Titus 2 Men And Women

Praying Parent: Lesson 3 - Release And Protection
by Teddi Neevel

Did any of you have trouble being honest about your child/children when you looked at Lesson 2’s work sheet?  I felt completely over-whelmed. I started out mothering 5, then 6, and then 7 sons. Then one by one the numbers increased. Now there are 5 daughter-in-laws, 3 ex-daughter-in-laws, and 21 living grandchildren.

Now I realize my numbers are greater then most of your’s but the importance of prayer is the same. If you establish the habit of praying for your family members specifically now adding numbers later will be easier.

Let’s look at one of the greatest Bible examples of a praying mother. Turn to 1Samuel 1:9-28

"So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the LORD. And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore. And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head. And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her mouth. Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken .And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee. And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD. Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto. Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him. And she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad. And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the LORD, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the LORD remembered her. Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the LORD. And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer unto the LORD the yearly sacrifice, and his vow. But Hannah went not up; for she said unto her husband, I will not go up until the child be weaned, and then I will bring him, that he may appear before the LORD, and there abide for ever. And Elkanah her husband said unto her, Do what seemeth thee good; tarry until thou have weaned him; only the LORD establish his word. So the woman abode, and gave her son suck until she weaned him. And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house of the LORD in Shiloh: and the child was young. And they slew a bullock, and brought the child to Eli. And she said, Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the LORD. For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him: Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there."

Hannah prayed to conceive. Before she had conceived she promised in prayer to give the child back to the LORD. God answered Hannah’s prayer and she recognized that fact. Notice verse 22. Hannah had not even told Elkanah about her vow until after Samuel was born.

This is a very important teaching from scripture. I don’t want any of you to miss this. There are preachers who teach that because the husband is the head of the home, he is responsible for all spiritual decisions that are made in the home. They teach that a woman should never make a decision without consulting her husband and getting his permission. I’m not teaching insurrection here but if your husband is unsaved...if your husband is out of fellowship...if your husband is away from home because of work...if your husband has a debillitating illness then you had better make the decision. When you are in right relationship with God the Holy Spirit has access to you ear. He will lead you...even though you are a woman.

Hannah made a vow to the LORD and Hannah kept her vow. When Samuel was weaned, Hannah physically took Samuel to the temple and gave him to Eli. Then look at I Samuel 2 the chapter begin with Hannah praising God for His greatness and His blessings. Think about it, Hannah had just given her only child to Eli. Hannah knew she was going home without her child but she praised God. Oh, that we could each be like Hannah, that we could relinquish our claim and allow each child to serve God and that we would praise God.

As we look further into I Samuel 2:18-21

"But Samuel ministered before the LORD, being a child, girded with a linen ephod. Moreover his mother made him a little coat, and brought it to him from year to year, when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice. And Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, and said, The LORD give thee seed of this woman for the loan which is lent to the LORD. And they went unto their own home.

And the LORD visited Hannah, so that she conceived, and bare three sons and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before the LORD."

Hannah saw her child once a year. God blessed her with more children. God doesn’t ask us to be perfect parents He asks us to be faithful to His Word.

Another example of Godly women is found in 2 Timothy 1:5

"When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also." Unfeigned faith means without hypocrisy. Oh, that people would be able to compliment us in this same way. An interesting point to note here is that both of these passages speak of a son’s faith and service to the LORD because of his mother.

When my brother was on deputation to go to the country of Brazil as a missionary, someone asked my Mom how she could stand to think of her son going so far away. Mom’s answer has stuck with me through all these years. Her reply; "I’d rather have all my children right with God and living on the other side of the world, then to have one child out of the Lord’s will and living at home."

Do you recognize your inability to control every area of your child’s life? Are you willing to let the LORD have control of those areas?  At first there are small area of control where we must turn loose...riding in someone elses car...a night away...the first day of school...walking home...riding a bike...going to camp...dating...college...career...marriage. While we must allow our children to make choices. We must train our children to make wise choices. Part of that training is praying for your children and making sure they know you pray for them. If you are un-comfortable praying aloud, I beg you to start by praying with your child. Your child needs to know that you are on speaking terms with God.

There are also circumstances that we cannot control. We can’t stop a tornado or an earthquake. We can’t build a portable barrier around our children that will protect them from gunfire or disease. We can make ourselves ill by worrying about the things we can’t control or we can pray for a hedge of protection.

Now I know that some of you are thinking but I never know what to say. My words sound funny. Let’s think about funny sounding words, trying to pray in the old English of the Bible does sound funny. We tell our children that God is our heavenly father and then we talk funny to Him. I would never have talked to my father the way some people pray. Here’s an example: Oh wonderful Father, Thou that caused my mother to concieve, I thank thee for laboring hard to pay the mortage. Father, I am blessed that I might call thee, Father, that I am privleged to wear thy name. If thou hast the time, Father, I wouldst tell thee about my day. Now I have a need to request that you supply when thou cans’t fit into thy schedule. If it please, you father I desire a new pair of shoes but if it will inconvenience you I’ll understand being barefoot. Now that sounds pretty silly doesn’t it? Instead of worrying about the flowery words or phrases when you pray talk to God as you would talk to a loved and respected parent. Tell Him your heart as you would tell your very best friend.

Psalms 9:10 "And they who know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou LORD hast not forsaken them that seek thee."

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