Faith Capsule: It is important to ceaselessly engage prayer for your breakthrough.

1 Samuel 1, Luke 1:1-25

The Bible talked about Elkanah the husband of Peninnah and Hannah, “This man went up from his city yearly to worship and sacrifice to the Lord of hosts in Shiloh. Also the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the Lord, were there.  And whenever the time came for Elkanah to make an offering, he would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters. But to Hannah he would give a double portion, for he loved Hannah, although the Lord had closed her womb.” (1 Samuel 1:3-5) Hannah’s womb was closed by God. Hannah engaged prayer without knowing that God was responsible for her closed womb. It does not matter what the source of your challenge is but it is important to ceaselessly engage prayer for your breakthrough. While Hannah was praying to God, there was no record of complain. Despite her challenge she maintained her trip to Shiloh continually and the bible recorded, “So it was, year by year, when she went up to the house of the Lord…” (1Samuel 1:7) Hannah, through ceaseless engagement of expectation, God closed womb turned to God opened womb. Hannah could not succumb to fear despite provocation from Peninnah. Hannah remained persistent by going to Shiloh year after year. Is there any issue generating fear in your expectation?

Zacharias at his old age was visited by an angel. It is written, “But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.” (Luke 1:13) The angel that appeared to Zacharias pointed out to Zacharias that to be afraid is a prayer hinderer. Prayer and being afraid cannot go together before the manifestation of prayer request. The prayer point of Zacharias was not mentioned but it can be concluded, from the word of the angel that Zacharias must have been praying against barrenness in his marriage. Prayer opens heaven for the extension of God’s hand over every prevailing force. Absolutely, there is no door that prayer cannot open. Barrenness will succumb to every effective fervent prayer that is rendered unto God. In the life of Zacharias and Elizabeth, in the life of Elkanah and Hannah, prayer unlocked the door of barrenness and they were blessed with fruitfulness. Are you experiencing barrenness in any area of life? Today, deny fear from having a place in your life and be encouraged. The same God that remembered Hannah and Elizabeth is alive to open closed door. Allow prayer to be your ceaseless engagement.

Prayer for today: Ask God to intervene in all that is representing barrenness in your life.