Human Response 414: Cry unto the Lord

1 Samuel 7:8-9 And the children of Israel said to Samuel, Cease not to cry unto the Lord our God for us, that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines. And Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it for a burn offering wholly unto the Lord: and Samuel cried unto the Lord for Israel; and the Lord heard him.

“Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you [Psalm 50:15].” In response to the day of trouble, to impending danger, and to the threat from enemies we may cry unto the Lord, call upon Him, and pray fervently. Or at least we can ask our spiritual leader to cry out to the Lord for us.

The truth is: every day is a day of trouble and a time of danger. The devil the world, and our own sinful flesh is always around us, even in us. Sin and temptation is an ever present reality. But we also have “God with us.” Jesus (Immanuel) is always here to hear our cry, listen to our plea, and answer our prayer. But even more: Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, continually intercede for us in every time of need. So we pray without ceasing. And though we sometimes neglect to pray, the Holy Spirit never forgets to bring us and our needs before the Father.

Samuel was a type of Christ in that he cried unto the Lord in the day of trouble. God directly answered his cry by sending a great thunder to discomfit the enemy army. So He hears us. Don’t forfeit peace or bear needless pain; carry everything to God in prayer.