“A Lifestyle of Prayer” 

 This week’s prayer focus: The Fatherless!

“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)

“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”
James 1:27 (NIV)

As we continue to grow in A Lifestyle of Prayer, it is important to remember prayer should be a lifestyle, not an event.  View prayer as your first priority, not as the last resort.  This week we will focus our prayer emphasis on the fatherless. God has a lot to say about His concern for the fatherless or orphans. As we pray to be more Christ-like, we must pray that our response to the fatherless would be the same as God’s. There are many in our community who live as fatherless regardless of the presence of a dad in their life. Pray that God would equip us to help men to live as fathers and to be fathers for those who have none.  Pray each day for the individuals of the church congregation you attend as well as for the body of believers that meet together. 

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 about each day’s specific focus of your response to “the fatherless”. Pray for those on the front lines of representing Jesus to the fatherless — youth workers, school teachers, school counselors, school staff, coaches, and all others who have consistent contact with young people each day.  Thank you!

Sunday:  Pray for your church, its staff and leadership, and for all of the preaching and teaching that takes place.  Pray for me (Tom Lemler) and the work of Impact Prayer Ministry.

Monday: Defend. Pray for the courage to stand up for the fatherless when it comes to them having their needs met. “He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the alien, giving him food and clothing.” Deuteronomy 10:18 (NIV)

Tuesday: Provide Justice. Pray that you would make the most of every opportunity to see that the fatherless around you receive justice. “Do not deprive the alien or the fatherless of justice.” Deuteronomy 24:17 (NIV)

Wednesday: Rescue. Pray that you would have ears to hear the cries of the fatherless. As you hear their cries, pray that you would rescue them in their time of need.  “Because I rescued the poor who cried for help, and the fatherless who had none to assist him.” Job 29:12 (NIV)

Thursday: Help. Pray that you would accurately reflect the character of God as you provide help to the fatherless. “The victim commits himself to you; you are the helper of the fatherless.” Psalm 10:14 (NIV)

Friday: Sustain. Pray that God would fill you with an attitude of generosity as He provides ways for you to sustain the fatherless. Pray that you would be one to watch over their needs. “The LORD watches over the alien and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.” Psalm 146:9 (NIV)

Saturday: Show Compassion. Pray that your approach to the fatherless around you would be filled with the same compassion that God has for them. “We will never again say ‘Our gods’ to what our own hands have made, for in you the fatherless find compassion.” Hosea 14:3(NIV)