Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercession, and giving of thanks be made for all men, (2) for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. (3) For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, (4) who desires  all men to he saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (5) For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, (6) who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time, (7) for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle – I am speaking the truth in Christ and not lying – a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth 

The first letter to Timothy was written by the apostle Paul as instruction in dealing with heresy in doctrine and practice in the ancient church – the Jews were indignant at the calling of the Gentiles who were made equal to themselves in the eyes of God. ( Paul had left Timothy in charge of the church at Ephesus.). In our verses today Paul is addressing the priority of prayer; but Paul is talking about the need for prayer and its relationship of salvation to the lost souls. There is one God who desires all men to be saved and has provided one mediator, Christ Jesus,  who has provided the ransom for all. Prayer that all people may be reached by the gospel is what Paul is telling Timothy is a priority.

No man is too far gone whom God’s Grace cannot reach.  No man does NOT NEED God’s Grace.  Maybe we can’t speak to someone about God but we can sure speak to God about sinners.  Paul’s reason for prayer for authorities and princes was not so we can have a tranquil life but so that the faithful can grow in godliness  and prayer is in line with Gods pleasure.  Praying for the unsaved is a serious calling.  Truth is the reliability of the gospel and faith is the means by which people appropriate the truth.

We are all ministers in faith and our prayers are not just a priority but mandatory.