The other day I was listening to a pastor speak about the priority of prayer. He said the following:
Clearly, prayer was a priority for Jesus.
Is it for you?
God’s Gift of PrayerWhen you’re stressed, is your first instinct to pray? When you’re joyful, do you immediately give thanks to God? Do you set aside time to pray each day? Do you have prayer routines?
When we neglect prayer, we’re missing out on one of God’s greatest gifts—a way to connect with Him and to find the strength and peace we need daily. The hymn “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” puts it this way: “Oh, what peace we often forfeit; oh, what needless pain we bear—all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer!” (LSB 770:1).
The prophet Samuel was a man of prayer. Samuel was one of the great heroes of faith in the Bible. He was the last of the judges and the man who anointed the first two kings of Israel: Saul and David. Some Scripture passages rank Samuel with Moses on the “Mount Rushmore” of Old Testament leadership (Psalm 99:6; Jeremiah 15:1).
As Samuel stood before the Lord, we also can approach the Lord through prayer, trusting that God hears us as His dearly beloved children in Christ. Here are some lessons on prayer from Samuel.
1. God speaks first. The first time Samuel speaks to God in the Bible is when God called Samuel during the night (1 Samuel 3). God spoke first; Samuel responded. Similarly, God initiates the conversation with us. He speaks to us through His Word and invites us to respond with our words, our prayers. Most important, through His Word God speaks to us the Good News of our Savior, Jesus. Through Jesus, our great High Priest, our prayers come before the throne of God above.
2. Others need our prayers. As Samuel addressed the Israelites in a public assembly, the crowds admitted their fear. They trembled in fright before the enemy Philistines. The people pleaded with Samuel, “Do not cease to cry out to the LORD our God for us, that He may save us from the Philistines” (1 Samuel 7:8). Your family and friends need your prayers too. We have an intercessory role in the lives of our loved ones, bringing their needs before our gracious heavenly Father.
To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints. (Ephesians 6:18)
3. Prayer helps us deal with disappointment. Wanting to be like the other nations, the people of Israel demanded a king. In doing so, they rejected God as their king. The people’s casting aside of God upset Samuel. Samuel also took the rejection personally, as the people had voiced that his sons were not fit to lead them. How did Samuel respond to his disappointment? “And Samuel prayed to the LORD” (1 Samuel 8:6). Perhaps you’re struggling with disappointment, rejection, or discouragement. The Lord stands ready to receive your cry of pain. In response to Samuel’s prayer, God spoke reassuringly to the prophet. In response to our struggles, God reassures us that we are His children and our lives are in His hands.
4. Prayer is a sacred trust. Samuel asserted that if he did not pray for the people, he would be guilty of sin. “Far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you” (1 Samuel 12:23). That’s right—Samuel viewed withholding prayer as not only a transgression against the people but against God Himself. God’s Word tells us this:
In everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. (Philippians 4:6)
We live out our righteousness in Christ by being prayer warriors for others.
5. When you can’t sleep, pray. Ever had nights when you couldn’t sleep? You toss and turn. Hours go by and still no sleep. Samuel had sleepless nights too. He cared passionately for the Lord and His people, and the prophet’s mind and emotions would not rest. How did Samuel spend those wide-eyed hours? “And Samuel was angry, and he cried to the LORD all night” (1 Samuel 15:11). Sometimes we’re so revved up emotionally we can’t turn it off, even when bedtime has long since passed. Consider those restless nights to be divine appointments, time to pour out your heart to God.
In prayer, God gives us a wonderful gift: access to our loving heavenly Father, through Jesus, our great High Priest. As you finish reading this article, right now is a good time to pause and pray!
Scripture: ESV®.
Hymn texts with the abbreviation LSB are from Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House. All rights reserved.