By Brother Tom Albin
Intercessory Prayer: 1 Tim. 2:1-2.
Paul’s letter to Timothy includes these words:
First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity. (1 Tim. 2:1-2, NRSVUE)
Brother E. Stanley Jones expressed this same thing in his 1943 publication of How to Pray: “If I had one gift, and only one gift, to make to the Christian Church, I would offer the gift of prayer, for everything follows from prayer.” (p. 13, E. Stanley Jones, How to Pray, reprinted by Upper Room Books, 2015).
Prayer is essential—“everything follows from prayer!” EVERYTHING!
Do you want things to go better for your friends and family? PRAY!
Do you want things to go better for your city and state? PRAY for your city and its citizens!
Do you want things to go better for your church and your country? PRAY for the leaders!
Do you want things to go better for the world and its nations? PRAY!
Please read 1 Timothy 2:1-2 above a second time. What is the Living Word of God—Jesus—saying to you through the written word of God? Could God be reminding our global Christian Ashram Family that our primary mission is to pray?
First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all who are in high positions….
And why are we to pray in all those ways? It is
….so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity.
Because “everything flows from prayer,” we are calling on this Christian Ashram family to pray. To pray with us and for us with “supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings” as we pray for you in these same ways.
Our goal is to be transformed more and more into the image and likeness of Jesus—so the world can be transformed as well.
Your prayers do make a difference. This is a mystery, and it is a fact! Everything follows from prayer.
Join us in prayer this week as we pray for God’s kingdom to come and God’s will to be done—on earth as it is in heaven!
Jesus is Lord!!!
Tom Albin
