{"id":14208,"date":"2026-05-12T06:38:04","date_gmt":"2026-05-12T10:38:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/?post_type=oyb&p=14208"},"modified":"2026-05-12T06:38:04","modified_gmt":"2026-05-12T10:38:04","slug":"devoted-to-prayer-and-teaching","status":"publish","type":"oyb","link":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/oyb\/devoted-to-prayer-and-teaching","title":{"rendered":"DEVOTED TO PRAYER AND TEACHING"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n

\u201cMoreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you, and I will instruct you in the good and the right way\u201d (1 Samuel 12:23 ESV).<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

In 1 Samuel 12:23, the prophet Samuel addressed the people of Israel after they had demanded a king. Though the nation had rejected his leadership and grieved the Lord by asking to be like the surrounding nations, Samuel remained faithful to his calling. He declared that he would continue praying for the people and teaching them the ways of the Lord. Samuel considered it a sin against God to stop interceding for them. His ministry was not driven by personal approval or popularity, but by covenant faithfulness to the Lord. Samuel showed the heart of a true shepherd who remained prayerful despite disappointment and faithful despite rejection. He continued leading God\u2019s people in truth even after they wounded him personally. In this way, Samuel pointed forward to Jesus Christ, the ultimate Good Shepherd, who faithfully loved, taught, and prayed for His disciples. Samuel\u2019s devotion also anticipated the apostles\u2019 commitment in Acts 6:4, where they declared, \u201cWe will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We often feel discouraged when our service is overlooked, resisted, or rejected. Yet Samuel reminds us that ministry is ultimately done for the Lord\u2019s approval rather than man\u2019s. We are called to keep praying for others even when they disappoint us and to keep teaching God\u2019s truth even when it is unpopular. Faithful ministry is measured not by applause but by obedience. Whether we lead in our homes, workplaces, or churches, we are called to remain committed to intercession and instruction. We can stay devoted to prayer and teaching because Jesus continues to shepherd and empower us faithfully.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PRAYER<\/strong>: Dear Father, help us to serve You with faithful and steadfast hearts. Help us not to grow bitter when others reject us. Strengthen us to keep praying for people and leading them in Your truth. May we serve for Your approval alone and follow the example of our Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ. For it’s in His name we pray, amen.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201cMoreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you, and I will instruct you in the good and the right way\u201d (1 Samuel 12:23 ESV). In 1 Samuel 12:23, the prophet Samuel addressed the people of Israel after they had demanded a<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","meta":[],"categories":[],"tags":[],"scripture-book":[1276],"scripture-chapter":[1345],"oyb_day":[1659],"location":[],"class_list":["post-14208","oyb","type-oyb","status-publish","hentry","scripture-book-1-samuel","scripture-chapter-1345","oyb_day-may-12"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/oyb\/14208","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/oyb"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/oyb"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14208"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14208"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14208"},{"taxonomy":"scripture-book","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/scripture-book?post=14208"},{"taxonomy":"scripture-chapter","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/scripture-chapter?post=14208"},{"taxonomy":"oyb_day","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/oyb_day?post=14208"},{"taxonomy":"location","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/location?post=14208"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}