1 Samuel 1:1 -17
Then Eli answered and said, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition which you have asked of Him.”(1 Samuel 1:17).

I am a church girl and I love the Lord passionately with all my heart. He has been my all and my stay through the years. Yet, I have realized that if care is not taken we would turn church going and worship attendance to rituals and fail to benefit from it.

This is not God’s intention. God’s plan is that when we gather, He would meet with and speak to us so that we could be transformed. See Exodus 29:29; 2 Corinthians 3:18.

When we lose our passion and the desire to see God to have an encounter with Him, we will get into the rot called religion. God has called us unto a relationship and fellowship.

How can we make out time in the church and our fellowship meetings to be proactive in encountering God? Below are my thoughts:

1. Realize you are coming to meet with God and not for            socializing with other believers only.
2. Focus on the worship; seek to give God your heartfelt
3. Sustain your desire to hear Him speak to you.
4. Focus your heart. Pursue an encounter with the Lord.

Hannah decided it was time for something to happen in her situation and she got it through her focus, worship and prayer.

We can learn from her and worship by design. Shalom.

Your Turn

• Pray for yourself as you have been challenged by today’s devotional thoughts.

Song: He loves me I cannot tell why.

Further Reading: Psalm 63:1–11.