What Are You Praying For?

I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. [1 Timothy 2.1-4]

Sometimes, it is far too easy to just "pray" with no direction or conviction about what we are praying for.

I 'get it' that there is something to be said for the persistence of consistency. But, consistency alone falls short. I find this in myself all the time - and I don't like it.

If we are praying for "help" for people, shouldn't we see them helped? Based on what God is revealing about our role in prayer, does it not make sense that, if God has "given" us people to pray for (signified by the instruction to "give thanks" for them in 1 Timothy 2.1-4), then is it not our responsibility to help them?

Likewise, if God has "given" us people to intercede for (ask for their forgiveness), then is it not our responsibility to forgive them as well?

The scriptures are clear that the single answer to both questions above is, "Yes, it is our responsibility."

So, how do we help people we pray for that we may never even encounter? Jesus revealed a principle that answers this puzzling question:

“Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’ [Matthew 25.37-40]

Forgiveness follows this same precedent. If I am to forgive someone I will likely never encounter in life (say, like a President or Presidential candidate), does it not make sense that I should forgive people I do encounter following the same principle Jesus taught above?

How much more effective will our prayer be when we "flesh out" that for which we are praying? That's exactly what Jesus did. Jesus is our example.

What we are praying for should manifest in what we are doing.

Day three of 40 Days of Prayer - US General Elections! 

We are just getting started! Be encouraged. Be strengthened. Be faithful. Be fruitful!