DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT - TUESDAY: Principles For Praying That Pleases Our Saviour!

"If added power attends the united prayer of two or three, what mighty triumphs there will be when hundreds of thousands of consistent members of the Church are with one accord day by day making intercession for the extension of Christ's Kingdom." – John R. Mott.
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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. -- 1Tim 2:1-4.

Yesterday I went with my wife Jean to see the movie “The Kingdom of Heaven.” I wasn’t impressed by the movie, to much violence (more on a later post), but one thing I realised is… We are not fighting against humans. We are fighting against forces and authorities and against rulers of darkness and powers in the spiritual world. -- Eph 6:12. (CEV)

Paul tells us that in our battle against the enemy, prayer is the key! Too often, if we pray - and when we pray, we pray a general sort of prayer which sort of covers everything and nothing at the same time, and for many of us prayer is something only done in public and when called upon.

Paul saw a need to encourage Timothy in the matter of prayer, and in the same way the only thing the disciples ever asked Jesus to teach them was to pray. There is a power in prayer that will defeat the enemy and change our lives in a style we really desire. So the purpose of this post is to encourage all of us to pray more!

While very ill, John Knox, the founder of the Presbyterian Church in Scotland, called to his wife and said, "Read me that Scripture where I first cast my anchor." After he listened to the beautiful prayer of Jesus recorded in John 17, he seemed to forget his weakness. He began to pray, interceding earnestly for his fellowmen.

He prayed for the ungodly who had thus far rejected the gospel. He pleaded in behalf of people who had been recently converted. And he requested protection for the Lord's servants, many of whom were facing persecution. As Knox prayed, his spirit went Home to be with the Lord. The man of whom Queen Mary had said, "I fear his prayers more than I do the armies of my enemies," ministered through prayer until the moment of his death. -- Author unknown.

Considering the battle that we are in now; more souls need to be won for Christ, the Church needs to be strengthened and encouraged! We need to learn to pray in specifics rather than generalities - to pray retail rather than wholesale. Our first principle is…

Pray for Everyone
Pray first for ourselves, otherwise, how can we bear other's troubles? When I first became a Christian, I was taught how to pray by using the acronym, JOY… Jesus first. Others next. Yourself last! Needless to say after a few months praying I realised this was wrong, if I couldn’t pray for myself and my family first, how could I pray for others? And why would Jesus need my prayer? He is my mediator! After we have prayed for ourselves, let's get into intercession for others!

Pray for those in authority... “…for kings and all who are in high positions…” -- 1Tim 2:2. It is our Christian duty to pray for the people that God has placed in power! These people are in government etc; to do the will of God. it is the evil people who fear authorities, we have no fear of them, if we live according to the values of Jesus Christ.

Pray that we might live peaceful and Godly lives. Paul is informing us that we need to commune constantly with our Lord and that through the power of the Holy Spirit our guidance for every day living will be given… "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. -- Mat 5:9.

Prayer is surrender--surrender to the will of God and cooperation with that will. If I throw out a boathook from the boat and catch hold of the shore and pull, do I pull the shore to me, or do I pull myself to the shore? Prayer is not pulling God to my will, but the aligning of my will to the will of God. -- E. Stanley Jones.

Loving Father, help me by the power of the Holy Spirit to be a prayer warrior for you, that I might please you! Help me to pray for myself, my family and my fellow Christians, for governmental authorities over me, and that I may live a peaceful and Godly life. In Jesus name I pray! Amen.