Over this week, we will be sharing daily 2-minute articles to help you start and cultivate 7 life-changing habits during this time of lockdown. Read, reflect, pray, act—and challenge a friend to join you in this simple but powerful journey!
Stay Prayerful
Read: 1 Timothy 2:1-7
and thanksgiving be made for all people.
—1 Timothy 2:1
By Amy Boucher Pye
journalist voiced his frustration when he saw people in other countries going about their daily lives while the coronavirus spread rapidly in his own: “We were screaming this message to the world when some countries kept playing and carried on living normally: look at what is happening to us! You need to stop and go inside.” Each country has responded to the virus differently, because of political and geographical boundaries. But as believers in Jesus concerned about disease and the welfare of others, we can pour out our concern to God, who isn’t limited by borders.
The apostle Paul knew the power of praying to God, which he stressed in his letter to his protégé Timothy. Paul wanted Timothy to admonish the people to continue to pray, not only for themselves but for “kings and all those in authority” (1 Timothy 2:2). Paul sought for all people to know God through Jesus (v. 4) and saw prayer as part of our calling in that mission.
We may feel powerless in times of crisis, but as we pray for people in our country and around the world, we can trust that God hears us. And as we pray for those in authority, we can believe that through our prayers God will spread hope and bring about change.
Reflect:
How do you feel called to pray for people in other countries? How could you increase your prayers and petitions in this way?
Pray:
God in heaven, thank You that You’re not limited by borders; I want to pray for . . .
