“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

 This week’s prayer focus: Protection!

“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)

As we continue to grow in A Lifestyle of Prayer, it is important to remember prayer should be a lifestyle, not an event.  This week we will pray for wisdom to properly use the armor God has given us.  While it is nice to pray for physical protection, more importantly we will pray for spiritual protection as we put on, and use, the full armor of God.  Please note the closing verse — it’s all meant to be used in the context of continual prayer!  View prayer as your first priority, not as the last resort.  Continue to use the prayer guides/lists from the past weeks.

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.  Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.  Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.  Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,  and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.  In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.” 
Ephesians 6:10-18 (NIV)

Please spend time praying each day for godly wisdom in using the piece of armor listed.  With that focus in mind, pray for yourself, your family, your friends, neighbors, and all the other “one anothers” we’ve been praying for over the past weeks.  Thank you!

Sunday: Pray for Tom Lemler and the work God is doing through Impact Prayer Ministry.

Monday: Truth.  Pray that God would help you to speak truth in love.  Pray that He would lead you in removing any elements of falsehood from your life.  Pray that truth, God’s truth, would be central in the lives of each person you pray for today.

Tuesday: Righteousness.  Pray that you would be confident that the righteousness you have in Christ will protect your heart and soul.  Pray that God would help you to remove any sense that somehow you may have enough righteousness on your own.  Pray that righteousness, God’s righteousness, would be found in the life of each person you pray for today.

Wednesday: Gospel of Peace.  Pray that you would be filled with a peace that passes all understanding because of the gospel of Jesus.  Pray that God would help you to be a peacemaker as you live and share the gospel.  Pray that peace, God’s peace would fill each person you pray for today.

Thursday: Faith.  Pray that you would have an unwavering faith that will protect you from the accusations of Satan.  Pray that God will help you to deal with, and dismiss, any doubts that the enemy tries to plant in your mind.  Pray that faith, faith in God, will encourage each person you pray for today.

Friday: Salvation.  Pray that the salvation you have in Christ will protect your mind from the deceitfulness of Satan.  Pray that God would remind you that you are His when the enemy tries to convince you that God couldn’t save you.  Pray that salvation, God’s salvation, would be known by each person you pray for today.

Saturday:  Word of God.  Pray that you would be an active student of God’s Word.  Pray that you would allow His Spirit to instruct your understanding so that you would accurately handle the Word of God.  Pray that the Word of God would illuminate the life of each person you pray for today.