1 Samuel 1:12-16   12 As she kept on praying to the LORD, Eli observed her mouth. 13 Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk 14 and said to her, “How long are you going to stay drunk? Put away your wine.”

15 “Not so, my lord,” Hannah replied, “I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the LORD. 16 Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief.”

I am a prayer intercessor and that is praying to God on behave of others.  I have done this for many years and have a few other friends who are prayer intercessors and we have a little saying amongst ourselves:  “It ain’t prayer until the snot rolls.” Yes I know this sounds gross but it’s the truth.  Sometimes intercessory prayer can be an intense messy job.

Now Hannah may not have been an intercessor, but I tell you she knew how to pray for sure.  Hannah wanted a child very badly and she prayed a prayer that I myself have prayed.  She was praying so hard that only her lips moved so you know that was quite a sight.  Her own spiritual leader accused her of being drunk in the middle of the day.  She probably would have been severely punished for that being a woman in those days but Hannah didn’t care.

I think Hannah must have had on her ugly face.  Let me tell you about my ugly face prayer.  When I go into my prayer closet and I don’t let anybody see me.  In my earlier years I did this kind of praying in public church prayer meetings, but I have over the years learned this is NOT a good thing to do. I cry very very hard and I seriously have the most distorted face you ever want to see…lips twisted, eyes swollen from the crying, red nose….the works.  It’s so tiring that I have to pray lying down with a BOX of tissues.  Many times there are no words just tears and moans….but we know from my previous post that the Holy spirit interprets those moans for us to God.

Now everyone does not need to pray like this….I’m just saying it happens.  Like Hannah if I did this in the street someone would say I was drunk or crazy and call the police.  There are occasions where intense prayer is needed.   You yourself may have a need or someone you know…maybe your child, mother or husband.  You may have to pray the ugly face prayer.  It’s OK your face won’t stay that way.  The results will be a blessing.  We cannot manipulate God by doing this but I believe this kind of prayer is driven by what is in your heart (your motives), what’s promised in His word for the situation and it lets him know you are truly relying on Him as you source of help.

Hannah DID get her prayer answered and so did I.  In fact mine got so answered that I got 6 kids.  How’s that for answered prayer for a woman with a closed womb?

Message for today:  Have a real urgent prayer need….you may have to get your ugly face on.  Close the door and go for it.  God will be right there.

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