INTERCESSORY PRAYER

"Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth" (2 Timothy 2:1-4).

Devotion 5 of 17 PRAY FOR PEACE

God has always been mindful of His people. During the "first testament," types and shadows dominated. Still, the heart of God was revealed in those spiritually primitive times. Listen to the Word of the Lord, and perceive His nature in His communication. "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee" (Psa 122:6). The Lord loved His people, even though they often required chastening. He wanted to preserve them, bless them, and guide them. His nature provokes Him to do this at the request of those that are close to Him. In our time, when the "better hope" is in place (Heb 7:19), we do well to pray for the peace of Christ's church, which is His body. That is where the Lord dwells now, and those that seek the peace of His people will surely do well. God has so ordered His kingdom that intercession plays a vital role in the divine reign. The church has many critics; it needs many intercessors! That is one of the primary means the Lord will employ to make it strong! There are many areas in which we are powerless of ourselves to affect change. But, in Jesus, we are not powerless! We have access to the throne of all grace, the arm and heart of the Lord God Almighty! It is my persuasion that when godly concern for the condition of the professed church grips the heart of believers, change will not be far away!

PRAY FOR WHERE YOU ARE

When Israel went into the Babylonian captivity, the Lord retained them in His heart. Though they had disobeyed Him, and were worthy of the harshest judgment, He did not delight in them being abused by their captives. See His heart as He speaks through Jeremiah. He addresses His people in view of the imminent Babylonian captivity. "And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the LORD for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace" (Jer 29:7). Do not miss the message here! God commanded people to pray for their circumstances and those that apparently controlled them. He did not alter the hearts of the Babylonians, although He can do such things (Ezek 11:19; 36:26). He did not work independently of His people, but through them. Although the times were not ideal, and the Law was "weak through the flesh" (Rom 8:3), the Lord revealed how He would work within the new covenant. In Christ, prayer would be brought to its highest level. Through it, the Lord would be constrained to do the greatest works through and for His sons and daughters! Too, if Israel could pray for Babylon, we can surely pray for our country. There are a number of similarities between the people of God in this country and Israel in Babylon. The political structure of Babylon was inhibitive. The edicts of the king competed with those of God. The people of God were secondary citizens in Babylon, and therefore their interests were not the primary interests. In spite of these conditions, however, Israel was to pray for the foreign land in which they found themselves. Let us not fail to do the same! PRAYER POINT: Father, give me grace to be mindful of my surroundings. I ask that you work to bring peace about us, so we can give ourselves without unecessary distraction to the appropriation of Divine resources.

-- TOMORROW: WHERE IS YOUR AFFECTION? --