learn From These Praying Mothers?
The Bible contains examples of powerful, faithful women praying and trusting God in their unique situations. As you look closer at the stories of these women, you can learn a few things about how to trust God and pray with faith.
First, like Hannah, Rachel, and Zechariah, it’s important to remember that the Lord hears our heartfelt prayers and will answer them if we take the time to cry out to Him. Secondly, like Mary and Elizabeth, prayer is more than just words – it’s our posture of trust in the Lord. Finally – as with Sarah – prayer is a bold declaration of faith that gives us the confidence to walk out in new steps of obedience as we step into what the Lord has called us to do.
Ultimately, these mothers demonstrate that no matter how impossible the circumstances may be, God can still work wonders when His people unite in humble dependence upon Him and earnestly pray.
Conclusion
So, what have we learned? Many powerful women in the Bible prayed fervently for their children and saw great results. These mothers are examples of the importance of prayer and its ability to change circumstances. When we pray for our children, we join in a powerful legacy of moms who have gone before us.