Life Principle 27
Prayer is life’s greatest time saver. (2 Thess 3:1)
Prayer is life’s greatest time saver. (2 Thess 3:1)
Life’s Questions
You wake up knowing that you can’t waste a second because there are so many demands on your life. Your heart and mind begin to race. There just isn’t enough time to get it all done, you tell yourself. As your feet hit the floor, you may be tempted to take off running so that you can engage the frenzy of activity that awaits you. But don’t. You need to stop and pray.
Of course, prayer may be one of the things that you’ve decided to sacrifice to squeeze a few more minutes into your day. You may think, I’m sorry, God, I just can’t stop. However, understand that you cannot afford to leave God out of your planning. As Life Principle 27 teaches, Prayer is life’s greatest time saver. If you want to make the most of every moment, you must begin your day with the One who holds every second of your life in His hand.
What the Bible Says
Read 2 Thessalonians 1:3–12. What event is on Paul’s mind as he writes to the Thessalonians (2 Thess 1:7-10)?
What is Paul’s prayer for the Thessalonian believers (2 Thess 1:11-12)?
Read 2 Thessalonians 2:1–7. How would the Thessalonians know that the Day of Christ had arrived (2 Thess 2:3-4)?
*** The church at Thessalonica was a young, thriving church that was composed mainly of Gentiles. However, increasing persecution and false teachers who were distorting the truth caused the Thessalonians to worry that they had missed the Second Coming of Christ.
Why do you think God restrains the power of lawlessness (2 Thess 2:6-7; also see 2 Peter 3:7–9)?
Read 2 Thessalonians 2:8–12. Why do you think God allows the lawless one to be revealed before the Lord destroys him (2 Thess 2:12; also see Matt. 13:41–43; 24:7–14).
Read 2 Thessalonians 3:1–5. Knowing that Paul is thinking about the condemnation that awaits the unrighteous (see 2 Thess 2:12), what does he ask from the brethren (2 Thess 3:1-2)?
Instead of fretting about spreading the gospel to the whole world, what does Paul draw confidence from (2 Thess 3:3)?
What was Paul counting on concerning other believers (2 Thess 3:5)?
What It Means
Paul knew Christ’s command that believers were to be His witnesses “to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8). He also realized that, before Christ returns, the “gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world” (Matt. 24:14). Because Jesus told the disciples, “There are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:27), and the persecution of believers was spreading, many thought that Christ’s return was immanent. There was so much to do—so many people to reach and churches to plant—that Paul must have felt overwhelmed by the task, especially with all the obstacles that confronted believers.
However, he knew that God could get it done. If Paul stayed in constant communication with the Lord through prayer, God would maximize his time and give him the wisdom and energy needed to accomplish his part of the mission.
Life Examples
Read Philippians 4:4–7. Why does Paul encourage you to remain calm, gentle, and joyful in the Lord (Phil 4:4-5)?
What are you to do instead of fretting over your troubles (Phil 4:6)?
Why does giving your concerns over to God give you peace (Phil 4:7)?
*** Certainly, God has heard me; He has attended to the voice of my prayer. Blessed be God, who has not turned away my prayer, nor His mercy from me! (Ps. 66:19–20)
Living the Principle
Whatever it is you need to accomplish may seem overwhelming and unfeasible to you. However, “Things which are impossible with men are possible with God” (Luke 18:27). God knows everything that will happen to you today, and He knows the best way for you to handle your tasks. Therefore, you must spend time listening to Him in prayer, receiving His wisdom and direction, and drinking in His presence and power. Be quiet before Him, rest in Him, and allow Him to order your steps. He will keep you from moving in the wrong direction or from wasting your time doing useless things. He will slow you down to accomplish the activities that require caution and precision, and give you the speed to move through the things that are less important. He will also steer you clear of the time traps you should avoid.
Are you willing to stop and listen to Him? Are you ready for Him to make you as fruitful as you possibly can be? Whether you face a fairly calm day or a day full of activity, commit yourself to His schedule and guidance through prayer. You’ll find that your time with God is the best investment that you make every day.
God will answer our prayers as soon as it is best for us.
How will you live out Life Principle 27 this week? Discuss times when you’ve committed your day to God and He accomplished amazing things through you. Then spend time in prayer, asking God to draw you into intimate communion with Himself and to transform your life, so that you can affect the world for the sake of His kingdom.
Life Lessons to Remember
- God will answer our prayers in the way and timing that is absolutely best for us (see Matt. 21:21–22)?