1 Samuel 13:12 Therefore said I, The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication unto the Lord: I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering.

The Hebrew word of supplication is challah, which means to make yourself sick or to be tired. Mainly to be sick and tired. Note the last phrase, I forced myself therefore. If you would, ponder on that for a moment.

In the Greek the word translated is deesis, which means need, indigence, with a secondary idea of seeking relief from God or man.

The last thing that many of us want to listen to is a whiner. Negative, negative, negative, it just wears us out. That attitude also keeps us from being honest in being supplicants. Sick and tired are physical conditions, need and indigence are conditional situations, they are based in unrealized expectations.

If I were to try and reconcile the two uses, old and new, I would use “I forced myself” as the example of how to properly be a supplicant. First, I have to get honest about my condition, both physical and emotional. I have to get honest with myself before I can be honest with God.

Do you see yourself as an overcomer, strong, able, enduring, or long suffering? Those attitudes can keep you from going to God for help. Do you see yourself as helpless, weak, dumb, crippled or enslaved? Those attitudes can keep you from going to God because you feel unworthy.

You have to force yourself to come to God earnestly, with honest conditions, honest emotions, and make yourself known. While God knows all, how can you expect to see God answer your requests if God gives you what He knows you need while you are looking for something different?

Ephesians 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

“watching thereunto”