Prayer

So, I got a letter with a return address ‘Citations Processing Center, Beverly, MA.’ I was very confused by the address and immediately thought, “What did I do wrong now?” And, that’s probably somewhat telling about me, but I honestly couldn’t imagine what I’d be cited for. Though I hoped that it was simply junk mail, inside I found a ‘Notice of Automated Traffic Citation’. Let me tell you, I was more than annoyed and immediately wanted to fight it. I told myself there is no way that was me, despite multiple pictures that were undoubtedly my vehicle with my license plate. And then I thought there was probably something wrong with their camera system. And I just knew that if I fought it, I could probably get off with a smaller fine or dropped altogether.
But then I got to thinking: is it actually me? Well, yes, there is no doubt it was me. It was my car. I was in that location at the time mentioned on the ticket. But then I wondered, was I really going 13 MPH over the speed limit at that time? Well, that’s where I’m not sure. But...I probably was. I tend to go a little speedier on those long trips.
And so, as I processed this, as much as I still want to fight it, I found myself acknowledging that the ticket was probably accurate and I was therefore guilty. I had sped and was caught. Albeit I am actually against traffic cameras on principle, that doesn’t give me the right to not pay my due.
And I’ve wrestled with personal rights and liberties a lot lately. In fact, I read this verse this week that had me pause again. 1 Timothy 2.1-2 says, “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.” What I understand being said here is that in all things, first pray. And not just pray, but pray, pray, pray and pray some more. And after we’ve prayed 4 times over, he challenges us specifically who to pray for. First, it’s all people, but then specifically kings and others in high position. And then he tells us, that those prayers should lead us to peaceful, quiet lives that are godly and dignified.
Now, I think there’s a lot happening here, but what obviously sticks out the most is prayer. Pray, pray and then when you think you’ve prayed enough, pray again. Oh, and then again. It would seem that prayer is the beginning of a peaceful and quiet life. And so, when we find ourselves questioning the ‘right’ thing to do, especially when it comes to our ‘rights’, let’s make sure we pray. Pray. Pray. Pray. God bless.