Last night the following verses became my command for the evening.
“First of all, I ask you to pray for everyone. Ask God to help and bless them all, and tell God how thankful you are for each of them. 2 Pray for kings and others in power, so we may live quiet and peaceful lives as we worship and honor God. 3 This kind of prayer is good, and it pleases God our Savior. 4 God wants everyone to be saved and to know the whole truth, which is,
5 There is only one God, and Christ Jesus is the only one who can bring us to God. Jesus was truly human, and he gave himself to rescue all of us. 6 God showed us this at the right time.
7 This is why God chose me to be a preacher and an apostle of the good news. I am telling the truth. I am not lying. God sent me to teach the Gentiles about faith and truth.” I Timothy 2:1-7 CEV
I had a private prayer meeting. Others had been invited but I soon realized the room would be filled with just two attendees, myself and precious Holy Spirit. I sat and prayed in the quiet, wondering if I should just leave.
No. It was time to pray.
First of all, I prayed for our political leaders, the ones I agree with and the ones I don’t. I prayed for the Lord to reveal Himself in a mighty way to each of them – letting them know His love and His truth. And then I prayed that God would remove from office those who don’t honor Him and aren’t willing to lead according to His plan and purpose. The rest I will leave up to Him.
But then the words “pray for everyone” kept circulating in my heart.
We live in a small community where I am familiar with most of the names but not all of the faces, so I felt prompted to take a walk through the neighborhood in my mind’s eye. Stopping at each residence and praying for the occupants.
Some have physical needs, others have financial and emotional needs, and we all have a need for a deeper relationship with Jesus, who is our Lord and Savior.
According to the Apostle Paul this kind of prayer is good and “God wants everyone to be saved and to know the whole truth”. Our heavenly Father isn’t a narcissist or an egotistical dictator. No, He gives each of us a free will to do as we please. However, He does know that when we follow Him and His plan for our lives, we will experience a true and abundant life.
“A thief comes only to rob, kill, and destroy. I came so everyone would have life, and have it fully.” John 10:10 CEV
After I prayed for all of them, I prayed for you, my readers.
Never consider the time you spend praying or studying God’s word to be a waste. That is precious time that will enrich your life with strength and power.
“I pray that God, who gives peace, will make you completely holy. And may your spirit, soul, and body be kept healthy and faultless until our Lord Jesus Christ returns. 24 The one who chose you can be trusted, and he will do this.” I Thessalonians 5:23-24 CEV
I encourage you to make time in your day to pray.