His Warrior Bride

I have come to realize that there are more facets to my personality than most people realize. People see many sides of me, it’s true… but there are still sides that most do not see. People see Hannah, their family member… Hannah, their friend… Hannah, the worship leader… Hannah, the writer… but few people ever see Hannah, the warrior.

Uwimana Hannah wearing a "tallit gadol" or Hebrew prayer shawl.

Most times I struggle with my spirituality like most people do. I have faith, and I have doubts. I wonder if God hears me. I wonder if I’ve displeased Him, and it pains me that I do not love Him like I should. But when there is a cry, a plea… a desperate request for help, I have nothing but confidence.

 Because war is familiar to me, in the spirit realm at least. I may waver in confidence at times, I may sigh and complain and wonder and mutter… but when it is time to fight, I know. My head comes up, my eyes narrow, and I hit what used to be called the “warrior’s center”; when you forget who you are, where you are, and everything else that’s going on around you. I feel confident when I’m in battle… spiritual battle, that is.

I am confident because I am a trained soldier. I have been for years. I know my enemy and his tactics, I know my weapons, and I know my Captain. When I am girded with His armor, I am capable of staring into the very eyes of the enemy without fear… and I’ve done it. Because of His victory on the Cross, I have laughed at the enemy. I have come face-to-face with his demons… and I have prevailed. I may be in my mid-twenties… in wisdom I am older. The Holy Spirit is a mature Spirit… which explains why I have seen four- and five-year-old children pray with knowledge, revelation, and wisdom far beyond their years.

 People say that Uwimana Hannah is a great prayer warrior, but I know the truth… it is only when I cease to be “Uwimana Hannah” and instead become a servant of the Master, when I become empty of myself and full of Him, that He is able to use me at all.