After comments encouraging Timothy to remain
steadfast in pastoring the church at Ephesus, Paul begins with the
most urgent thing on his mind—prayer. Believers are to pray at all
times and connect with God, who dwells in them (1 Thess. 5:16-18;
Rom. 8:26, 27). Biblical prayer isn’t random thoughts or wishful
thinking but a focused, soul-conversation with God (Col. 4:2; Phil.
4:6). Often, God allows believers to be ruled by the ungodly. But
Christians are to supplicate (Gr. deēsis, ‘to petition’) to God,
pray for, and be thankful for their rulers—praying God will change
their unbelief and use them. A Christian’s main weapon of political
and social change is prayer! Prayer aligns the hearts of believers
with God and moves the heart of God for believers. The purpose of
prayer is to bring God glory; the power of prayer is the ability to
change human history!