How to be a prayerful woman

There was Hannah, who teaches us how to pray when troubled and burdened. When her husband had gone about his own business she lingered alone at the sanctuary in the presence of the Lord, pouring out her grief to Him. We are told that “she spoke in her heart, only her lips moved but her voice was not heard.” And Eli, the easy-going, unspiritual priest rebuked her for drunkenness, so short-sighted was he. But she drew nigh to God, and He heard her cry, and we read, “The woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad.” Her faith anticipated God’s answer to her cries, and she was content and at peace; and He did more for her than ever she had asked.

So this dear woman after having made this vow, continued praying before the Lord. She continued praying; not like a prayer that can be put in the files and can be drawn out at some convenient moment, a continuance in prayer, the desire of the heart so active in this way. Prayer, prayer, prayer. I do not know how long she prayed, but she continued in prayer, and having made the desire, having expressed her vow, having expressed her determination to do this, she continued in it until the time came when she got peace and assurance. The bitterness passed away. The priest said to her, "Go in peace, and the God of Israel will grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him".

She did a remarkable thing, she made a specific request. It was not a general prayer, it was a specific request. She said, 'Lord, I want a man child, and if I get him I will give him back to you, he will be yours forever'. She was prepared to receive what her heart yearned for and then to give it back to the Lord. What a remarkable woman! What earnestness of desire! What insight to see what would please the Lord, and she made this definite decision, which means, as far as we are concerned, that our prayers are not self-centred; we are praying for the Lord's interests.

In this respect we can also learn from Hannah in I Samuel 1:9-17. This godly woman prayed in the house of the Lord, when worshippers were assembled. Notice it says of her, "she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard" (v. 13). To have audibly prayed in that mixed company would not have been proper, yet she could pray in her heart and God heard and answered. So also today women can likewise pray and praise in their hearts in the gathered Assembly and join in the "Amen" to public prayer and praise.

Of course, if she is alone, a woman can address God in prayer in the same way a man can, and God can also use her for prophesying.

As for the question of whether Scripture justifies women gathering in conferences as sisters in the faith, we can say that there is no biblical example of women gathering in this way in public meetings. However, there are many opportunities for sisters to visit each other. It is entirely desirable and appropriate for women to discuss the Word of God among themselves. We can only encourage sisters to do so in the spirit and manner that the Bible presents. Of course, it is also good for women who visit each other to pray together, with their heads covered (see further below). Similarly, exposing children to the Bible, praying and singing with them, is a service suitable for women, primarily with their own children in the home, but possibly also with other children in a different setting. In this regard, they should do it in the spirit and manner that the Bible presents.

During a women's meeting, it is customary for some women to speak. Since the topics are related to faith and often involve discussing Bible verses, there is, at least in essence, a form of "preaching." And if they discuss certain biblical verses, there is, at least in essence, teaching. However, these "teachings" do not have the approval of the Word of God. On the contrary, God does not permit women to teach (1 Timothy 2:12).

Suppose you begin the day with a sweet spirit of prayer and confidence in God; in the course of the day, in this wicked world, you will find a thousand causes of agitation; but if you are spiritually exercised, alive to see the thing's God is exercised in, everything will become a matter of prayer and intercession according to the mind of God. Thus humbleness and dependence should be marked on all a saint's actions. Instead of being full of regrets at what we meet with, if walking with Christ, we shall see His interests in a brother or the church. What a blessed thing to carry everything to God! to take all to Him, instead of constantly murmuring over failure!

We have, moreover, direct exhortations to prayer; as for example, "Continuing instant in prayer"; "Pray without ceasing" (Rom. 12:12; 1 Thess. 5:17. See also Luke 18, etc.). And if you read the introductory parts of St. Paul's epistles you will see how he embodied his own exhortations. As you trace his path, as recorded for us in the Acts, you would think that he never did anything else than preach; but if you read these parts of the epistles you would almost think that he never did anything else than pray. Approximating to the example of our blessed Lord in his unwearied labours, he found, yea, he learnt, the need of constant waiting upon God. In like manner, prayer is a necessity for every child of God. For we are in ourselves weak and helpless, entirely dependent; and prayer is but the expression of our dependence on Him to whom we pray. Dependent upon God for everything, our very needs urge us into His presence; and having liberty of access through Christ, because of the place we occupy, and because of the relationship we enjoy, we "come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need" (Heb. 4:16).

Beware, young believer, of proud thoughts. They are an abomination to God: "Be clothed with humility." You want God's help in the smallest matters, and He will not withhold it from the prayer of faith. At the bench or in the counting-house, at school or in household duties, seek aid from on high in all your difficulties, and you will find what resources there are in God for the prayerful soul. This will not encourage you in idleness for you must not suppose God will do for you what you yourself are too lazy to attempt. While you ought to pray as if everything depended on Omnipotence, you must also work as if all depended on yourself.

For the reasons above stated, our path necessarily must be one of absolute dependence upon the Lord Jesus. In the days of His flesh, He voluntarily took this place. He was truly God all fulness was pleased to dwell in Him; but we are told that He, being found in fashion as a man, humbled Himself, took upon Him the form of a servant, and became obedient, etc. We could not take upon ourselves the form of a servant; for we are servants, and never were anything else. In this way it is that the blessed Lord trod the path of faith perfectly, and has left us an example that we should follow His steps. Hence we are told that "when He was reviled, He reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not; but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously." And so in this psalm, the first words are, "Preserve me, O God: for in Thee do I put my trust." How wondrous is the love and lowliness that could take the place of such entire dependence! Surely when hungry for forty days and nights He could have commanded bread to be brought forth, and it could not possibly be withheld; but He chose this place of dependence, and replied, "It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." Again, on another occasion, when men were seeking to swallow Him up in their cruel hatred, could He not have prayed to His Father, and He would presently have given Him twelve legions of angels? (Matt. 26:53.) Most assuredly He could; but He chose rather the path of dependence and obedience as Jehovah's servant, and in this He has left a perfect example for us to follow. I gather, therefore, from this psalm, that a life of absolute and constant dependence will characterize those who follow Christ. As the apostle Paul forcibly puts it, "Having nothing, and yet possessing all things;" having no resources in self, no stock in hand, but unceasing and thorough dependence on Another for all our help. And I doubt not that the true effect of entering into our perfect standing, and full character of blessing in Christ, will be to seek to bring the power of all that into this present scene, as alone suited to Him whom having not seen we love. It is comparatively easy and natural to make God our refuge in great emergencies, and in peculiar trials; but to trust in Him at all times as the constant habit of our lives, in all the details of our brief sojourn here, is another thing. To look to Him about every matter, whether rough or smooth, painful or pleasant, and to go forth day by day watching His hand, obeying His voice, leaning on His arm, associating all the almightiness of His power, the infiniteness of His wisdom, and perfectness of His love with all our affairs, great or small, at home or abroad, things spiritual or temporal, must mark the character of those who thus live in dependence on God. So perfectly and unceasingly was this path of dependence trodden by the Son of God that we hear Him saying, "I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, He gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. … Whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak." (John 12:49-50.) Here we see the perfectness of the blessed Lord in thus depending on the Father for every word He should speak; and His seeking a solitary place in the wilderness for prayer, getting up a great while before day and going out into a desert place to pray, spending a whole night in prayer, and being usually engaged in prayer before any great event, such as choosing His apostles, the transfiguration, etc., all show the reality of the life of dependence which this perfect One lived. From all this, and other Scriptures, we learn how faith, prayer, and thanksgiving must ever accompany our exercise of real dependence upon God.