Supplication

In the extended time of prayer I was asked to take the subject on Supplication. The objective was to pray and bring our petition before the Lord.

I asked the people if they can recall of any prayer Jesus made for Himself. And rightly, almost all said that in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus asked if the cup can be removed. They were right. But actually Jesus was not even praying for Himself as if he needed something. His concerns the relations with the Father that will be lost when He was on the cross.

But my point was only 1% of Jesus prayer was for Himself. They rest were for the disciples, the world and us. Jesus hardly prayed for Himself.

Most of on the other-hand do not take prayer seriously and even if we do, they are all for "me, my and mine".

True supplication and intercession is mostly centered for the others. The Bible exhorts us:

• Phi 2:3-4 -Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.
• Mat 5:44 -"But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
• Luke 6:28 -bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
• 1 Tim 2:1-2 -First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.

What about our own needs:  

Only one simple rule -  Matthew 6:33 - But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

"The we take care of God's business, He will take care of our business"