Daily Devotions
1 Timothy
"Therefore I exhort first of all..."
Text: 1 Timothy 2:1
MINISTERING IN PRAYER
Praying was such a natural part of Paul’s life. It was not difficult for him to develop it into a ministry. It is not surprising to read of Paul encouraging Timothy to develop a prayer ministry.
1. Commencement of a Prayer Life
a) Paul wrote of prayer as a work of the Spirit of God.
i) The Spirit generates a new birth (John 3:8).
ii) He also teaches the born-again believer to pray to God as Father (Romans 8:15).
b) Understandably Paul cultivated his prayer life
i) As a believer (Acts 9:11).
ii) As he was aided by the Spirit of God (Romans 8:26).
2. Cultivation of his prayer life
a) Praying for friends dear to him (Philippians 1:3).
b) Praying for personal needs.
i) Praying for removal of his thorn in the flesh (2 Corinthians 12:8).
ii) Accepting God’s answer that His grace is sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:9).
c) Praying for churches.
i) For churches he did not found (Colossians 1:3).
ii) For churches that he had founded (1 Thessalonians 1:3).
d) He prayed with great insight
i) Praying for enlightenment to be given (Ephesians 1:15-19).
ii) Praying for faith to be rooted and grounded (Ephesians 3:14-21).
THE GREATEST EXAMPLE OF ALL
The greatest example of all is the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. Prayer was such a real and significant part of His personal life and ministry.