There is a principle that runs throughout the scripture that runs contrary to everything in our culture.

That means it runs contrary to everything you learn in schools.

It runs contrary to everything you see on television, the media in general.

It runs contrary to how some businesses are run.

It runs contrary to the books that you read.

It runs contrary to even the way some churches operate.

And the principle I'm talking about is that principle of paradox.

Let me just refresh your memory.

The world says that if you want to get ahead, it doesn't matter who and how many people you trample upon to get up to where you set your goals to reach. The Bible said, if you want to be first,

become the least. The world said, if you want to become rich, grab for everything you can. And the Bible said,

if you want to be rich, give away everything you can. But perhaps there is no greater area in which

this principle operates than in the area of brokenness. The world says, don't ever let them see you sweat, right?

The Bible said that a broken and contrite heart, God will not despise.

That there is a blessing in brokenness.

Now, in this message and in the next, we will examine the prayer of brokenness by this woman, Hannah.

Hannah's prayer was a prayer of brokenness that God answered in magnificent ways.

God blessed her in a wonderful way.

Let me tell you about Hannah just briefly, for those of you who might not be familiar with her.

Hannah is a Hebrew word which means gracious or graciousness, literal translation.

Sometimes the name doesn't fit the character, but in this case, the name fits the character, and the character fits the name.

In case with Hannah, her name fit her character, because she was a gracious woman, she was a thoughtful woman, she was a selfless woman.

And as sometimes the case, not always, but you know, you heard it, no good deed goes

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