I Timothy 2:1-8. Prayer and intercession are important tools of God's plan for his people. They have far more power than we have any way of knowing. James 5:16 tells us that "the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." The important thing to realize that as we continue in fellowship with him that we have the righteousness of Christ. We often find our prayers ineffective because we neglect to find out what God is about, and we become so tied up in our own things that our prayers lack the depth of faith and purpose that they need. To the extent that we remain focused upon him and hunger to be part of his kingdom in this world, to that extent we are going to find our prayers powerful and effective. The motive behind prayer for civil leaders is that we might live peaceful and godly lives in order that we may have the opportunity to testify and lead people to a saving faith in Jesus who is the one mediator between God and man. Paul reminds us that it is God's will for everyone to be saved. Verse five says, "I want all men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing." This would lead us to believe that his desire is that all of us be people of prayer. We can lift up holy hands as we keep our sins under the blood of Jesus and walk in fellowship with him and one another. We need to deal brutally with the anger that seems to so easily arise within us. We are not to deal with someone else's anger, but with our own.