Posted by I’ve been thinking and praying a lot over the past couple of months. I’ve been praying about the tragedies that we’re seeing every day, the immense loss of life, and the pain that I see everywhere I look. I’ve been asking God why my nation looks the way that it does. How did we get here?
And the thing that I keep coming back to is that many people of God don’t know God’s word and don’t do what it says. That I don’t know God’s word. I don’t do what it says. That’s a really tough pill to swallow.
I have been humbled and blown away by God’s word lately and sorrowed by my flippant attitude toward it in the past. There are so many verses about God’s word being our light, our lamp, our bread—yet I haven’t treated his words with that reverence or dependence. And I’ve only selectively obeyed when it was convenient for me. But I really don’t want to keep living that way.
“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” 1 Timothy 2:1-4 (ESV)
What if we did what these verses instruct us to do? What if we 1. prayed for all people, and 2. prayed for those in authority over us? How might the world change if we, as followers of God, made intercession for those around us?
I love that verse 3 tells us that our praying for others is good and pleasing to God. While I know that he is pleased with us because of the work of Christ, I would like to do things that are in line with who God is. I don’t have to work to make God happy, my praying more or less won’t change my standing as his child, but because of all Jesus has done for me, why wouldn’t I want to pray for others? Why wouldn’t I want to do something that God labels “good?”
What if for thirty-one days, we joined together and prayed for people of all levels of authority in our lives? What if we took these verses in 1 Timothy seriously?
Let’s try it and see what happens!
Every day, I will have a people group that I will be praying for. You’re welcome to join me in that and/or pray as the Holy Spirit leads you. I’m going to try and keep this open and fluid as we pursue God together and intercede for those in our lives.
Today, I am praying for:
- The people of God
- That the global church would reflect who God is
- That we would crave his presence and long to hear his voice
Do you struggle to put God’s word into practice? Why do you think that is?
What is God saying to you today?
Work in Progress 
Reblogged this on Work in Progress and commented:
If I had to rate all of the series that I wrote this year, it would be a close call, but I think Pray for All People is my favorite. It was so incredible to join together with people all around the globe in prayer every day for 30+ days.
So many of us have been tucked away in our homes for months, isolated away from community of all shapes and sizes. So this communal moment of intercession and faith was incredibly powerful… at least for me.
I’m just overwhelmed with gratitude for this particular platform and opportunity that we have to connect and encourage one another in this digital space. And the fact that technology can be used to honor God and love others is truly amazing!
How have you found opportunities for community during this isolating time?
How have you seen God glorified through the use of technology this year?
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