Have You Been In The Cooking Sherry?

“Hannah said, “Oh no, sir—please! I’m a woman brokenhearted. I haven’t been drinking. Not a drop of wine or beer. The only thing I’ve been pouring out is my heart, pouring it out to God.” — 1 Samuel 1:15a, MSG)

Eli had been watching Hannah for a while. As he closely watched, he noticed her lips moving, but no sound was heard. With no other possibility coming to mind, he jumped to the conclusion that she was drunk.

Looking at her with a sense of disbelief, he approached her and said, “You’re drunk! How long do you plan to keep this up? Sober up, woman!”

Immediately, Hannah replied, “Oh no, sir—please! I’m a woman brokenhearted. I haven’t been drinking. Not a drop of wine or beer. The only thing I’ve been pouring out is my heart, pouring it out to God.”

In other words, I have not poured out a glass of spirits. I have not had any intoxicating drink. Instead, you have witnessed me having an encounter with the Holy Spirit, pouring out my heart unto the Lord.

Year after year, Hannah brought one petition before God, and that was to have a son.

Peninnah, Hannah’s younger rival, was very fruitful. But why did she — Hannah — have to be the one who went without children?

It just wasn’t fair.

Have you ever looked at your situation, current or past, and wondered why? Why did it have to be that way?

Did it resolve with you pouring out your heart to God?

Day after day — month after month — maybe year after year?

Like Hannah, we should not allow the weight of our circumstances to interrupt our persistency.

Yes, Hannah was heartbroken and disheartened, but she possessed a tenacity that wouldn’t allow her to give up. I can imagine her thought pattern was likened to Jacob when he wrestled with the angel saying, “I will not let You go unless You declare a blessing on me.” (Genesis 32:26b, AMP)

When life gets hard and situations or circumstances don’t seem to be in our favor, we should take hold of the altar and pray. Pray without ceasing. (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

Be like the persistent widow in Luke 18:1-8. Continuously keep going before the King until he grants you your request.

Apply Matthew 7:7–8 to the situation. Ask. Seek. Knock.

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.”

God rewards those who diligently seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6)

It doesn’t matter whether our seeking comes through the bad times or good. It’s a matter of the posture of our hearts.

If we sincerely seek God and delight ourselves in Him, he will give us the desires of our hearts. (Psalm 37:4)

So, trust Him in the process.

Your prayers are not falling to the ground; they are ascending into the presence of gracious God.

“Father, let my prayer be set before you like incense [and] let the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.” (Psalm 141:2, NIV)

Amen.

Join me next week for more Coffee on The Couch.