“I exhort that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions and givings of thanks be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.” I Tim. 2:1-3 (KJV)
How many times are we faced with having to make a righteous decision that is opposed and resisted by the negative feelings of our old Adamic nature?! Yet we are all, at some time, faced with that struggle! To try to push through and past those feelings can be both difficult and exhausting when just endeavoring to “do the right thing”.
Our “old nature” resists!!! That is just what it does! It resists the Word of God, the will of God and the plan of God. In other words, it simply seeks to keep us from God’s intended purpose for us. With the devil’s help, it seeks to keep us confined (or quarantined) to the limits of what the flesh/carnal nature can provide, if yielded to.
BUT GOD has a better way! He invites us as His children, to live a life contrary to the old nature by yielding to His Holy Spirit as we follow Jesus and are instructed by His Word. God doesn’t want us led by our feelings. The scriptural reference above instructs us that “supplications, prayers, intercessions and giving of thanks be made for all men; for kings, and for ALL that are in authority . . . ” It does not say to pray and give thanks for only those you like or agree with. It doesn’t say to pray and give thanks only if they are your friend, political inclination or represent your views. In fact, there are no specifics given except to say that we are to pray and give thanks “for all in authority.” Our feelings have nothing to do with it. And if we believe our prayer changes things, then that change should be seen and heard in our communication with regards all who are in authority. There is a promise given to us if we yield to the Holy Spirit in this regard. It is this: “that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.” WOW! What a promise!!! Do you want peace? Do you want a quietness of spirit?? Do you want godliness and honesty to be the mark of your character??? Then this is the pathway – whether we want to or not.
God is love. Jesus is the personification of love. And we have been called to peace. If peace and love isn’t readily seen and heard through us, the message Jesus died and rose again to share with the world has been lost.
Let’s be peace-makers and expressions of His love to a world that desperately needs it.
Heartgate International Ministries 