First of all

1 Timothy 2:1

I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men.

There are few true priorities in life. We may get confused when we have too many priorities, and when we have the wrong priorities. There can be no doubt that we often have misplaced priorities. Our priorities may include our own fleshly desires, or they may include entertainment or fun. They may include the things that we most enjoy. And although there is not sin in these things when they are properly placed, they should not be priorities. If something is a priority, it is something of primary importance. These things should not be of primary importance. If anything, they should be secondary. But what is primary? Well, there is no confusion needed on this subject, for God so clearly enumerates it for us. Prayer is of first priority! “I exhort therefore, that, first of all…” First of all! Prior to everything else! Before you do anything else! Before you begin to speak to others and about others; before you begin to form conclusions about others! Before you begin to develop a judgment of someone else, you should pray for them! Supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks should be made for all men! There is no one that we should not be praying for! We should be supplicating for others. This is an earnest entreaty. We should be interceding on their behalf as Christ so graciously intercedes on our behalf. And we should be giving thanks for those He has placed in our lives.

Now, who should be included on our prayer list? Kings, and all that are in authority! Those that form the laws of the land, and that lead us in a direction good or bad, ought to be prayed for by every sincere and diligent Christian. How else will we lead a quiet and peaceable life? Surely, if we do not pray for them, they may degenerate into the ungodliness and evil of this world. We must uphold them in prayer! This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior! And then we are given a broad group to pray for—all men! Why? Because He will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth! The Lord truly wants every man, woman, and child to be saved! Therefore we must pray for them! How else will they know except the Spirit of God guide them to a saving knowledge of Christ? We must pray for all men!

Dear Christian, we must ask ourselves sincerely, what are the priorities that we have placed in our lives? Every one has priorities! But there is no priority more important than this. If prayer is not a priority in your life, I adjure you, make it a priority this day, never to change that priority again! Let us consider the importance of prayer, that we are to do this first of all. If we are doing other things in our day before we speak to the Lord, we are doing things incorrectly. May the God of Heaven help us with this! First of all we must pray! Dear friend, begin a new life of prayer today!

“Dear Father, we thank you that we can speak to you at all times, and at any time. And we confess that we have often spoken to others first instead. Please forgive us for misplaced priorities. We want you to be the priority, and we want prayer to be of primary importance. Help us, Lord, to implement this truth today, that from this point and forward, we shall pray first of all. And we praise you for helping us with this. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.”