Pray Without Wrath

# 62 Today's Prime Time Devo comes from: 1Ti 2:8, “I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting; (1 Tim 2:8) Paul's instructions to Timothy and the church regarding prayer might here be called the three “withouts” Last time we talked about the importance of dealing with our sins via repentance, confession, and absolution BEFORE we lift our hands to God in prayer. We ought to pray WITHOUT our sins clinging to us!. We also ought to pray WITHOUT wrath! The word wrath here is defined as someone who is seeking revenge. Revenge should never be our motivation for prayer. When you think about it, asking God to take revenge on a person or persons for actions they have taken against us is kind of silly. The matter of avenging is already in the hands of God. No need to worry about it. Ro 12:19 says, “ Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord.” We have several examples given to us in Scripture concerning this matter of praying without wrath. When the Samaritans refused to put up Jesus and His disciples, James and John were upset and wanted to pray for the wrath of God to come down on them, "Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?" 55 But He turned and rebuked them, and said, "You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. 56 "For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives but to save them." (Luke 9:54-56) Again, we are reminded of the major thrust of prayers directed to God as stated in v4, “ 1Ti 2:4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” This is why Jesus, (who had cause to pray for revenge as He died nailed to the cross prayed, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do,” and why Stephen, as the stones were bouncing off of his body and draining the life out of him prayed, Ac 7:60, "Lord, do not charge them with this sin." (Acts 7:60) When one considers what Jesus and Stephen endured from their enemies, and yet were able to pray for their forgiveness and consequent opportunities to come to faith, our own grievances against others seem rather petty. Let us remove all wrath as we pray for it is as Jesus reminded us in Mt 6:12,14, “ And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. 14 "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.