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| Beliefs - Bible Studies A Wonderful Praying Friend |
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To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, Mercy, and peace, from
God the Father and Jesus Christ our Lord. -II Tim 1:2
What a wonderful prayer Paul offered for Timothy. First, he asked for sustaining
grace which Timothy would desperately need as he faced the burdens and
problems of the work he now had to do. Paul knew there would be times that
Timothy would feel inadequate to complete God’s will in his life. Many times he
had known all about those hours when the temptation to give up was almost
irresistible. He speaks of it when writing to the Corinthians, “We were pressed
out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life: But we
had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves,
but in God which raiseth the dead.” Paul, despairing of life? Yes. And if it
happened to Paul it more than likely would happen to Timothy. And if to Timothy,
it will happen to you and I.
Secondly, Paul pleaded for mercy to be given to Timothy. When moments of
failure came, the forgiving mercy of God would be what Timothy needed above
everything else. We are not finished with the need of forgiveness when we
become Christians. Paul knew Timothy, in the midst of failure and defeat, would
constantly need the forgiving, cleansing mercy of God.
Thirdly, Paul seeks for Timothy the wonderful peace of God. Grace for the
many burdens, Mercy for the times of failure, and peace; a peace that would
keep his heart and mind from the dangers of pride and the darkness of doubt
and defeat.
What would happen if we began to pray this short, simple prayer for those
around us? Busy at work, leaning over a kitchen counter or outside tending to
our lawns, we simply pray for God’s transforming grace, mercy and peace to be
wonderfully revealed to those we loved.
Father,
May your grace we given during times of despair
Your forgiving mercy bestowed on those who have fallen
And may your wonderful peace flood their lives.
In Jesus name,
Amen
- Rudy Oakes
February 2004
God the Father and Jesus Christ our Lord. -II Tim 1:2
What a wonderful prayer Paul offered for Timothy. First, he asked for sustaining
grace which Timothy would desperately need as he faced the burdens and
problems of the work he now had to do. Paul knew there would be times that
Timothy would feel inadequate to complete God’s will in his life. Many times he
had known all about those hours when the temptation to give up was almost
irresistible. He speaks of it when writing to the Corinthians, “We were pressed
out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life: But we
had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves,
but in God which raiseth the dead.” Paul, despairing of life? Yes. And if it
happened to Paul it more than likely would happen to Timothy. And if to Timothy,
it will happen to you and I.
Secondly, Paul pleaded for mercy to be given to Timothy. When moments of
failure came, the forgiving mercy of God would be what Timothy needed above
everything else. We are not finished with the need of forgiveness when we
become Christians. Paul knew Timothy, in the midst of failure and defeat, would
constantly need the forgiving, cleansing mercy of God.
Thirdly, Paul seeks for Timothy the wonderful peace of God. Grace for the
many burdens, Mercy for the times of failure, and peace; a peace that would
keep his heart and mind from the dangers of pride and the darkness of doubt
and defeat.
What would happen if we began to pray this short, simple prayer for those
around us? Busy at work, leaning over a kitchen counter or outside tending to
our lawns, we simply pray for God’s transforming grace, mercy and peace to be
wonderfully revealed to those we loved.
Father,
May your grace we given during times of despair
Your forgiving mercy bestowed on those who have fallen
And may your wonderful peace flood their lives.
In Jesus name,
Amen
- Rudy Oakes
February 2004