Pray On Purpose

Once after a sacrificial meal at Shiloh, Hannah got up and went to pray. [1 Samuel 1.9a]

This is the key, isn't it?  Hannah, on purpose, went to pray.  She didn't pray while she was working or doing the dishes.  She didn't pray during a commercial on television.  Hannah didn't turn her head away from being seen to breath a quick request...  Hannah made a commitment to go and pray.

Many Christians today think it is enough to sneak a prayer in here or there as the idea hits.  While impulsive or spontaneous prayer may be good, it is far better to 'go and pray' on purpose.

How many times do we get up and 'leave the room' to go pray?  We should challenge ourselves to take inventory of this event in our lives!  How can we expect a serious answer from God if we are not serious enough in our request to get alone with God to make it?

Although Hannah's time of prayer was not for show, it was noticed.  "Where are you going, Hannah?" might have been heard in the room.  "I am going to pray."  Or perhaps it could have been asked, "Where's Hannah going?"  "She's going to pray - she does that a lot you know."  Either way, it was known that Hannah separated herself from whomever and whatever was going on and went to pray.

The thing that comes to mind is that we need to pray on purpose.  We need, like Hannah, to separate ourselves from all the distractions of life and go pray!  We don't need to make a big deal of it, but it is no big deal if others know we are going to pray (it might even encourage them to do likewise)!

Father, as I consider my own prayer life, I can't say, other than some time each morning, that I 'go and pray' either randomly or on a schedule throughout any given day.  Help me to change this!  Help me to pray on purpose throughout the day!