Praying Through God’s Word: 1 Timothy
1 Timothy 1:1-2:15
“Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance” (1 Timothy 1:15). Help us, Lord, to receive this Gospel truth – and to have this Gospel testimony: “I received mercy … the grace of our Lord overflowed for me” (1 Thessalonians 1:13-14). Help us to say, “I am not ashamed of the Gospel; it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith”; “God forbid that I should glory except in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 1:16 & Galatians 6:14). Help us to be “eager to preach the Gospel” (Romans 1:15).
1 Timothy 3:1-4:16
What are we to believe? How are we to behave? Lord, these are very important questions. We’re not only to believe the right things. We’re to live the right way. Help us to be “nourished in the words of the faith” so that we “may know how one ought to behave in the household of God” (1 Timothy 4:6 & 3:15). Help us to “watch our life and doctrine closely” (1 Timothy 4:16). Be real to us, Lord, in every part of life: “Fill Thou our life, O Lord our God, in every part with praise – Not for the lip of praise alone nor even the praising heart, I ask, but for a life made up of praise in every part.”
1 Timothy 5:1-6:21
Lord, there have been disappointments in life. “Some have already strayed after Satan.” Many “have wandered away from the faith.” They have not found happiness. They “have pierced their hearts with many griefs” (1 Timothy 5:15 & 6:9-10). What are we to do? How can we be victorious in this spiritual battle? We must “give the enemy no opportunity to slander us.” We must take care how we live – so that “God’s Name … may not be slandered” (1 Timothy 5:14 & 6:1). Help us, Lord, to live a life of “godliness”, a life that is based on “the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ”