Supplications, Prayers, Intercessions and Thanksgivings
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1 Timothy 2:1-6
1. First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all men, 2. for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life, godly and respectful in every way. 3. This is good, and it is acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4. who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6. who gave himself as a ransom for all, the testimony to which was borne at the proper time.
Romans 8:14-16 NASB
For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!" The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God.
It may seem as if I meandered through scripture and devotional materials this morning without my usual intentionality. But not so! 2 Timothy implores the community to lift up “supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings” for everyone. That is what I was focused on initially. And so I prayed for clarity about what the true message should be today. You see, I’m in a more “prayerful” mode this week, as Saturday our church held a prayer vigil. One of my covenant sisters and I spent that last portion of the vigil reading the names of everyone on the church rolls.
One of us started with page one and one began at the last page; each reading every name aloud. After several pages a rhythm develops--so much so that when one of us paused to lift a “particular” prayer for a family or an individual, the other imperceptibly paused, as if to add a prayer of our own--without even knowing who it was the other interceded for. The experience is almost surreal. One enters into sacred space when those names are read. It is as if God has enclosed us and is sitting at full attention to hear our supplications.
I also listed last night (an entire page) in my journal the names of those for whom I am praying this week. I have not been that intentional in some time. I had allowed myself to get caught up in “worldly things.” I have been busy “doing.” And my prayer life has suffered. I have felt it too -- almost like a disconnect. I have missed it--that quiet, peaceful time when I have an intimate conversation with my God. I believe in prayer. I ardently and absolutely believe in it. I don’t have any personal miracle stories that I can tell you are a direct result of my prayers. But I know the world is a better place when God’s people pray.
All of my e-mail addresses are about prayer -- and of course this website! And people ask me - specifically me - to pray for them or for a situation sometimes. Not because they believe I have some special line to God -- or that my prayers are answered more readily than those of others. (Well, they may believe that.) But most importantly, they know I
believe in prayer! I also believe God wants us to pray! After all, he sent us Jesus and the Holy Spirit to intercede for us when we do not know what to pray.
I hope today you will pray for yourself and your family, for everyone in your life, for everyone you meet, everyone you pass on the road or in the hallway. And that you will offer supplications, prayers, intercessions and thanksgivings to a God who hears our every sigh.
Mary
