Cease Not To Cry Unto The Lord !

^{1 Sam.7:8, ‘So the children of Israel said to Samuel, “Do not cease to cry out to the Lord our God for us, that He may save us from the hand of the Philistines.”’}

^{Israelites wanted a king for themselves. By doing this, they rejected the Lord as their king. They had learnt about this concept from the neighboring heathen kingdoms. The Lord gave them a king  and at the same time, anointed Samuel to be their judge. When the Philistines came up against the Israelites, they said to Samuel, “Do not cease to cry out to the Lord for us….”.}

^{Unceasing prayers is not a choice. Instead it’s a need of every God’s child. Israelites had learnt from their experience and from their fore fathers that it was always the prayers that gave them victory over their enemies. Spiritual life is a war and to sustain in victory, perpetual intercession is essential. The more we pray, the more we receive His grace and presence to overcome the spiritual fights we face day to day. But its sad to see many giving up and unable to move ahead in prayerfulness, thus being victims of arrows of the evil one.}

• ^{Samuel first asked the people to turn away from strange gods and to prepare hearts to serve the Lord alone. Israelites responded and submitted themselves to serve God alone. The moment Samuel offered the burnt offering, the Lord thundered from heaven and the Philistines were smitten before Israel. Often the hidden and unidentified strange gods of our lives prevent us from having an attitude of unceasing prayers. Impurities of one’s heart chops off the desire to pray. The  prayers arising out of purified hearts are powerful and purified hearts give birth to earnest desire to pray fervently.}
• ^{1 Sam.12:23, “ 23 Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lordin ceasing to pray for you; but I will teach you the good and the right way. “ Israelites  had sinned by asking for a king. Samuel grieved much over this. He warned the people about this wickedness. In the process, the Israelites feared and told Samuel to intercede for His mercy. Samuel assured them that he would pray. He said that he would not sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for them. Samuel refused to be carried away by emotions. Though he himself grieved much over the wickedness of Israel, he was willing to pray for them. At times, emotional response stops us from praying for many. One finds difficult to pray for lives who deliberately and purposefully disobey and rebel against God. Jesus refused to respond emotionally on the cross. He prayed for those who crucified Him. Praying is a spiritual matter. Emotional response to spiritual matters can lead one astray from His will.}
• ^{1 Tim.2:1-3, “Therefore I [a]exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in [authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and [c]reverence. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior.” Here apostle Paul does not leave a single person on the phase of this earth out of the boundary of prayer. He commands the church to pray and intercede for ‘all men’, including kings and those in authority. Paul himself wrote that he would always thank God upon remembrance of each in church. Often, the limited number of people and matters in our prayer lists stop us from growing into realm of unceasing prayers. Extending our prayer list as per the guidance of the Holy Spirit helps one grow in prayers. When lead by His Spirit, He Himself reminds us of various people and issues that need our prayers.}
• ^{62:6-7, “I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; They shall [f]never hold their peace day or night. You who [g]make mention of the Lord, do not keep silent, 7 And give Him no rest till He establishes And till He makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth.” Prophet Isaiah here reminds the people of God to keep praying fervently, till His promises for His people are fulfilled. Today, weariness and ‘soon giving up” attitude often pulls us back from stepping into unceasing prayers. Our prayers might not be answered immediately. But the hope and the unwavering faith that our Lord will surely answer us in His way and in His time in the most beautiful way keeps us encouraged to continue to pray without giving up. Disbelief and wavering faith can hinder a person from stepping into unceasing prayers. On the other hand unceasing prayers is essentially needed to see all the promises of our Lord come into fulfilment.}

^{Prophet Samuel’s always prayed earnestly for the Israelites. He let the people know the voice of the Lord. He lead them into repentance. Hence, the Philistines were subdued, and they came no more into the coast of Israel; and the hand of the Lord was against Philistines all the days of Samuel. (1 Samuel 7:13). If we need to see His hand against the weapons of the evil aiming at us, we need to get into the realm of unceasing prayers.}

GOD bless us all.