Monday, February 4, 2008

more of HIM

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More of HIM is a place to find encouragement, support, and honesty as we each strive to live in God's grace and love. Join in with your own post sharing how God is speaking to you through His word ~or~ how He is working in your life. Leave a link to your post on Mr. Linkly below. Or visit those who have shared this week and leave them a comment. Sharing our spiritual journeys with each other can help us to grow not only as a community here in bloggyland, but closer to our Lord and Saviour.

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Scripture Speaks to me...

In The Message, 1 Timothy 2:1-2 and 8-9 says:

"The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know. Pray especially for rulers and their governments to rule well so we can be quietly about our business of living simply, in humble contemplation... (1-2)

Since prayer is at the bottom of all this, what I want mostly is for men to pray - not shaking angry fists at enemies but raising holy hands to God. And I want women to get in there with the men in humility before God, not primping before a mirror or chasing the latest fashions." (8-9)


I was reading through 1 Timothy this last week and as I was reading the second chapter, I was struck by some of the wording in my NIV Bible. I decided to check out how The Message said some of the passages I was interested in. Then I was struck even more.

I feel like I have a decent prayer life, but that there's always a lot of room for improvement. Since the first of the year, I've been trying to pray more in an open and on-going converesation with God. I've been trying to just talk to him as I go about my day.

In doing this, I have found myself praying for people and situations I might not normally pray for. Someone that crosses my path or just comes to mind, or something I see on the News or read about in a blog.

So it was confirming to read the first part; "Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know." But then the very next sentence says; "Pray especially for rulers and their governments to rule well..." I realized that I haven't been praying [much] about the election and candidates. Even though I'm not a political person, I should be praying for the people and situations [duh].

I've included verses 8 and 9 because I liked; "...not shaking angry fists at enemies but raising holy hands to God." - boy, we would all do well to try this - and, "...not primping before a mirror or chasing the latest fashions." - just letting me know where my priorities should be.

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8 comments:

Unknown said...

Great thoughts, Diana! I love the conversational way of praying. Just talking to God as you go through the day. I need to do that more! Thanks for the reminder!

Have a blessed day!

Unknown said...

PS. I gave you an award! Stop by to check it out!

Lori said...

Great post.

Just wanted to let you know that I posted my quirky things.

Humble wife said...

Great post again! Thanks so much for hosting this...you really have helped me direct my focus where it needs to be.
Jennifer

Susan said...

Great post, Diana. Yes, we really need to be praying for our leaders and this up coming election. That we get a Godly president. I "think" King James but I love to read and compare it to The Message.
Susan

Mary@notbefore7 said...

Great thoughts Diana. Sorry that I didn't have a post today - hope to Monday. I missed it.

Prayer is an area where God continues to work on me as well.

Barb said...

I like the new way you are putting the logos.

If people could hear us talking to God during the day, they would probably think we were crazy. But I do it all the time too. Great blog!

sharon brobst said...

God has been showing me the need of praying more. I do talk to me through out my day....but I really need to work on that time when I just sit before God and cry out to Him for my children, the church out nation...we need to be praying.