We Pray

"Prayer is our go-to action."

“Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you.” (1 Samuel 12:23)

SAMUEL HAD spoken to Israel of what God called sin, that being their desire for a king, which God had granted anyway. Then he’d promised, in spite of this, God would not forsake them if they would always seek His face. They were His people, and He was pleased to be their God. Such wonderful mercy. The word “mercy” also means the womb, as cherishing the fetus. What a picture this paints of God’s gentle nature. His mercies are everlasting to all men. As He was with His people, Israel, He will be with me and with you.

But in this verse above, Samuel’s sin is stated. Not praying for them was sin. Whether they walked in God’s commandment or chose to worship false idols, he must lift them up before God Jehovah. Prayer is our go-to action. When in conflict, we pray. When discouraged by people, we pray. For them and for ourselves. When offense rises within us, threatening to overtake our thinking, we give God praise and pray. Our anger and hatred should be red flags that send us to God, not with complaints but with a heart which longs for healing. He alone can forever heal our minds.

From someone recently comes another angry post against a modern world thought pattern. This grieves me so much. Right or wrong on their views, rather than pray for those in their secret place, they chose to be offended and display it to everyone. Dear person of God, would Jesus say what you just said? WE ARE NOT IN A BATTLE AGAINST PEOPLE. This is directly in the Scripture. We fight NOT AGAINST flesh and blood but thinking and emotions driven by our human nature (Ephesians 6:12). We like to blame it all on the devil, but it is the human mind, absent of the Spirit of God, that says things of that nature.

Is our behavior going to give the other person a beautiful view of Jesus or an ugly one?

“Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.” (Luke 6:28 KJV)

“I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.” (1 Timothy 2:8 KJV)

When we walk close to God, led of the Spirit, we no longer depend on what our mind alone has to say. Likes and dislikes nip at our heels, but we, instead, prefer the other person. For what if our love for them, displayed in prayers and in actions, makes a change in them? We are not called to tear people down but show them love (John 13:34). The prophet Samuel faced his humanness when anointing David. He loved King Saul and actually argued for Saul (1 Samuel 16:1). But God said, “I have selected David. He is my King of Israel.” Samuel couldn’t see it. He obeyed anyway. Prayer is the heart of God. We bring all of ourselves before Him, bold in knowing we are filled with God’s nature. He’s placed all of Himself in us. To enable us to walk correctly, to heal our responses to others, and change our thinking. We are meant to know Him so well, we are like Him.

Instead, much of the time, we’re “take me as I am, God,” meaning without changing me, which is the wrong attitude to have. We were lost, headed down the path toward misery and death before Jesus came. I would be dead without God’s intervention. He has showed such mercy to me. To all of us. We must live from a place of humility and gratitude and remember arrogance is something love isn’t. Much of 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 is anti-love. Love is not jealous or boastful. Rude, selfish, or easily irritated. Love IS patient and kind. Rejoicing in the truth. The fruit of the Holy Spirit’s work in us are love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, faith, meekness, and SELF-CONTROL.

Self-control would not say everything that comes to its mind just as the Spirit of God who doesn’t say anything we are not prepared to take hold of and mature. He brings us wisdom and understanding. And joy. Jesus is strength, gentleness, and holiness. Abba is the kindest, most peaceful of all. He asks us to pray, and in praying to lay the cares of that situation, of our feelings, and the how-to-fix-it into His hands. That is why we pray. Not to offer suggestions or to voice our complaint but to ask Him to help us do in us and through us what He desires to be done.

Even when, like Samuel, it is difficult and maybe not what we want, at first.

“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;” (Ephesians 6:18 KJV)

“We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,” (Colossians 1:3 KJV)

Image by Arnie Bragg from Pixabay


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Suzanne D. Williams, Author
www.suzannedwilliams.com
www.feelgoodromance.com