The Prayer That Moves God

Text: 1 Samuel 1:10-20

Not everyone who received God’s blessings in the Bible actually prayed for them. Some were simply favoured. Take Abraham, for instance. In Genesis 12:1–3, we see God calling him out and blessing him with a great promise, even before Abraham had a chance to pray. His son Isaac also benefitted from this divine favour; in Genesis 26:1–3, God reaffirmed the covenant made with Abraham, again without a recorded prayer from Isaac himself.

Peter, the fisherman, also had such an encounter. In Luke 5:1–11, Jesus simply said, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men,” and with that, his destiny was forever changed. Then there was Paul, a known persecutor of the church. In Acts 9:1–15, despite his past, God called him a chosen vessel—selected and sent for a divine purpose.

These stories show us one side of God’s dealings with humanity: sovereign favour. But even so, God has commanded us to pray, showing His willingness to respond to our voices. Jeremiah 33:3 makes this invitation clear: “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.” In Matthew 7:7, Jesus says, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.”

But not all prayers are answered. Isaiah 59:1–2 explains why—our iniquities can separate us from God, causing Him to hide His face. This means some prayers reach Him and stir His attention, some are heard but met with silence, and some never reach Him at all.

So what kind of prayer moves God? What makes Him respond?

Let’s look at Hannah.

In 1 Samuel 1:10–20, we meet a woman in deep emotional pain. Hannah was not barren by chance—the Scripture says, “the LORD had shut up her womb.” Her rival provoked her sorely, and she bore the ridicule of a condition she did not cause. Yet, it was in that brokenness that she turned to the Lord.

Her prayer was raw and sincere. She poured out her soul in anguish. She wept bitterly, but through the tears, she worshipped. She made a heartfelt plea: “Look on the affliction of thine handmaid… Remember me, and not forget thine handmaid… give unto thine handmaid a man child.” But it didn’t stop there. She made a vow—a serious one: “Then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life…” This vow revealed a deep spiritual principle: what God gives to you can become a blessing to Him in return. Hannah didn’t ask for a child just to silence her mockers—she offered to return the blessing to the Giver. And this invites us to reflect: is what God has given you a blessing to Him in return? Your child, your job, your spouse, your money, your time, your position, your knowledge—are they blessing God, or just benefiting you?

Hannah’s story teaches more than just how to pray—it shows how to posture your heart. She continued in prayer—this wasn’t a microwave moment. She persisted. She was humble and polite when Eli misunderstood her. She was honest about her pain, saying, “Out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken.”

After her prayer, she requested grace. Then, something powerful happened: her countenance changed. She was no longer sad, even before the answer came. That’s faith—believing God has heard, even when nothing has changed yet. Hebrews 11:6 reminds us that without faith, it is impossible to please Him. The next morning, Hannah and her husband Elkanah worshipped. Then they acted—Elkanah “knew” his wife. James 2:17 says, “Faith without works is dead.” Prayer and faith must be followed by action.

And then came the answer—Samuel was born.

But Hannah’s commitment didn’t end there. She fulfilled her vow. She returned Samuel to the prophet Eli, just as she had promised. A major lesson lies here: how many of us make vows in desperation, only to forget them once God comes through? Ecclesiastes 5:5 warns, “Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.” Deuteronomy 23:21 also reminds us that God will demand our vows from us.

Hannah also worshipped God in song. In 1 Samuel 2:2 she declared, “There is none holy as the LORD… neither is there any rock like our God.” Even after her prayer was answered, she remained grateful and reverent. She didn’t abandon the child either. She followed up with Samuel, caring for the gift God gave her. Every year, she made him a little coat and brought it to the temple. She nurtured the blessing.

And God noticed. Eli blessed Elkanah and Hannah, and God visited her again. She bore five more children—above and beyond her original request. The rewards of her faith, obedience, and follow-through were more than she imagined.

So why do many long-time Christians today no longer experience miracles, even though Jesus promised that signs would follow those who believe? (Mark 16:17) The answer might lie in how we approach God. Some have grown overfamiliar with Him, losing the reverence that once marked their prayers (Isaiah 29:13; Proverbs 9:10). Others take His grace for granted (Romans 6:1–2; Romans 2:4). Pride, lack of seriousness, and spiritual laziness have crept in (James 4:6; Proverbs 16:18; Jeremiah 29:13; Romans 12:11; James 5:16).

I know because God corrected me recently. During a virtual prayer meeting, the Lord spoke clearly: “When you are praying to Me, give Me 100% attention—not 99.99%. Stop doing other things while praying.” That moment was a wake-up call. I stopped immediately, apologized, and asked for forgiveness. Perhaps, like me, you’re also guilty. If so, let’s begin today with a prayer of repentance. God still hears. He still answers. And He still rewards those who diligently seek Him.

Let us return to Him—not just with our requests, but with our hearts.

Bola Lasisi is a surveyor and geo-information specialist. He serves as a Senior Pastor with the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Netherlands Missions. With a deep love for the Word of God, he is passionate about teaching life-transforming principles from Scripture, helping people apply biblical truths to everyday living. Known for his practical and insightful teaching style, Pastor Bola has become a spiritual father to many, guiding both his biological and numerous spiritual children with wisdom and compassion. He is happily married and continues to inspire lives through his ministry and dedication to God’s work. Check out more of Bola's posts here.

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