Tuesday - April 7, 2020 - What Do You Want - Specifically?

April 7, 2020

First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all those who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. 1 Timothy 2:1-2

Did you know, that, according to the dictionary, the word “petitions” is the plural noun form of the word “petition” and means: a formal written request, typically one signed by many people, appealing to authority with respect to a particular cause? In the verb form, the word means close to the same thing: make or present a formal request to (an authority) with respect to a particular cause. I want to key in on the part “a particular cause.”

Paul urged praying specifically for a certain cause, first – at least in this instruction. I wonder if maybe the people at that time were like a lot of folks these days - wondering if God wants to hear the specifics of what’s going on. Most people in general society would probably readily agree that general prayers are what they should be offering up to God. That maybe He’s too busy or it’s not necessary to get specific – after all He’s God, right? Well, Paul used the word for a reason. A reason of special emphasis, I think, so that those who pray would place special emphasis on something also. So that specific prayers would “…be made for everyone, for kings and all those who are in authority…”

If there’s ever a time in for specific prayers, it’s now! We don’t have kings in this country but there are plenty of authorities and medical personnel making decisions that affect the entire country, every day.

Pray for the President and all of the advisers and medical authorities making national decisions

Pray for the local state, county and city authorities and medical authorities who are also making decisions