prayer-life
"First of all, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be offered for all men, especially for kings and those in authority." —1 Timothy 2:1-2
Did you pray today for the president, governor, mayor, bishops, priests, ministers, celebrities, superstars, and millionaires? All these people are in authority, and the Lord commands us to pray for them "first of all" (1 Tm 2:1). "Prayer of this kind is good, and God our Savior is pleased with it, for He wants all men to be saved and come to know the truth" (1 Tm 2:3-4).
When was the last time you openly prayed with people on the street, as at the first Pentecost? Did the men lead these prayers "with blameless hands held aloft?" (1 Tm 2:8) Do you occasionally pray all night or at least into the night? (see Is 26:9; Lk 18:7) Is prayer the first thing you do when you wake up, even if you're not a "morning person"? Do you pray more than you watch TV? Do you faithfully pray when you don't feel like it and when God seems to be a million miles away? Do you pray on the phone? Do you "at every opportunity pray in the Spirit, using prayers and petitions of every sort" (Eph 6:18)?
"The Spirit too helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how to pray as we ought; but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us" (Rm 8:26).
Prayer: Lord, teach me to pray (Lk 11:1).
Promise: "No servant can serve two masters...You cannot give yourself to God and money." —Lk 16:13
Praise: Praise You, Jesus! You are "the Resurrection and the Life" (Jn 11:25). Glory be to You forever!
Reference: (Order our tapes to help you increase your prayer life: Daily Prayers on audio AV 62-3 or video V-62, Liturgy of the Hours on audio AV 89-3 or video V-89, Married Couples Praying Together, audio AV 116-1, video V-116, Family Prayer on audio AV 59-1 or video V-59.)
Rescript: †Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, February 8, 2010
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