Thursday, May 5, 2011

National Day of Prayer- 2/4

What Should We Pray For?

1 Timothy 2:1-2, "Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence."

Matthew 5:44b, "...pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,"

Pray for all men. We should not just pray for those who are Christians, or who are sick or hurting. We should even pray for those who are better off than us and look down on us and our faith, those who spitefully use us and persecute us; we are told to pray for all men.

Paul mentions three things about this command to pray that we should take note of. First, he mentions its paramount importance: "First of all, I urge you to pray!" He tells us "Give thanks!" How many times we must be reminded to give thanks! How ungrateful we are! Lastly he tells us to pray for all people, and all who are in authority.

(I find it funny that Paul tells us to pray for everyone but then has to tell us that includes our authority/bosses/leaders and the like.)

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