Weekly Devotional - PRAY CONSTANTLY - May 17, 2010

from Lenae, GEMS Training Manager

Dear GEMS Sisters -
Throughout the next six weeks we’ll be focusing on the spiritual disciplines of PASSION (Pray constantly, And, Study God’s Word, Serve others, Interact with God’s people, Open up and talk about God, Notice God in the ordinary.) If you’re looking for an online accountability partner as you establish these holy habits, check out www.habitforge.com. Better yet, seek out an accountability partner in your club, church or another sister in Christ.


Have a great week!

PRAY CONSTANTLY

Pray continually.
1 Thessalonians 5:17

In 1 Samuel 7, the Israelites assembled at Mizpah for Samuel to intercede with the Lord for them. When they had assembled at Mizpah, they drew water and poured it out before the LORD. On that day they fasted” (1 Samuel 7:5).


The Philistines mistook the Israelite prayer meeting as a preparation-for-war assembly. Their leaders came up to attack the Israelites. When the Israelites heard that the Philistines were coming they were afraid and said to Samuel, “Do not stop crying out to the LORD our God for us, that he may rescue us from the hand of the Philistines” (1 Samuel 7:8).


Samuel took a young lamb, offered it as a whole burnt offering, and prayed fervently to the LORD, interceding for Israel. And GOD answered.


The Israelites were not physically equipped for battle, but through prayer they fought with weapons that are not the weapons of the world. They had God’s divine power to demolish strongholds (2 Corinthians 10:4).


The LORD thundered with loud thunder against the Philistines and threw them into such a panic that they were routed before the Israelites. The men of Israel rushed out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, slaughtering them along the way to a point below Beth Car (1 Samuel 7:10b-11).


Samuel fed the fire by praying constantly. He was born in prayer as an answer to his mother’s petitions for a child (1 Samuel 1:15-17). He started talking and listening to God as a young boy (1 Samuel 3), and he lived in dependence on prayer from boyhood to his farewell speech when he said to the Israelites, “As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you what is good and right. But be sure to fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you” (1 Samuel 12:23-24).


As you think about the children in your sphere of influence within your family, neighborhood, and at the GEMS Club down the street or in Zambia, are you an intercessor like Samuel? Can it be said of you and I that we never fail to pray for these little ones? Do we teach them what is good and right?


Oswald Chambers gives this challenge to intercessors. “Get involved in the real work of intercession, remembering that it truly is work – work that demands all your energy.” It’s a work of passion and action. May the LORD never look at us and be appalled at the lukewarm hearts because there was no one to intervene in prayer (Isaiah 59:15-16).


PASSION Step: Renew your commitment to intercede for children. What will you do this week to pray for them more?

Do you find yourself thinking that there is no one interceding properly?

Then be that person yourself.

Oswald Chambers