We are called to pray, not just for our friends or allies, but for all people. That call embraces an open-ended expectancy that is divorced from agenda and most preconceptions and is biased toward reconciling love.

Relief print of Daniel's prayer by Edward Poynter, 1865. Daniel 6 describes how Daniel prayed even though threatened with death, while Daniel 9 records a prayer that he prayed.

I heard the words of 1 Timothy 1:18-2:8 by a preacher on the internet last night in a call to prayer for our leaders. Without agenda and without know what I will see, I'd like to spend a moment of reflection upon them as those reflections come to me.

"Timothy, my son, I am giving you this command in keeping with the prophecies once made about you …"

The first thing I note is that the charge that is coming is both consistence with and a continuation of an original charge. There is nothing brand new here. This is all part of a larger calling.

"… so that by recalling them you may fight the battle well, holding on to faith and a good conscience …"

There is a functional purpose in the call to prayer that Paul is giving to his spiritual son. He needs this discipline in order to continue the battle he is in and to do so with a strong grip on faith and conscience.

So, Paul is telling Timothy three things in this portion of a sentence:

1. It is a battle. Fight on. Don't expect this work to be easy. Do not expect to do it without resistance to your message or without having to exercise resistance yourself, but as you do …

2. Fight with faith. Do not allow yourself to be overcome with discouragement.

3. Fight with integrity. Do not get sucked into the methodology of the great adversary. Do not fight fire with fire. Fight hate with love. Fight lies with truth. Fight injustice with justice. Maintain a good conscience.

"… which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck with regard to the faith."

Not everyone has taken this advice. Some have veered from the path in the middle of th work. They have forgotten their true center.

"Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme."

This is a troubling thought, but it is worth exploring. There could be a function for the accuser and prosecutor of our souls. Though he is not on our team or aligned with God's purposes, he can be coopted as a teacher. Balasphemy is the sin of profanity (not cussing), taking what is sacred and making it common and sacrriligous. Perhaps it can only be committed within the context of faith.

Satan cannot have the souls of these two men, but he can teach them through torment that life divorced from reverence for The Other, the Holy, is life without meaning, purpose, or drive.

"I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people …"

Pray for everyone. That is it.

What kind of prayer?

All kinds, every word of method you can think of. Even give thanks for them … even your opponents and critics.

"— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness."

If we had kings in our society, this would include them. We do have people in authority – limited authority, exercising the authority of the people in their designated roles. They can effect our lives and influence how peacefully and quietly we can live them in godliness and holiness.

When we pray for our enemies and friends in the midst of battle, we are praying also with the somehwat selfish motive that they can help create an environment where we can be ourselves in Christ with greater freedom. We can be ourselves as peopl seeking to reflect the godliness of God and the uniqueness that is holiness.

It is not that we love the battle. We long for peace.

We do not love the clamor. We long for quiet.

We pray for leaders that they will help create a society where we can participate, a community where every persob can live out their own destiny and express their own faith and convictions.

"This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth."

It is not just for us. It is for God. God is pleased when we identify with all people in loving prayer. It is for them because God is for them. He does not distinguish between classes and affiliations of people. He wants to gather all people to Himself. He wants all people to find truth and saving grace from Him.

"For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus…"

One God and one mediator means that we are one people and that the Jesus message is for all. It is a message of reconciliation and love. It is an inviting message. It is a message that is amplified in our loving prayers for people, for their well being, for the softening of their hearts, and for our ability to empathize with them

" … who gave himself as a ransom for all people."

This is the example of intercession for others, that Jesus gave Himself as a ransom. In prayer, we give ourselves for others. We empty ourselves of mere self-interest and seek the heart of God and the people who are close to the heart of God. We become participants with God, through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus in the word of mediation toward reconciliation.

"This has now been witnessed to at the proper time."

In time and space, this truth has been attested.

"And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle … "

Apostle means, "one who is sent."

Paul was sent to attest to the purpose of God and the outworking of that purpose in Jesus Christ with which we align ourselves in prayer. That purpose is to redeem and reconcile all people.

"—I am telling the truth, I am not lying—and a true and faithful teacher of the Gentiles."

Paul and Timothy are not living in an idyllic and protected environment. They are not a favored people, either as Jews in Jerusalem under some order of semi-protection of the Romans or as participants, among the gentiles, in the imperial cult of economic and political gain. They are outsiders and aliens in any culture.

The people and rulers for whom they pray are antagonistic against them. They stand as much against liefeless religion as they do against empire.

Still, Paul fully embraces the call to be a true and faithful teacher of the people who are least likely to "get it."

"Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray…"

Therefore … for this reason … the well being of your own lives and communities, the heart of God for people outside the fold of faith, and the eternal purpose of God to reconcile … for this reason, I want everyone to pray.

Pray this way:

"… lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing."

This is open-ended prayer without agenda or preconception.

This is open-hearted prayer where God shapes us.

This is prayer that does not preach to God or others.

This is prayer that seeks only what God seeks.

This is alignment prayer.

This is prayer that includes petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving.

It is the whole package and it takes everything we have and everything we are.

And we have no idea how it might change us as it changes our world.