Praying Men from 1 Tim. 2:8

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 03/12/2002

 

My Worship Time                                                      Focus:  Praying Men

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  1Timothy 2:8

 

            Message of the verse:  Paul is speaking to men in this verse for the Greek word means men as opposed to women.  He says that his desire is that men pray everywhere, and that means men should pray in the churches.  He says that they should lift up “holy hands.”  Paul is speaking about clean hands or having a clean heart before God.  Psalm 24:4 says, “He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, Nor sworn deceitfully.”  2Samuel 22:21 says, “The LORE rewarded me according to my righteousness; According to the cleanness of my hands He has recompensed me.”  These two verses give a little flavor of what Paul was talking about in this verse.  Paul goes on to say that not only are these men o have a clean life before God but they are to pray without wrath and doubting.  Without anger is a better translation for without wrath.  A man should not be angry with his Christian brother or sister before he prays.  Jesus spoke of this when He was speaking about a man giving a gift, but the man had to go and get things straight with his brother and then give the gift.  We should pray without doubting, praying in faith, believing that God will answer our prayers.  God is able to do that.

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  These are three good teachings to learn and remember when I pray each day.  I should pray in faith, not be angry with anyone; make sure that all of my sins are confessed to God, to the best of my knowledge, even asking the Spirit of God to search me.

 

The Word of God brought wonderful teaching, and conviction to me today.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  I believe that the Word of God has taught me much about prayer today and that I should begin to incorporate this into my prayer life each day.  I would pray that the Holy Spirit would remind me of these truths, because I am prone to forget.

 

Memory verse for the week:  Psalm 89:7

God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, And to be held in reverence by all those around Him.