Pray For All People

"Pray for all people.  Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them."

1 Timothy 2:1

Through the tears of dread and fear, God spoke: Pray.

As I attempted to fall asleep that May night of 2010, thankfulness of the family of God invaded my every thought.  Oh, how God had blessed me.  So many were praying and sending us off to a new land in a quest to follow God's plan.  My entire life had been comfy and cozy, surrounded by familiarity and all that seemed right.  In a matter of days, all I had ever known would become a memory and my new world would become uncomfortable and unfamiliar, surrounded by strangers and unknown places. 

But God continued to speak: Pray.

So many had poured into our lives filling our hearts as a sponge.  But now, our hearts overflowed and it was time to share those heavenly blessings with others.  The time had come to give back. God brought me to the place of conviction through 1 Timothy 2:1..."Pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them."

Through the next two years, God spoke: Pray.

Opportunities arose.  Needs became apparent.  Thanksgivings needed to be expressed.  The list began to grow...pray for her, pray for him, pray on this date...at this time.  And on a Sunday in July, it clicked.  As I listened to the word of God spoken, surrounded by the family of God, instruction came from the pulpit: "All those people you're praying for...double it!"  Once again, conviction tugged and pulled and yanked at my heart as I heard the familiar words of 1 Timothy: ..."Pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them."

God pressed on my heart: Pray.

A vision.  A dream.  A desire filled my heart.  The time has come to allow my prayers to ripple through my world.  However, not just my own world; but hopes that prayers would ripple through the endless waters of people in need or sick or adopting, those grieving or ministering or feeling weak.  Perhaps the lonely, poor or those needing to express joy.

God is urging us all: PRAY.

Please join me!  Listen to that loud whisper of the Holy Spirit and allow your prayers to ripple through your world.  Maybe we'll see results.  Maybe we won't...this side of heaven.  But it is time...for all of us...to double our prayers. 

God desires us to PRAY!!

If you would like to join the "Ripples" team, please contact me at bagraybeal@gmail.com