How God’s Love and Praying for All People will Change Your Life
Pray for all people!
1 Timothy 2:1b
Yes, that includes our enemies, the people we find detestable, those we don’t understand, who are unkind, and even the ones who hate us.
That’s hard, isn’t it?
It’s easy to pray for the people we love and care about but those other people . . . not so much.
I know it’s easy for me to give them brain time but prayer time . . . that’s a struggle.
You’ve heard many speak about the power of prayer but Rev and I have a friend who used to remind us…
The power is not in the prayer but in the One to whom we pray.
And the One to whom we pray…
Wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.
1 Timothy 2:4
What truth is that?
There is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus. He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone.
1 Timothy 2:5–6
The truth is we are all people separated from God by sin. We need a Savior—we need Jesus.
The Life Application Bible Notes add:
Only one person in the universe is our Mediator and can stand between us and God and bring us together again—Jesus, who is both God and man. Jesus’ sacrifice brought new life to all people.
Think about it for a minute.
- God loved us even when we were sinful and opposed to Him.
- Jesus came to suffer and die for us to make it possible for us to be reconciled to God.
- And now He prays for us. He talks to God about you and about me.
And by His grace, we are being transformed by love.
Which may be the very reason you and I are called to pray for “all people.” Those we love and yes, those we don’t. Because it’s possible that God will use His Love and our prayers to change our hearts about them and maybe, just maybe . . . their hearts may change as well.
A Prayer for an Open Heart to Pray for All People with God’s Love
Father, please forgive me. It’s so easy to pray for those I love and care about but I know I fail to faithfully pray for those I don’t. You love faithfully. You loved me before I knew and loved You. You love me when I fail to trust and obey Your will. You love me and want what is best for me.
And You ask me to model Your love before others . . . to faithfully pray like Jesus, to give and serve with love, to care with kindness and compassion, to show everyone the power of Your love to change lives.
Please help me love others with the love You give. Help me lift everyone up in prayer. Help me “intercede on their behalf and give thanks for them.” (2 Timothy 2:1b) Help me share Your love and do my very best to live a “quiet and peaceful life full of worship and respect for God.” (2 Timothy 2:2b NCV) You want everyone to be saved and know the truth about Your love . . . about Jesus. Please help me live each day in prayer. Help me love even when it’s hard. Help me share Your life-giving truth.
I love you, Lord. Thank you for loving me. Thank you for changing my life and giving me hope. I surrender my life to You and ask that by Your grace and with Your help, I might live each day for Your glory. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
Jesus said:
Love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!
Matthew 5:44
And:
Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you.
Luke 6:28
I don’t know about you, but I can’t do that on my own. My sinful nature pushes back just thinking about it. But the One who is working in me and changing my heart makes all things possible . . . even help me pray for those who persecute, curse, and hurt me.
He makes it possible for you and me to love our enemies. He is able to change the world . . . by changing hearts, minds, and lives through the love of Christ.
On today’s note write:
With God’s help, I will pray for all people . . . those I love and those I don’t.
May God bless you today and give you everything you need to love like Jesus.
This is the most difficult commandment for me to follow, Deb. I appreciate you explaining once again why it’s so important to do so. We might not change our enemies through our prayers, but God certainly can as He desires everyone to come to Him.
Blessings!
For me too, Martha! I am so thankful for God’s patience, love, and willingness to help us do those things we can’t do on our own. God bless you, my friend!
That is something i battle with everyday. I heard a message this morning about the same subject but in a different way. About still hurting today with the hurts of the past. Ive had a hard time praying for those that have hurt me and i was a Christian then like i am now its been a battle. I thank you for sharing this with me today i need to apply it to my life. Thank you Jesus!!
Thanks for visiting, Ruby. I’m always overwhelmed when I think of Jesus’ prayer, “Father, forgive them. They don’t know what they’re doing.” What amazing love! I know I can’t on my own but I know He can . . . He does and with His help, I believe I can too. It is so hard. What a blessing we have God’s grace and His promise to help. God bless you!
We are called to pray for everyone. That can be a huge struggle especially when there are constant hurts. Nevertheless, Jesus goes on to say, pray for your enemies even those who hate you and persecute you. He came to save everyone. I think by doing so, Jesus is transforming us through our prayers and maybe, just maybe, our enemy may change too by the same transforming power, when they see the love of God in us. I definitely need a grace from God to follow this. Thank you Deb for your words today and for talking about this difficult subject. It’s easy to pray for those we love but we are called by God to do the same for those who hurt us, so that we might all be saved!
Angela Cahill
GREAT messages Deb ????????❗️Thank You FOR sharing ????And Thank You For Wonderful Verse Sheets????????♥️ It’s HARD TO Pray for Others When They Hurt You But BECAUSE WE NEED TO GROW as Children OF G-d????????JUST Like Any Parent WHO want their Child To Say I’m Sorry ????. But We HAVE to mean it in our heart Or OUR words ARE WORTHLESS ????????THANK ????????♥️YOU Also for Just Spiritual Inspiration ❗️G-d♥️Bless????
Thank you, Cheri! I sure do appreciate your kind encouragement. Blessings!