Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity. I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. (1 Timothy 2:7-8)
Have you ever prayed “angry prayers?” You know you are called to pray for someone, but you end up praying against them instead? Maybe you are upset at the actions of a political leader, so you pray for them to be removed from office. Possibly you are upset at a boss or co-worker, so your prayer is about them losing their job. We have all had moments when our emotions and personal opinions have put us in a negative attitude, but the problem is when a believer stays in that negative attitude, we step away from our authority.
Paul wrote that when we pray, we are to do so without wrath. That means we can be honest with God about how you feel and what is happening, but you also try to see the person and the situation the way God sees it, not through the lens of your own feelings.
You may feel passionate about your position against someone, but God wants us to be more passionate about doing His Word.
Paul not only wrote that we are to pray without wrath, but also without doubting. We shouldn’t pray in unbelief, wondering if God is going to respond! We pray passionately, knowing God hears you, and since He hears you, you know that you have whatever you’ve asked of Him.
Practical Application
Don’t pray with anger and don’t doubt that God will move because of who you are praying for. Decide to be more passionate about doing the Word than you are about your opinions of the people for whom you pray.