“As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD
by failing to pray for you…”
I Samuel 12:23
According to Samuel, prayerlessness is indeed a sin.
This verse is part of Samuel’s farewell address to the people of Israel. He served as judge, prophet, and priest — and he took his assignment seriously. He spoke truth, and wasn’t afraid to confront those with power (including Israel’s king!) when necessary.
Quite honestly, I feel a bit convicted by Samuel’s words here and hope you do, as well.
Samuel’s challenge should spur us on to pray for those entrusted to our care. Are you a mother, grandmother, aunt, mentor, or neighbor to a child? Do you teach Sunday School? Are you an Awana leader? Most likely every woman of God has a child she can pray for.
Noting that Samuel shares these words in his farewell address also reminds us that even our children may be adults, or our time of teaching a 2nd grade class has ended, our prayer assignment has not. Samuel may have finished his priestly duties, but he made clear that he was not finished praying for God’s people.
Are you and I continuing to pray in every season? Or are we allowing other things to draw our attention and lead us into prayerlessness?
E.M. Bounds said this about prayer:
“Prayer should not be regarded as a duty
which must be performed,
but rather as a privilege to be enjoyed,
a rare delight that is always revealing some new beauty.”
Does prayer feel more like duty than delight to you? Would you consider that it could become a delight and a privilege to be enjoyed?
Perhaps prayer confuses you. Where to begin? What to pray? Does it really make a difference?
Of course, prayer can include praise and thanksgiving, as well as intercession. We can pray for ourselves, our world, and our nation. The most selfless prayers we pray are those we pray for others. And as we are humbled by preparing our children for life, prayer is our most effective tool.
Praying God’s Word back to Him is a natural way to start praying, to learn to pray, and to continue on in prayer. Inspired by Samuel, this month’s Write the WORD endeavors to equip all of us to press in and pray for the children in our lives. On our Downloads page, you’ll find September’s free bookmark of 30 Prayers & Verses for Our Children, along with the corresponding (but always optional) S.O.A.P. Bible study pages. The PDF download includes three copies of the bookmark; I hope you will use one for yourself and consider sharing the others with a friend, coworker, or neighbor.
We hope you are writing — and PRAYING — the Word with us this month! September’s theme is the only one we repeat annually. Intended to coincide with the beginning of school, we offer 30 prayers (and verses that prompt those prayers). In this week’s Friday video, Laura focuses on Joshua 1:9. We pray that you are blessed as she shares a brief devotional inspired by Joshua 1.
