Prayer For All Men

"We pray the heart of the Savior, and His heart is people. He loves people."

WHAT IS THE purpose of prayer? Why do we have to ask God for what we know He knows? Prayer comes in different types, but all prayer is communication based on relationship, and relationship brings maturity. Maturity through prayer gives us the heart of the Father. We no longer pray our will but God’s will. We pray the heart of the Savior, and His heart is people. He loves people. He died to save people. So our prayers speaking His heart will always be for people to see God’s goodness, His love for them.

There are people who would never receive prayer if you didn’t pray for them. There are some who will suffer and die without salvation because we neglected prayer. There are many who God would work for, whether known to them or unknown by them, if we would just pray. He is asking us to dedicate ourselves to prayer.

Not just prayer for “me and my three.” We’ve done too much of that. Matthew 7 says the Father knows what we have need of. We can trust Him for what we wear and what we eat. Isaiah 53:4 promises us Jesus provided our healing. Psalm 91 promises us God’s protection. We can and should speak God’s Word over our life and situations. But most usually, prayer for ourselves becomes a complaint session. I like to adopt God’s Word to Job in Job 42. Job had lost so much and had fallen into criticism. God told him to pray for his friends, and he would be healed.

“And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.” (Job 42:10)

I don’t limit it to friends. I am continually on the lookout for people who need prayer and will whisper one for them wherever I’m at. I also like Minister Bill Johnson’s words about prayer. He never sits down to pray without first spending time in worship. Worship creates the atmosphere for prayer and opens the channel of our hearts to God. Our hearing is clearer, for prayer is a two-way street. Through worship, we will not have to say quite as much in prayer as we would do on our own. Prayer becomes more effective, more dedicated after we worship. Think of it like fuel for the fire.

But our prayers are meant to uplift others, to bring them before God with our faith, and God who hears prayer, who loves people, will answer.

“I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;” (1 Timothy 2:1)

Image by Sophia from Pixabay


----------
Suzanne D. Williams, Author
www.suzannedwilliams.com
www.feelgoodromance.com