Encounter:
Continuing in our prayer series, we will take a look at praying for people. Take a moment in the silent part of your day. Take inventory of the matters of your heart. Is your heart at unrest? Is your heart heavy with burden? Do you have gratitude in your heart? Does your heart break for someone? Read 1 Timothy 2:1-6. Then take a deep breath in and out and give your heart to God.
In The Passion Translation, the very first verse reads; “Most of all, I’m writing to encourage you to pray with gratitude to God. Pray for all men with all forms of prayers and requests as you intercede with intense passion.” The first thing we see is to pray with gratitude to God. This doesn’t always happen. Our emotions may be too strong to reflect gratitude. Our hearts may be too full of hurt.
Take time with God and show him what is in your heart. Voice your prayer or write your prayer in your prayer journal, or simply cry to Him. Psalms 56:8 states that God “collects your tears.” Whatever prayer style you use, approach God with your real self, your real heart.
As we continue with the first verse of our reading, it states to pray with intense passion. God wants the real us. He wants to know our pain and our joys. When we lift up prayer for someone, he wants to see our real passion for that person.
Johannes Hartl is quoted in Tyler Staton’s book, “Praying Like Monks Living Like Fools,” that “Praying is Loving.” God loved us enough that he would send His Son to not only die for us, but to be our great mediator. “For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people.” 1 Timothy 2:5-6 NIV. In the same way Jesus loves us, let us show our love for those we lift up in prayer. Show God your heart. Let him see your love. Praying is loving.
Praying with you,
Pastor Phil
Reflect: Consider one person on your prayer list and contemplate your love for them. Then from your heart lift up thanksgiving for this person and then lift up your concern. Allow God into your heart as you prayerfully lift this person from your heart to God.
Encourage: Prayer is about spending time in God’s presence. God knows all that we need, but he wants to hear from us. He wants to know what makes your heart heavy or what breaks your heart. Take this time and allow God to meet you where you are at. Then talk to him about the matters of your heart.
Gather: As you gather together in your groups, consider what it means to pray for others with intense passion. When you pray for someone in need does your heart break for them?
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