Give Thanks for All People – Gratitude Pt 7

Scripture: 1 Timothy 2:1-2; Colossians 4:2 1 I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. 2 Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. (1 Timothy 2:1-2 NLT) Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. (Colossians 4:2 NLT) Pray for all people. Ask God to help all people. Intercede on behalf of all people. Give thanks for all people. When I first began considering these verses, I thought “Praying for, interceding for, and giving thanks for all people” is so broad and general that it could amount to actually praying, interceding, and giving thanks for no one in particular. It seemed like it could be saying, “God bless everyone, Thanks for everyone” with no specific application to anyone! But there’s more to it than that. These are all the people who come to mind. These are all the people we come into contact with. These are all the people who intersect our lives in any way. And the “pray, ask, intercede, give thanks” admonition is what we do instead of doing something else that might come more naturally in a lot of instances. We are to “pray, ask, intercede, give thanks” for all those people instead of ignoring them, judging them, criticizing them, hating them, despising them, rejecting them, wishing them ill. And you might want to stop reading right now, because this doesn’t get any easier. These “all people” we’re talking about include good people and bad people. They include people who have been good to you and people who have harmed you. The group includes people who passionately hold your political, moral, economic, and sports team views, and those who are completely opposed to your views and opinions. It includes all who are in authority: Bosses, politicians, officials at all levels of government, the whole lot of them! Jesus even said, “Love your enemies!” If this doesn’t challenge you and make you a little uncomfortable, you’re a lot more mature than I am! I know it’s right, but God help us live it! Prayer: Father, Please help us “pray, intercede, and give thanks” for all people. We need help with this one. Only by your grace can we do this. May we live quiet and peaceful lives as we pray, intercede, and give thanks for all people. In Jesus’ Name!