CHANGE YOUR COUNTENANCE.

                                                    Written by Pst Sam Oluwatoye

FOCUS VERSE: 1 SAMUEL 1:15-18             
As she was praying to the Lord, Eli watched her. 13 Seeing her lips moving but hearing no sound, he thought she had been drinking. 14 “Must you come here drunk?” he demanded. “Throw away your wine!” “Oh no, sir!” she replied. “I haven’t been drinking wine or anything stronger. But I am very discouraged, and I was pouring out my heart to the Lord. Don’t think I am a wicked woman! For I have been praying out of great anguish and sorrow.”“In that case,” Eli said, “go in peace! May the God of Israel grant the request you have asked of him.” “Oh, thank you, sir!” she exclaimed. Then she went back and began to eat again, and she was no longer sad. (NLT)

 1 SAMUEL 1:1-20

Have you ever met people who claim to have prayed to God about an issue but even the way they tell you they have prayed does not show they believe that prayer works. When Christians go through challenges in life, there are two major statements that are made and the first one is a question that says ‘’have you prayed’’ while the second one is an answer that says ‘’yes’’. Every Christian claims to have prayed to God concerning their issues or challenges but it is usually difficult to believe because of the way we react after the prayers.

In our devotional today, we learn from the story of Anna who had an issue of bareness and had to talk to God about it. She was privileged to have the Prophet Eli pray over her request and the Bible says that immediately after the prayers, Anna went home happy even though she had not become pregnant of a child. I have come to discover that the way we react after prayers goes a long way to reveal if the prayers will eventually manifest with answers or if we would have to keep praying for a long time. Many Christians have their answers delayed because their countenance after prayers does not show that they believe God either heard their prayers or will answer their prayers. It is time as Christians to act in faith after prayers by changing the way we feel or the way we react after praying.

Are you one of those who will still go about begging or complaining even after talking to God after your issues? When you do that, you are trying to say that God has not really heard you or He is not capable of changing the situation of things. Anytime you pray, it is important that you feel the same way you will feel when you eventually receive answers to your prayers. That is what we call faith. Stop crying, complaining, nagging or feeling bad after you have prayed.  Instead, be happy, glad and joyful that God has answered your prayers. I pray that you will see a manifestation of answered prayers in your life in Jesus name.

ACTION POINT: Change your countenance after your prayers today.

TODAY’S CONFESSION:                                                 

1.       My soul rejoices because I know that God has answered my prayerstoday in Jesus name.

2.       I am receiving testimonies from all angles today in Jesus name.

3.       My celebration has started and will continue for the rest of this year in Jesus name.