Friday... It can be detest or delight.

I'm sure you don't want to have someone detest you but delight is another story, isn't it? It sure does make a difference in our relationship with them, doesn't it?

Well Proverbs 15:8 (NLT) says, "The Lord detest the sacrifice of the wicked, but he delights in the prayers of the upright." The Message says, "God can't stand pious poses but he delights in genuine prayer." He knows if we are genuine and he delights in genuine prayers. "He delights in the prayers of the upright." Being upright and praying genuine prayers makes a difference in our relationship with God. It really does.

Have you ever had someone be overly nice to you and you know they don't mean it? Verse 3 says, "God doesn't miss a thing - he's alert to good and evil alike." We can't fool God.

Now Paul in his first letter to young Timothy says this in 2:1-4 (NLT). He says, "I urge you, first of all to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth." Prayer pleases him.

1 Timothy 2:1-3 in The Message says, "The first thing I want you to do is pray." Make it a priority. "Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know." Pray by name for people you know. It will make a difference. "Pray especially" make this a priority. "for rulers and their government to rule well" we may need to ask forgiveness here for our attitude, remember he wants us not to be pious, "so we can be quietly about our business of living simply, in humble contemplation." What if we did that? "This is the way our Savior God wants us to live."

Again, Proverbs 15:8 (NLT) says, "The Lord detest the sacrifice of the wicked, but he delights in the prayers of the upright." And then Paul to Timothy and to us, "I urge you, first of all to pray for all people." Let's do it and then see the difference in us and them. Yes, yes! #todaysbeginnings

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Todays Beginning

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