----God's Calling Us to Encourage Others ~~

--"Since prayer is at the bottom of all this, what I want mostly is for men to pray--not shaking angry fists at enemies but raising holy hands to God"
---[1 Timothy 2:8 / msg] --

---THE APOSTLE PAUL took a disciple under his wing named Timothy. At the beginning of his letters to the young associate, Paul admitted that "grace mixed with faith and love poured over me and now into me, overcoming his background of persecuting those who followed Jesus. "And all because of Him," he added (1 Timothy 1:14/ msg). Paul said he was proof of Jesus's patience "to those who are right on the edge of trusting him forever" (1 Timothy 1:16).

I thought about Paul's words when listening to depressing news and watching the early presidential debates last year. I agreed with many statements, spoken and unspoken: the world was growing more dangerous times were changing; life was still precious. No matter who I listened to, each had a solution for the world's dilemma. At times, I felt both angry and discouraged but still reached for hope.

Inevitably I asked Jesus, "What's my part, Lord? What do I do?" Paul's letter to Timothy encouraged me to keep being faithful and to pray, not "shaking angry fists at enemies" or involving myself in needless controversy, but "raising holy hands" to Jesus.

--It's easy to walk the fence of faith, give up hope, or close our ears and eyes to our world's condition at times. Our main reply is to be faithful, praying in Jesus' Name, and speak His Word. ~~
---ODB/RJ