Your countenance will determine the outcome of your life and your prayers. Many of us spend hours in prayers, tears, etc because of events in our lives. After putting everything to God in prayers, we go back to the way we were before we went to the prayer altar. Lets take a look\u00a0at \u00a0“YOUR COUNTENANCE” as one of the hindrances to answered prayers.<\/p>\n
What is Countenance?<\/strong> According to the Modern English Dictionary, \u00a0countenance means a person’s face or facial expression. Sometimes, Countenance means support or approval.<\/p>\n Why is Countenance so important?\u00a0<\/strong>Your countenance is very important because in most circumstances, \u00a0it portrays what is in your heart, your intentions or it paints an unequivocal picture of something. Your countenance can either make you or mar you. Coming to the spiritual realm, your countenance has a lot to do with your attitude towards God, prayers, worship and every other thing. There are times we pray about certain things and even after prayers, we keep carrying the same heavy faces. Your countenance portrays either your faith in God or lack of faith\/doubt.<\/p>\n How Does your Countenance affect your Prayers?<\/strong><\/p>\n 1 Samuel 1:9-18<\/p>\n “Once after a sacrificial meal at Shiloh, Hannah got up and went to pray. Eli the priest was sitting at his customary place beside the entrance of the Tabernacle.<\/span>\u00a0<\/sup>Hannah was in deep anguish, crying bitterly as she prayed to the Lord<\/span>.<\/span> And she made this vow: \u201cO Lord<\/span> of Heaven\u2019s Armies, if you will look upon my sorrow and answer my prayer and give me a son, then I will give him back to you. He will be yours for his entire lifetime, and as a sign that he has been dedicated to the Lord<\/span>, his hair will never be cut.<\/span>As she was praying to the Lord<\/span>, Eli watched her.<\/span>\u00a0<\/sup>Seeing her lips moving but hearing no sound, he thought she had been drinking…<\/span>Oh no, sir!\u201d she replied. \u201cI haven\u2019t been drinking wine or anything stronger. But I am very discouraged, and I was pouring out my heart to the Lord<\/span>.<\/span> \u00a0<\/sup>Don\u2019t think I am a wicked woman! For I have been praying out of great anguish and sorrow.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cIn that case,\u201d Eli said, \u201cgo in peace! May the God of Israel grant the request you have asked of him.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cOh, thank you, sir!\u201d she exclaimed. Then she went back and began to eat again, and she was no longer sad.”<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n The most peculiar thing about this extract of scripture is the fact that after the word from Eli at Shiloh, Hannah went back and was no longer sad. If you read further, you will see that her request was granted. The fact that her countenance changed is enough to tell us how joyful she was in her heart for she knew God had answered her prayer, even though she had not yet conceived. This should be our same attitude. For \u00a0“this is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.”<\/em> 1 John 5:14.<\/p>\n If you have such confidence in God, then there is no reason why we should wear heavy faces after talking to God. Its difficult not to worry over issues but a good countenance demonstrates the peace of God in our hearts, the Joy of the Lord which is out strength and the Presence of the Lord which grants us rest all around. All these are Gateways to having your prayers answered like Hannah.<\/p>\n