# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_2023_S90
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

Often when I am meeting with a family and things seem
hopeless or completely lost, I will hear them say; “Well
Pastor, I guess there is nothing left to do but pray.”
It’s tempting to treat prayer like it’s a last resort. But what if
instead we listen to Paul, who urges us or as the Greek says
(παρακαλῶ, para-kah-lo) or “exhorts” us to pray as a first
resort instead of our last?
First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers,
intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people.
(1 Tim. 2:1)
When I hear this, I reflect on my own prayer life. I realize just
how shallow my prayer life actually is. So often my prayers
and requests to God are all about what I want and what I
think that I need.
How often have you and I prayed, “Let thy will be done on
earth as it is in heaven.” But what we really mean is, “Let MY
will be done and do it this way and I prefer for you to do it
right now.”
If we are totally honest with ourselves, we must admit the
real problem is that we actually want to play God and we are
arrogant enough think that we know what is best for us.
Paul goes on to say that prayer
is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior,
who desires all people to be saved and to come to the
knowledge of the truth. (1 Tim. 2:3–4)
What greater prayer can you and I pray then to pray that all
people be saved and to know and believe in Jesus as their
crucified and risen Savior.
You see, when God says He desires all people to be saved, He
actually means all people. He means those who we disagree
with and those we did not vote for at this convention. Those
who look and think different than us, those who struggle
with addiction, identity, and belonging in this world. We are
to pray first, not as some afterthought. But we pray that all
would be saved and come to the knowledge of His truth.
Because we are all sinners in need of Christ the crucified.

90 | PROCEEDINGS OF THE 2023 (68TH) LCMS CONVENTION

Then Paul says:
[Pray] for kings and all who are in high positions, that
we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and
dignified in every way” (1 Tim. 2:2).
My encouragement is for us to leave here and continue to
pray for our government leaders and for leaders in our
beloved church, the LCMS; for all those who were elected by
this Synod in convention; for unity in the church here on
earth.
We also pray that we continue to be a faithful, confessional,
church body who always preaches the good news of Jesus
Christ crucified. Yes, pray that we stay true to our biblical
identity and our confession especially at a time when we see
the church being ridiculed, made fun of, and persecuted.
But you might be thinking, “Pastor, I pray all the time but I
still don’t have much peace in my life.” You see, when prayer
is our first resort, then we are praying with the Holy Trinity.
And when we pray with the Holy Trinity that is where we
find our true peace. Not the peace the world gives but the
peace that comes from knowing we are forgiven for all those
sinful thoughts, words, and deeds.
Because we have a Christ who was crucified.
Here is your one take away:
O what peace we often forfeit;
O what needless pain we bear—
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer. (LSB 770:1)
So, when you wake early in the morning because your mind
is racing and your heart is troubled, rest in the peace of your
Heavenly Father and His promises. Because when prayer
becomes our first resort everything works out according to
God our Father’s good and gracious promise; through the
love of His Son, Jesus the crucified, we are strengthened in
His Holy Spirit which is always for our good and for the
benefit of those Jesus has placed along our path.

Convention Sermons