First, I tell you to pray for all people, asking God for what they
need and being thankful to him. (New Century Version)
Take
time and ponder on the far reaching commitment this verse is asking
for:
- Who are all the people?
- What demand is placed on time, should a fraction of prayer be given for each person we know?
- What is a plan of action to obey this call?
I
know, “Where shall I find the time to pray for everyone?” and
secondly, “Will it really change things for better for those I pray
for?” Firstly, if you want to find time, you will find time. But
that you already know, “Give me something new” you'll say. Your
problem is not time, your problem is either the lack of faith in
prayer, or the lack of a required personal relationship with Jesus
Christ. If you don't know/believe what God can do, you will not pray
to him to do what you ask. But if you know what God can do, the
almighty creator of the universe, you will pray. You will find time
to pray, because you will realise that human effort doesn't match up
with what God can do.
“What
about my business?” If God can't bless your business without
investing all your time into it, leaving you with nothing to pray,
then you're in the wrong business. The psalmist says:
Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labour in vain...
(Psalm 127:1a NIV)
To
be honest, the picture of the bible is not that you should add prayer
to you business, but rather business to your prayer life. Your
business should be steeped in prayer. Since God builds the house, you
can only plot along in prayer. Remember it's God's house, not yours.
Would time be an issue on the builder's demand? I don't think so. I
would certainly enjoy it when my boss tells me to leave my classroom,
and my students, and take time out for her. To sit in her office and
talk about the work and other people and the students etc.
Who
are the 'all people' you have to pray for? Easy, that's everyone you
cross paths with. From the cleaning lady in the kitchen to the CEO in
the boardroom. Prayer equips us with Godlike spectacles, to see the
world through God's eyes, and reshape the landscape of reality.
Prayer teaches that
