REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor David Kwon who heads Journey Community Church in Raleigh, North Carolina, was first posted on June 6, 2014. He is a graduate of Drexel University (BS) and Columbia International University (M.Div.).
Devotional Thought for This Morning
“Why Pray?”
1 Timothy 2:1-2
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.
When I was taking a missions class during seminary, I remember my professor each day, before class started, would pray and lift up nations and various world leaders. I was challenged by his heart to intercede for people, especially those in high leadership positions who can influence people. It helped me in my own prayers to be mindful of nations and leaders and to be interceding for them.
In these verses, Paul emphasizes the importance of prayer. First, he lists intercessory prayer–the people of God encountering God Himself on behalf of their fellow Christians and people around the world. He also says that prayer involves praying for “all people.” This is especially true when it comes to leaders (kings), even when these rulers are wicked men and women who hate the church — the very kind of leaders for whom Timothy and Paul had to pray for in the first century. We may not yet live under severe persecution, but for most of us, it is difficult to pray for authorities that might not profess Christ as their Lord and Savior and oppose the church.
As we meditate on these verses this morning, spend some time lifting up nations, world leaders, and persecuted countries, where the Gospel cannot be freely preached. Pray that the Lord would comfort his people in the midst of persecution, and also lift up the leaders that they would come to know the Lord as their Savior.
Prayer: Lord, as Paul encouraged Timothy to pray for kings who are in high positions, I want to lift up leaders and rulers who may not know Jesus, and may even be persecuting the church today. I pray that they would come to know you as the true and eternal King.
Bible Reading for Today: Ecclesiastes 9
Lunch Break Study
Read Luke 18:1-8: And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. [2] He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. [3] And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ [4] For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, [5] yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’” [6] And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. [7] And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? [8] I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
Questions to Consider
- Why do you think Jesus in this parable says “always pray and not to lose heart”?
- What do you observe in the widow’s attitude when it comes to prayer?
- What are some things God is asking you to be persistent in prayer?
Notes
- Jesus understood that when we pray, we often lose heart. Whether it is unanswered prayers or having greater faith, it can often be discouraging. That is why Jesus says not to lose heart. He reminds us through this parable that we ought to be persistent in our prayers and to believe that God will answer us in his time.
- We see that the widow did not give up, but kept on bothering the judge until she got justice. Is that how we approach prayer?
- Let’s continue to be persistent in prayer.
Evening Reflection
We’ve been meditating on prayer this day, so spend this time in prayer – personal and intercessory. Let’s continue to be persistent in our prayers.