ASLC Devotions - Monday

1 Samuel 1:13 Hannah was praying silently; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard; therefore Eli thought she was drunk.

Practices of faith can be strange things indeed. Hannah was praying silently - in this case, she was praying fervently for God to give her a son; hence the tie-in to the week before Christmas. But what strikes me is just the strangeness of the act. She was praying silently so people around her thought she was talking to herself. Eli thought she was drunk. How often have each of us done the same thing when we see someone muttering to themselves walking down the street? We think they're crazy. Or drunk. Or dangerous.

Now obviously mental illness is real and sometimes people are truly talking to nobody: but how would it change you and how you react to someone you see muttering to themselves if you assume first that they are in prayer? Might it change how you approach, how you think about them, whether you cross to the other side of the street or not?

OR... how might it change your relationship with God if you were a little less afraid of being seen as strange? I'm talking to myself here too. Might we be more willing to pray, to shout for joy, to speak with God, to speak about God, if we were not so afraid that Eli might think we were drunk?

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for a full calendar. Plan to join us for Christmas Eve worship at 3 (Family Worship), 5 (Holy Communion and candlelight), and 11 (Holy Communion and candlelight). Pre-service music one-half hour before each service time. Then, we will gather for worship on Sunday, Christmas Day, at 10 am.