priority

There is a wonderful anagram for learning the basic parts of prayer using the word "ACTS".

A = Adoration

C = Confession

T = Thanksgiving

S = Supplication

Although supplication (intercession for others) comes at the end of this anagram, supplication, intercession and petition for others should be one of our top priorities when we pray. Paul said, "I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone..." (I Timothy 2:1)

There is a wonderful parable about a ship that was wrecked during a storm at sea. Only two of the men who were on it were able to swim to a small island. The two survivors, not knowing what else to do, agreed that they had no other recourse but to pray to God. However, to find out whose prayer was more powerful, they agreed to divide the territory between them and stay on opposite sides of the island. The first thing they prayed for was food.

The next morning, the first man saw a fruit-bearing tree on his side of the land, and he was able to eat its fruit. The other man's parcel of land remained barren.

After some days, the first man was lonely and he decided to pray for a wife. The next day, another ship was wrecked, and the only survivor was a woman who swam to his side of the island. On the other side of the island, the second man had nothing. Soon the first man prayed for a house, clothes, and more food. The next day, all of these were given to him. However, the second man still had nothing.

Finally, the first man prayed for a ship, so that he and his wife could leave the island. In the morning, he found a ship docked at his side on the island. The first man boarded the ship with his wife and decided to leave the second man on the island. He considered the other man unworthy to receive God's blessings, since none of his prayers had been answered.

As the ship was about to leave, the first man heard a voice from heaven booming: "Why are you leaving your companion on the island?"

"My blessings are mine alone, since I was the one who prayed for them," the first man replied. "His prayers were all unanswered and so he does not deserve anything."

"You are mistaken," the voice rebuked him. "He had only one prayer, which I answered."

"Tell me," the first man asked the voice, "what did he pray for that I should owe him anything?"

"He prayed that all your prayers be answered."

It is so easy to come to God with our fist-full of petitions and forget about the needs of others. We should pray for all of our needs and lay them at the feet of Jesus. However, we should also remember the words of Paul... "I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone..." (I Timothy 2:1,)