Filial Fear

Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way: Only fear the Lord, and serve Him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things He hath done for you. 1 Samuel 12: 23-24

He (Samuel) comforts them with an assurance that he would continue his care and concern for them. They desired him to pray for them-they asked it of him as a favour; he promised it as a duty, and startles at the thought of neglecting it.

It is a sin against God not to pray for the Israel of God, especially for those of them that are under our charge: Our rule is to pray without ceasing; we sin if we restrain prayer in general, and in particular if we cease praying for the church. He concludes with an earnest exhortation to practical religion and serious godliness. The great duty here pressed upon us to fear the Lord, not with a slavish fear, but a filial fear.

filial - devotion from a son or daughter

As the fruit and evidence of this, serve Him in the duties of religious worship and of a Godly conversation, in truth and sincerity, and not in show and profession only, with your heart, and with all your heart, not dissembling, not dividing.
(Matthew Henry)

Samuel's prayer life was as natural as the blood flowing through his veins. Moses-Joshua-Samuel- are true models for what we can have today. A relationship with Christ, as that of a son or daughter, and to attain that our hearts have to be His in entirety. That's what I want; even if I'm always taking two steps forward and ten backward--at least I'm trying. I'm probably making it harder than it is--we usually do.

Prayer and then service, listening to the Spirit and not so much chatter on our part.