“A Lifestyle of Prayer” 

 This week’s prayer focus: Listen!

“My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,  for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.”  
James 1:19-20 

“Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Ephesians 5:19-20 

A Lifestyle of Prayer should be just that — a lifestyle, not simply an event.  View prayer as your first priority, not as the last resort.  It is my prayer that these weeks of “topical” prayer guides have been training and equipping you in the practice of prayer.  This week we will focus on around the subject of Listening.  Some might say that listening has become a lost art.  However, if you study what the Bible says about listening, you will find that mankind has never done very well at it.  As you pray, listen for what God would have you to do.  

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 6:18 (NIV)

Please spend time praying each day about God’s call to be one who would listen.  With that focus in mind, pray for yourself, your family, your friends, neighbors, and all the “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: With Understanding.  Pray that God would   give you understanding as you listen so that you hear what is meant as well as what is said.  “Jesus called the crowd to him and said, ‘Listen and understand.’”  Matthew 15:10

Tuesday: For Reconciliation.  Pray for the strength and courage to listen in the midst of conflict so that reconciliation is possible.  “If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.”  Matthew 18:15

Wednesday: To the Son.  Pray that you would understand the importance that God places on you actually listening to His Son.  “A voice came from the cloud, saying, ‘This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.’”  Luke 9:35

Thursday: Patiently.  Pray that you would always listen with patience and that those you share the gospel with would also listen patiently.  “. . . and especially so because you are well acquainted with all the Jewish customs and controversies. Therefore, I beg you to listen to me patiently.”  Acts 26:3

Friday: Eagerly.  Pray that you would learn to listen first to God, and to others, when your tendency may be to speak without hearing what is being said.  “My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.”  James 1:19

Saturday:  For Instruction.  Pray that your listening has purpose — that you put into practice the things God says to do.  “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”  James 1:22