PRAYING FOR THEM
Today's reading: 1 Samuel 1-5

"As she was praying to the Lord, Eli watched her. Seeing her lips moving but hearing no sound, he thought she had been drinking." 1 Samuel 1:12 NLT

You see, that's the thing about casting judgement when you don't know all there is to know.

Eli, the priest of the land, fell into the same trap we become entangled in--assuming.

He watched Hannah praying. He tuned his ear to hear her prayer. He thought he knew just what was going on...but he didn't.

Could it have been she was more in touch with God than he?

Might it have been Eli carried that one false assumption around with him his entire life? Did it cause an ache in his heart each year Hannah brought Samuel a new coat? Did he regret saying what he did to the mother of the little boy he grew to love and appreciate?

What can we learn from Eli's poor choice?

Notice them praying, and instead of just watching and making appraisals of the situation--pray alongside them!

Once Eli knew what was going on and joined in, he became part of the blessing.

Could you stand a few more blessings in your life? Then find someone praying--and pray with them.