praying effectively: Keep Following the Lord (1 Samuel 12)

(1 Samuel 12:20-25)  Samuel said to the people, “Do not fear. You have committed all this evil, yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. 21 You must not turn aside, for then you would go after futile things which can not profit or deliver, because they are futile. 22 For the Lord will not abandon His people on account of His great name, because the Lord has been pleased to make you a people for Himself. 23 Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you; but I will instruct you in the good and right way. 24 Only fear the Lord and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you. 25 But if you still do wickedly, both you and your king will be swept away.”

Reminder:  "praying effectively" involves knowing God's will.  When we pray in His will (in His name), He may choose to not answer those prayers in the time period that we would like, or HOW we would like - but He will answer those prayers!

It is God's will:
- that we should not be fearful (12:20)
- that we only fear the Lord (12:24)
- that we keep following the Lord, even after sinning (12:20-21)
- that we remember the great things the Lord has done for us (12:24)
- that we keep serving the Lord (12:20, 24)
- that we teach God's righteousness (12:23)
- that we pray for one another (12:23)

Today's prayer:

Dear Lord Jesus, thank You so much that You never forsake Your children!  Thank You for Your grace that we do not have to fear being abandoned.  That no matter what we do as Christians, we will not lose our salvation.  But if we turn away from following You - You will allow consequences in our lives.  These should be wake-up calls for us to turn back to You.  I am so grateful that You not only allow us to "come back" to You - but You WANT us to.

Help believers in Your Church to remain steadfast, continually loving each other, teaching each other, serving each other, and praying for one another.  And when one of us falls away, I pray that they will not believe Satan's lies that You would no longer want them!  I pray that they will gain understanding that they should not be angry with You, but with themselves and/or with the situation.  Help them to turn back to You and see that You will help them reconcile every issue that comes our way.

Help us fear only You, and see that You love us beyond anything we can ever imagine!  Amen.