Why You Need to Pray

Before you start todays devotional, ask the Lord to use it to grow you up in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Nothing is more important to the ministry than a pastor’s character—that’s what we learned from Paul’s letter to his young protégés last time. Now Paul’s instructions broaden to include best practices for the whole church. Simply put, we need to be people who pray.

Let’s start with the challenge to pray for public officials, for kings. Yes, but are we to pray for a corrupt government? Remember when Paul wrote this, bloody Nero was on the throne in Rome. Even so, he says, we are to pray for kings, whoever they are. Civil government is a gift from God, and we ought to give thanks for it and pray for those in their respected responsibilities.

The benefit of living in a civil world is we can “lead a quiet (inwardly peaceful) and peaceable (outwardly peaceful) life in all godliness and reverence.” In so doing we can carry out our purpose as Christians in the world.

Prayer invites God into the situation we pray about and asks Him to work on those who will listen and respond. We hold God’s supernatural resources in our hands and only need to ask.

We have only one way to God, and that is through the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is our Mediator, the only way we are heard, saved, or how the world will be rescued (see Acts 4:12). If we will turn to Him, He will bring us right through to God. We don’t go through any human being down here; no priest, no minister, no pastor is necessary. But we do need a mediator, and we have one, the Great High Priest—the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus links one hand with deity because He is God who became man—that’s how He can save us. He links His other hand with yours; He understands you. He won’t be upset with you or hurt you in any way. You may say, “Well, I’ve failed. I’ve done something sinful, and I’ve come short of the glory of God.” He knows that, and He still loves you.

Every place where believers meet needs to be a place of prayer. Prayer should be public as well as private. Don’t pray if you have anger or bitterness in your heart. Deal with those things privately with God so you can come ready for your prayers to be effective.

Come to prayer with faith, too, “without … doubting.” Hebrews 11:6 tells us it’s impossible to please God without faith.

What about our posture? Is it important to kneel? Should we lift our hands? Our posture reflects our heart, but it doesn’t make prayer any more or less effective.

What about women? How should they pray? How should they act in the church?

In Ephesus, where Timothy was at this time of Paul’s letter, women played a prominent part in the mystery religions, offering sexual practices. This explains why Paul gets specific with how women were to dress—modestly and without gaudy accessories, trying to look sexually attractive. Instead, Paul said, let a woman’s inner life be on display as they do something beautiful for God. There’s nothing wrong in dressing in an attractive way, but when you go to God in prayer, you don’t need that outward adornment—you need inward adornment. When a woman plays any public role in church, like singing or having any part in a church service, she ought to keep in mind that her character and conduct should be the most evident. Don’t put the focus on external things.

Men and women please God when they grow in godliness internally and their lives reflect it externally.

1. In your own words, what does it mean that Jesus is the Mediator between God and us?

2. The idea that prayer needs to be public as well as private might be new to you. How does this concept change your thinking about prayer and your prayer habits?

3. Why would our own private sins affect our prayers?

Additional Resources

Listen to Dr. J. Vernon McGee’s complete teachings on 1 Timothy 1:18—2:5 and 1 Timothy 2:5-15.