Tag: in Jesus’ name

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Wisdom Prayer

Making Wise Decisions!

Making Wise Decisions!

Dear Lord, I pray for wisdom for those who ask God to help them make wise decisions.

Not everyone asks God to guide their steps before making important decisions.

Such was the case for the people of Israel when they asked for a king. After hearing how burdensome a king would be for Israel (1 Samuel 8:11-18), were the people still inclined to want a king?

1 Samuel 8:19-22 (ESV) provides the answer.

“But the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel. And they said, ‘No! But there shall be a king over us, that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.” And when Samuel had heard all the words of the people, he repeated them in the ears of the Lord. And the Lord said to Samuel, “Obey their voice and make them a king.’ Samuel then said to the men of Israel, ‘Go every man to his city.’”

Even though Samuel was against the people of Israel having a king, Samuel heard God’s voice directing him to “make them a king.” Samuel was obedient to the Lord.

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Wisdom Prayer

What Kind of King?

What Kind of King?

Dear Lord, I pray for wisdom for those who are kings and rulers. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Some leaders are compassionate. Others are not so caring. One thing is sure. The elders of Israel wanted a King. What kind would the King of Israel be?

1 Samuel 8:11-18 (ESV) forecasts what the future king would be like.

“So Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking for a king from him. He said, ‘These will be the ways of the king who will reign over you: he will take your sons and appoint them to his chariots and to be his horsemen and to run before his chariots. And he will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and some to plow his ground and to reap his harvest, and to make his implements of war and the equipment of his chariots. He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive orchards and give them to his servants. He will take the tenth of your grain and of your vineyards and give it to his officers and to his servants. He will take your male servants and female servants and the best of your young men and your donkeys, and put them to his work. He will take the tenth of your flocks, and you shall be his slaves. And in that day you will cry out because of your king, whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the Lord will not answer you in that day.’”

After hearing what a future king would be like, some might think twice about having a king.

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Wisdom Prayer

Be Careful What You Ask For!

Be Careful What You Ask For!

Dear Lord, I pray for wisdom for all those who seek your face about what to ask for their future. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Samuel’s sons were not following God. Scriptures tells us in 1 Samuel 8:3 that they were taking bribes. In 1 Samuel 8:4-5 (ESV), we learn what the elders, the representatives of the people, want.

“Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah and said to him, ‘Behold, you are old and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint for us a king to judge us like all the nations.’”

Learn how Samuel felt in 1 Samuel 8:6-9 (ESV).

“But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, ‘Give us a king to judge us.’ And Samuel prayed to the Lord. 7 And the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them. According to all the deeds that they have done, from the day I brought them up out of Egypt even to this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are also doing to you. Now then, obey their voice; only you shall solemnly warn them and show them the ways of the king who shall reign over them.’”

The people of Israel were about to be warned.

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Wisdom Prayer

Ebenezer!

Ebenezer!

Dear Lord, I pray for wisdom for those who are like Samuel and set up stones and alters to the Lord. In Jesus’ name, amen.

The Philistines were thrown into confusion and defeated by the soldiers of Israel as described in Samuel 8:10-11.

We learn in 1 Samuel 7:12-14 (ESV) how Samuel set up a memorial.

“Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen[a] and called its name Ebenezer;[b] for he said, ‘Till now the Lord has helped us.’ So the Philistines were subdued and did not again enter the territory of Israel. And the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel. The cities that the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron to Gath, and Israel delivered their territory from the hand of the Philistines. There was peace also between Israel and the Amorites.”

We also learn that Samuel set up an alter in 1 Samuel 7:15-17 (ESV).

“Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. And he went on a circuit year by year to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah. And he judged Israel in all these places. Then he would return to Ramah, for his home was there, and there also he judged Israel. And he built there an altar to the Lord.”

Have you ever set up or thought of setting up a memorial to remind yourself what God has done? We have reminders all around us of how God has blessed us including people, places, and things. How can you be more mindful of commemorating God’s miracles in your life?

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Wisdom Prayer

Intercessory Prayer!

Intercessory Prayer!

Dear Lord, I pray for wisdom for those who cry out to the Lord in intercession. In Jesus’ name, amen.

There are prayer warriors who pray fervently.

Samuel intercedes.

1 Samuel 7:8-11 (ESV) tells us the people of Israel were scared, and what Samuel does to intercede.

“And the people 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.’ So Samuel took a nursing lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the Lord. And Samuel cried out to the Lord for Israel, and the Lord answered him. As Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to attack Israel. But the Lord thundered with a mighty sound that day against the Philistines and threw them into confusion, and they were defeated before Israel. And the men of Israel went out from Mizpah and pursued the Philistines and struck them, as far as below Beth-car.”

God answered prayer and provided a miracle.

Ask the Lord how he would have you pray.

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Wisdom Prayer

Repent and Cry Out!

Repent and Cry Out!

Dear Lord, I pray for wisdom for those who repent and cry out to the Lord. In Jesus’ name, amen.

In 1 Samuel 7:5-7, Israel is threatened by a Philistine invasion.

“Then Samuel said, ‘Gather all Israel at Mizpah, and I will pray to the Lord for you.’ So they gathered at Mizpah and drew water and poured it out before the Lord and fasted on that day and said there, ‘We have sinned against the Lord.’ And Samuel judged the people of Israel at Mizpah. 7 Now when the Philistines heard that the people of Israel had gathered at Mizpah, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the people of Israel heard of it, they were afraid of the Philistines.”

As the Philistines threatened to invade, the people of Israel acknowledged their sin.

This was a major step in healing the breach between God and his people. They were begging God to intervene.

Samuel stands in the gap as he intercedes for the people of Israel.

Are you holding on to sin and need to say, “I have sinned against the Lord?”

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