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The Word of God says:

1 Timothy 2:1-2 (NIV)
¹ I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone–
² for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.

My reflections on the Word of God:

One of the blessings that we have living in America is that we enjoy freedom to worship and serve God according to the dictates of our own heart. Many in the world do not enjoy this privilege. Believers desire this privilege not just for themselves, but also for everyone.

There is this longing for freedom to worship in the heart of every person. Every worshipper desires the freedom to worship God without opposition from the government ruler.

For this reason, we should pray for leaders of governments. We need to pray that they may rule wisely and justly. We need to pray that leaders would be knowledgeable and have moral values. We need to pray that our leaders would be compassionate and understanding.

It there was ever a time that Christian should pray for rulers, that time is now. We know that our ability to live in peace means that our neighbors must also have freedoms of life, choice, and worship. Therefore, our prayer for rulers should include the leaders of the whole world.

Proverbs 11:11 (NIV)
¹¹ Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is destroyed.

1 Peter 2:17 (NIV)
¹⁷ Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.

My prayer in response to the Word of God:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I praise and thank You that You have the whole world in Your heart and in Your hands.

Therefore, we come to Your throne room of grace today to intercede for the leaders of America, and for the leaders of all of the nations of the whole world.

We pray for these leaders so that all the people of the world will be able to live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.

Father, I pray that the words from our lips, and the activities of our lives will bring glory and honor to Your most holy and righteous name. Amen.

He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands (Click on link below to watch video of this hymn):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEH7jyt1eoo&feature=related

The Word of God says:

1 Corinthians 12:12-14 (ESV)
¹² For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.
¹³ For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body— Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.
¹⁴ For the body does not consist of one member but of many.

My reflections on the Word of God:

What I got to experience on Saturday morning was to see a demonstration of what it looks like when God’s people come together in unity for a common purpose. The occasion was the 24^th annual Alaska Governors Prayer Breakfast.

The purpose of the annual prayer breakfast is to mobilize the Body of Christ in Alaska to pray on a regular basis for our governmental leaders.

What I saw and experienced on Saturday morning convinced me that we are accomplishing our purpose. The exciting thing is that for the first time we were able to broadcast the program to the entire state by live television, and by radio to south central Alaska. In addition, the program was streamed on the Internet to a worldwide audience.

God is so faithful to have granted His people the opportunity to participate with Him is something that has the power to change the course of history. The practice of prayer is something that each of us who are a believer should cherish and practice daily. There is power in prayer when God’s people unite and knit our hearts together to pray as the Apostle Paul urged in his letter to Timothy.

1 Timothy 2:1-3 (ESV)
¹ First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people,
² for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.
³ This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior,

My prayer in response to the Word of God:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I praise and thank You for the privilege, profit, provisions, and power of prayer.

Father God, it is heartwarming when God’s people unite in a common purpose to bring glory to God. There is no limit to what You will do if we continue in prayer.

Colossians 4:2 (ESV)
² Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.

Ephesians 6:18 (ESV)
¹⁸ praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,

Sweet Hour of Prayer (Click on link below to listen to this hymn):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18MEV0fT1gI&feature=related

The Word of God says:

1 Timothy 2:1-4 (ESV)
¹ First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people,
² for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.
³ This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior,
⁴ who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

My reflections on the Word of God:

In the first verse of our focal passage, the Apostle Paul encourages and charges the church to pray four kinds of prayers, and to pray for all people. He had written to them previously about who should be the objects of their prayers, and the kind of prayers they should pray.

Ephesians 6:18 (ESV)
¹⁸ praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,

Since tomorrow is the day for the annual Alaska Governors Prayer Breakfast, it is appropriate that our focus today would be on verse two.

1 Timothy 2:2 (AMP)
² For kings and all who are in positions of authority or high responsibility, that [outwardly] we may pass a quiet and undisturbed life [and inwardly] a peaceable one in all godliness and reverence and seriousness in every way.

The times in which Paul wrote to the church, the King was Nero, and it was a difficult time for believers. The King had accused the Christians of starting the fires that destroyed the city.

This is a reminder to Christians that praying for leaders is not about politics. Rather, it is about carrying out the charge that God gives to His people through His Word. Included in the charge to pray for governmental leader are the reasons for praying for them.

God desire that His people live in peace and that they live godly lives. In difficult times, God wants His people to live godly lives. Some would dare to die for Him, but God wants people who are willing to live for Him.

1 Timothy 4:7-8 (ESV)
⁷ Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness;
⁸ for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.

1 Timothy 6:6 (ESV)
⁶ Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment,

My prayer in response to the Word of God:

Our Father in heaven, O Sovereign Lord, I am humbled that You desire to share Your divine and holy plans for humankind with Your people. Father God, You have done that through the charge to pray for all people, and to pray for governmental leaders.

Father God, I pray that You will give wisdom, knowledge, and understanding to our current governor so that she may serve the people wisely so that we may live in peace, and live godly lives for Your glory.

Proverbs 14:34 (ESV)
³⁴ Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.

I Am Praying for You (Click on link below for lyrics and midi):

I Am Praying for You

The Word of God says:

1 Timothy 2:1-4 (NIV)
¹ I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone–
² for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.
³ This is good, and pleases God our Savior,
⁴ who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

My reflections on the Word of God:

Yesterday we begin looking at this passage. We focused on the importance and the priority of prayer. Today, we want to look a little deeper into this passage.

The audience for this letter from Paul was the shepherd and leader of the church at Ephesus. The message here is applicable to God’s people of every age.

What Paul is saying here is that before you do anything else for people, you should pray for them. Notice the encouragement to this pastor and church, “I urge, then, first of all”.

What was of first importance to Paul, and what should be of first importance to every Christian and every church is that we be people who pray.

Paul called for four kinds of prayers. They are requests, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving. Let us look at the first one today.

The Body of Christ has a duty and responsibility to pray for all people. Notice that this is an encouragement and a charge to pray.

1 Timothy 2:1 (AMP)
¹ FIRST OF all, then, I admonish and urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be offered on behalf of all men,

Just think what a powerful impact it would have upon our communities, our nation, and our world if every church were a House of Prayer.

There are people all around us who have large needs. Are we as God’s people heeding the exhortation of the Word of God to pray for their specific needs? Are we carrying these needs to God in prayer with urgency and with brokenness in our hearts for these people?

The problems that people face today are large, but there is nothing too difficult for God. Let us resolve to be faithful in praying for others. The bible encourages and charges us to pray for all people.

Luke 1:37 (NIV)
³⁷ For nothing is impossible with God.”

Luke 18:27 (NIV)
²⁷ Jesus replied, “What is impossible with men is possible with God.”

My prayer in response to the Word of God:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I praise You for Your greatness, and Your power to do things that are impossible for us to do in our own wisdom and strength.

Father God, I pray that through the reading and meditating upon the Word today that we who have heard the Word of God will heed the Word of God.

Father God, I pray that we would be people who would be hearers and doers of the Word of God. Lord, I praise and thank You for all of the specific prayers that will be going up to You today as others will join with me in praying for others.

Nothing is Impossible (Click on link below for music and for lyrics click on more info in right column):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HYvA5VbcKE

The Word of God says:

1 Timothy 3:14-15 (ESV)
¹⁴ I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that,
¹⁵ if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.

1 Timothy 2:1-2 (ESV)
¹ First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people,
² for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.

My reflections on the Word of God:

This is an exciting time of year for me. We will be having the annual Alaska Governors Prayer Breakfast on Saturday morning. This prayer breakfast  started by a group of concerned pastors and laypeople who realized the importance of the Body of Christ carrying out her responsibility to pray for the people of our state, and especially for our governmental leaders.

Within this letter, Paul reveals his reasons for writing this letter, which applies to the church broadly. What he is saying in this letter should apply not only to the first century church, but also to the church of every age. We should never depart from some foundational truths.

One of those foundational truths is prayer. Prayer should be of first importance to the church. Too often, the matter of prayer has not been first in the priority of the church. It should also be of first importance to the primary officer of the church, the shepherd/pastor of God’s people. Notice the priority that the twelve Apostles gave to prayer.

Acts 6:4 (ESV)
⁴ But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

My prayer in response to the Word of God:

Father God, my dear Father, I praise and thank You for the privilege and responsibility we have to be people who pray.

Father God, I am so grateful for the work of the church. Father God, for all the good we do, I pray that Your church will not forget what is of first importance.

Dr. Ravi Zacharias, Honorary Chairman 2008 National Day of Prayer (Click on link to watch and listen to his short message on prayer):

YouTube - Dr. Ravi Zacharias National Day of Prayer

The Word of God says:

Romans 15:13 (ESV)
¹³ May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

Hebrews 13:15 (ESV)
¹⁵ Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.

My reflections on the Word of God:

This morning the Lord placed the Hebrews verse on my mind, and I had noticed this passage when I was studying and mediating on the Romans passage last week. Therefore, I took step one, by entering the two passages into my Word document.

This reminds me of the Chinese Proverb:

“The journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step”

When I look at these two verses, I think of prayer and praise. I also noticed that even the chapter and verse of the passage have something in common. Do you see it?

When somebody prays for somebody, and they pray according to the pattern that Paul taught, these two verses are indeed inseparable. You are asking, “What did Paul say”. I am glad you asked that question because it gives me the opportunity of reading some choice verses concerning the topic of prayer.

Philippians 4:6-7 (NASB)
⁶ Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
⁷ And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Perhaps the Lord has placed someone or something on your heart today. If that is the case, take the first step, and with your mouth and with your heart take that person or that matter to the Lord in prayer. There is nothing more important or more productive that you could do with your time than to spend it in the presence of the Lord listening and talking to Him.

My prayer in response to the Word of God:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I am so grateful to You for the privilege and the power of prayer. What a joy it is to my heart to be able to do something that is so pleasing in Your eyes.

Father God, I pray that You would speak into my heart through Your Word. Oh God, I ask that by the power of the Holy Spirit of God, that You would move me to take the first step by coming to Your throne room of grace to offer prayer and praise to You. Father God, I know that others need my prayers, and that I need to pray because prayer changes me, and makes me more like You.

Father God, I praise and I thank You that at this very moment that I am praying for others and myself, I know that there are others around the world who are praying. Even the thought of this prayer makes me want to take a praise break. Hallelujah!

There is None Like You (Click on link below to take a praise break):

YouTube - Wow Worship “There is none like you”

The Word of God says:

Romans 15:13 (AMP)
¹³ May the God of your hope so fill you with all joy and peace in believing [through the experience of your faith] that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound and be overflowing (bubbling over) with hope.

My reflections on the Word of God:

Today, we conclude our focus on this prayer of the Apostle Paul. This is another of several instances in Romans where Paul seems to be closing, as with this benedictory prayer. Last week we looked at Paul’s prayer for joy and peace. You can only receive these blessings from the Blessor. The God of hope gives us these blessings by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 14:17 (AMP)
¹⁷ [After all] the kingdom of God is not a matter of [getting the] food and drink [one likes], but instead it is righteousness (that state which makes a person acceptable to God) and [heart] peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

The God who gives His people joy and heart peace deep down in our souls gives His people hope. God’s people have hope because of the promises found in His Word.

Romans 15:4 (AMP)
⁴ For whatever was thus written in former days was written for our instruction, that by [our steadfast and patient] endurance and the encouragement [drawn] from the Scriptures we might hold fast to and cherish hope.

When you know your hopes will be fulfilled it causes joy to spring up in your heart as you look forward to your hopes being fulfilled. The peace of God comes from knowing that God will fulfill His promises that He made in the scriptures.

As the blessings of joy and peace fill the hearts of God’s people, they overflow with hope. All of these blessings come exclusively from the God of hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

What Paul prayed for the believers in the church at Rome are things that God wants to give to all His believing people. He fulfilled His promises in the life of Paul, and He will do it in your life, if you will only trust in Him.

1 Corinthians 2:4 (ESV)
⁴ and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,

1 Thessalonians 1:5 (ESV)
⁵ because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.

My prayer in response to the Word of God:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I am grateful first for You, the Blessor. Secondly, I am grateful for the blessings that You so graciously lavish upon Your people who put their trust in You.

Father God, I pray this benedictory prayer of Paul for the Romans for my family, my church family, my Christian friends, and all of Your believing children.

Romans 15:13 (ESV)
¹³ May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

The Voice of Hope (Click on link below to watch video of this song):

YouTube - Lara Martin The Voice of Hope Worship Video with Lyrics

The Word of God says:

Romans 15:13 (AMP)
¹³ May the God of your hope so fill you with all joy and peace in believing [through the experience of your faith] that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound and be overflowing (bubbling over) with hope.

My reflections on the Word of God:

Yesterday we focused on the joy that is God’s gift to His people. Today, our focus is on the peace that God gives to His people.

The peace that God gives to His people is available exclusively from Him. In addition, this peace comes through our faith in Him. The God, who has already given His people peace with God, is also willing and able to give His believing children the peace of God.

Romans 5:1 (NIV)
¹ Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)
⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

The peace that God gives His people is not dependent upon our circumstances. We can have the peace of God in the midst of the storms of life. This peace will fill your heart and thrill your soul because God is a God who gives abundantly to His people this grace gift.

Isaiah 26:3 (NIV)
³ You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.

John 14:27 (NIV)
²⁷ Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

My prayer in response to the Word of God:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I praise and thank You that You are a God who is willing and able to give peace with God and the peace of God to Your believing people.

Father God, I ask in faith, that You will let the peace of God reign and rule in the hearts of Your people. Fill the needy and troubled hearts of Your people with Your peace.

Let the Peace of God Reign (Click on link below to watch video of this song):

YouTube - Let the peace of God reign

The Word of God says:

Romans 15:13 (NIV)
¹³ May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

My reflections on the Word of God:

This verse is a powerful prayer, and it contains things that can only come from God. Paul prayed that the people of this church would have joy, peace, and hope.

Paul knew the source of these precious gifts, and so he directed his request to the God of hope. The God that Paul served is a real God, and by faith in God, Paul knew that what he asked for God could provide through his prayer.

God is so awesome. When He gives gifts to His people, He gives them in abundance. Notice that Paul prayed to his God that He would fill His people with joy, peace, and that they would overflow with hope.

O how God’s people then and God’s people today need these rich graces to fill and overflow our lives. We would be different people if every Christian possessed these three grace gifts from God.

Let us look at these gifts one at a time. Today we will begin by examining what the scripture says about this grace gift of joy.

Paul’s prayer revealed the deep burden that he had for God’s people. He wanted them to have what they needed to fulfill God’s purpose for their lives in this world.

Romans 14:17 (NIV)
¹⁷ For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit,

Joy is something that God plants deep within us. It gives us gladness in the depths of our soul. The fruit of this inner joy is confidence and assurance that God is at work in us, and that He is already doing what He said He would do. It is evidence that God is smiling at what He sees in us, and it enables us to smile as we serve and minister to others in His name.

Isaiah 61:10 (NIV)
¹⁰ I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

1 Peter 1:8 (NIV)
⁸ Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy,

My prayer in response to the Word of God:

Father God, my dear Father, it is with great assurance that I can come to Your throne of grace today and ask for joy.

Father God, I come asking for what Paul asked for the church at Rome, and for what Jesus asked for all of Your beloved children.

John 17:13 (NIV)
¹³ “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them.

I Still Have Joy (Click on link below to watch this inspiring video):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkgJEN5q9oM&feature=PlayList&p=C5AC3E27682D70B4&index=44

The Word of God says:

Romans 12:12 (AMP)
¹² Rejoice and exult in hope; be steadfast and patient in suffering and tribulation; be constant in prayer.

My reflections on the Word of God:

In this twelfth chapter of Romans Paul has been writing about spiritual gifts and the use of them. One of the gifts that the Apostle had was the gift of encouragement. In his letters to the churches and to individuals, he was always seeking to encourage them in the faith.

This verse greeted me as I prepared to meditate, pray, and write this morning. The last portion of this verse is the theme that I have been reflecting upon the past few weeks as I, joining with many others have committed to praying for our nation and our leaders.

The temptation to neglect to pray is always present. God’s people face opposition when they obey God by using their God given gifts in ministry. The field of our service is a battleground and not a playground. There are also days of discouragement that come into our lives, and they come in many forms. Paul’s encouragement to God’s people is to “Rejoice and exult in hope; be steadfast and patient in suffering and tribulation; be constant in prayer”.

I received encouragement from all of the admonitions of Paul in this verse, but my eyes stayed longer on the last phrase, “be constant in prayer”.

The church was born in prayer, and she needs to continue in prayer. Yesterday, we saw how through prayer we could have the peace of God. The value and importance of prayer in the life of Christians and in the life of the church is indispensable. The church that was born in prayer needs to live in prayer.

Acts 1:14 (NIV)
¹⁴ They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

You may have been walking with God for a short time, or like me, for a long time, but you who have a history with God have found Him to be a faithful God. We know that God hears and answers the prayers of His people.

We also know that God is pleased when His people include the elements of praise and thanksgiving in their prayers. Our praise and thanksgiving not only pleases God, but it benefits us. There is nothing like looking into the face of God, and having Him smile at you.

Psalm 69:30-31 (NIV)
³⁰ I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving.
³¹ This will please the Lord more than an ox, more than a bull with its horns and hoofs.

My prayer in response to the Word of God:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, as I look back over my life I can see Your hands of compassion, grace, and mercy all over my life.

Father God, I praise You for who You are, and I thank You for what You have already done in my life. Father, I see evidence of answered prayers in so many lives. Lord, I praise You and thank You Lord for smiling on Your beloved children.

God Has Smiled on Me (Click on link below to listen to this song):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxbKIZAvsFs&feature=related