Week 3 of 4
Spiritual leadership prays for them more than it lectures them.
I exhort therefore, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and givings of thanks be made for all men.
1 Timothy 2:1
Job’s first scene is not his suffering. It is a father who rises early and consecrates his children, in case they cursed God in their hearts. He does not carry their souls as a solitary hero. He brings them to God. A husband who only worries, only corrects, or only vents to other men has not yet interceded. Prayer is the work that admits you are not their savior and refuses to leave them alone.
Formal study reading, written for this series
Formal study reading, written for this series
Job would send and consecrate them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings, for he said, “It may be that my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did continually.
The father’s instinct is intercession, not surveillance only.
First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people.
Prayer is the first work, not the leftover.
I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling.
Men are told to pray without a quarrel in their hands.
NASB, the Amplified, and the ESV open on Bible Hub. The Legacy Standard Bible opens on its own reader. Close, Expanded, and Easy on this page are original study readings. WEB is the World English Bible, public domain.
Job does not pretend to see his children’s hearts. He says “it may be.” That humility is the start of a father’s prayers. You do not carry them by anxiety, and you do not abandon them to “their choice” as if you had no knees. You bring them to the God who does see.
Paul puts prayer first and then tells men to pray without anger. A devotional life that leaves your quarrels intact is the thing 1 Peter 3:7 already warned. Holy hands are not dramatic hands. They are hands that are not currently busy accusing the people you claim to lift up.
Make a list with names: wife, each child, one burden each. Pray it in the morning before you pick up the phone. Four minutes is enough to begin.
Once this week, pray with her rather than only for her. If that is awkward, the awkwardness is information. Start anyway, briefly, without a sermon inside the prayer.
Stays on this device. No account.
Father, I am not their priest in Christ’s place, and I am not free to be casual about their souls. Teach me to rise and pray. I bring you my wife and my children by name. Keep them. Forgive the anger I have carried into your presence. Hear me for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
Save a copy of your devotionals and week notes, or put a saved copy back. Nothing leaves this device until you save the file.