Saturday, October 17, 2015

Saturday, October 17, 2015

[by Keesha Sullivan]

I have to be honest about a few things in order to share the revelation God gave me some years back. There are some people that I have encountered in life that I just didn't think God wanted in heaven. These people might have been bullies, into witchcraft and even into seriously causing harm to others. For a very long time, I took on David's mind frame. David called these people "the wicked." In his psalms he would write things like, "But the wicked will perish: The Lord's enemies will be like the beauty of the fields, they will vanish--vanish like smoke" (Psalm 37:20).

In the Scripture we read today, God's heart is revealed:  "First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people...This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth" (1 Timothy 2:1, 3, 4).  God clearly tells us He wants us to intercede on the behalf of others. He wants us to cry out for all of the lost people no matter how mean they've been, how many people they have hurt or the evil practices they might have participated in. God wants us to pray for them. It is God's will for "ALL men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth" (1 Timothy 2:4).  If this is God's heart, how do I make it my heart's desire too?

I believe God actually gives us the answer right in this scripture. The Lord says for us to make supplications, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving for ALL people. When I pray for the people that have hurt me (or my loved ones) the most, my heart is softened. My heart's desire easily aligns with my Father's desire. God is calling us to be like Him and to truly love and pray for everyone, that they ALL might spend eternity with Him.

Lord, please give us a heart for the lost. Please give us a heart for those that the true enemy, Satan, has deceived. Please give us a heart of prayer and love so that we might see EVERYONE we encounter come to know You. We love You, Father. We thank You for giving us the supernatural power that we need in order to love others and to honor You.