Pray. Not for that though.
September 27th, 2011 § Leave a Comment
Who do you pray for most often? Is it people you know? Is it people you love? Do you find yourself only praying for those you know? Do you find yourself only praying for those you love?
If you’re like me, your prayers often center around those you know and love. We all have friends and family who need guidance and support, so it makes sense that we would lift them up to God in prayer. Right? Yes. But, if we are only praying for those who are in close proximity to us, we’re missing something, something big. Consider Paul’s words to young Timothy:
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 (I Timothy 2:1).
It seems that some false teachers had snuck into Timothy’s church and were trying to teach that God’s love was only available for a select few, but here Paul corrects that teaching by encouraging the believers to pray for all people.
While it is perfectly acceptable (even highly encouraged) to pray for those you know and love, it should also be a priority to pray for those we do not know. Why? Because they need the redemption that God offers through Christ just as badly as those we are familiar with it already. Pray. Stop right now and pray for people everywhere, believers and unbelievers alike. In doing so, your heart will grow. Just a thought.
