Month: May 2014

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Lifestyle of Prayer: Remember!

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“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

 This week’s prayer focus: Remember!

“You will have these tassels to look at and so you will remember all the commands of the LORD, that you may obey them and not prostitute yourselves by going after the lusts of your own hearts and eyes.  Then you will remember to obey all my commands and will be consecrated to your God.”
Numbers 15:39-40 (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 some remembrances that God wants us to have.  Because many of us tend to be forgetful about a lot of things, throughout scripture God reminds us of the need to remember.  Pray that God would help you remember the things that you ought to so that you are an effective ambassador of His.  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 each day praying about, and writing down, how God would have you live out that day’s aspect of prayer.    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: Through Songs.  Pray that you would fill your mind with songs that help you remember the things of the Lord.  Pray that the people around you would be lifted up by your songs.  “I remembered my songs in the night.  My heart mused and my spirit inquired.” Psalm 77:6 (NIV)

Tuesday: God’s Deeds and Miracles.  Pray that you would not forget the mighty works of God from days of long ago, nor from your own days.  Pray that the people around you would hear of the mighty works of God from you.  “I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.” Psalm 77:11

Wednesday: God’s Laws.  Pray that you would find comfort in remembering the laws of God.  Pray that the people around you would know you as one who remembers God’s laws because they see you keeping them.  “I remember your ancient laws, O LORD, and I find comfort in them.”  Psalm 119:52 (NIV)

Thursday: God’s Name.  Pray that God’s name would always be on your mind as He draws you to follow His ways.  Pray that the people around you would see you as keeping God’s name holy.  “In the night I remember your name, O LORD, and I will keep your law.”  Psalm 119:55 (NIV)

Friday: God’s Warnings.  Pray that you would remember the warnings of Jesus when trouble comes so that you are prepared to trust Him.  Pray that the people around you would remember both the promises and warnings of God.  “I have told you this, so that when the time comes you will remember that I warned you. I did not tell you this at first because I was with you.”  John 16:4 (NIV)

Saturday:  The Lord’s Sacrifice.  Pray that you would always take the Lord’s Supper seriously as you remember the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.  “And when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, ‘This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.’  In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.’” 1 Corinthians 11:24-25 (NIV)

Lifestyle of Prayer: Purity
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Lifestyle of Prayer: Purity

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“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

 This week’s prayer focus: Purity!

“Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.”
2 Corinthians 7:1 (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 subject of purity.  It seems that most conversations and teaching about purity center around the topic of sexual purity.  While that is an important Biblical topic, I believe the Bible teaches that it is often the impurities in other aspects of our life that leads to sexual impurity.  The door of impure actions is often opened by having an impure heart, attitude, thought, or speech.  As you pray each day this week, pray for a greater desire for, and practice of,  the purity that God desires for you.  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 each day praying about, and writing down, how God would have you live out that day’s aspect of prayer.    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: Pure Fear of the Lord.  Pray that you would always live according to a pure fear of the Lord.  Pray that the people around you would come to know a fear of the Lord as the foundation for all purity.  “The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever.” Psalm 19:9 (NIV)

Tuesday: Pure Heart.  Pray that you would seek and allow God to create a pure heart within you.  Pray that the people around you would see your persistence in allowing God’s Spirit to purify your heart.  “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10 (NIV)

Wednesday: Pure Way.  Pray that you would be a faithful student of God’s Word for the purpose of keeping your way pure.  Pray that the people around you would come to know God’s Word as a protection to keep their life pure.  “How can a young man keep his way pure?  By living according to your word.”  Psalm 119:9 (NIV)

Thursday: Pure Speech.  Pray that God’s guard over your mouth would keep your speech pure in all situations.  Pray that the people around you would hear a consistent message of your faith as you ask God to watch what comes from your lips.  “Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips.”  Psalm 141:3 (NIV)

Friday: Pure Thoughts.  Pray that your thoughts would only be of things that are pleasing to  God.  Pray that the people around you would understand how important their thought life is and that nothing you do would cause them to have impure thoughts.  “The LORD detests the thoughts of the wicked, but those of the pure are pleasing to him.”  Proverbs 15:26 (NIV)

Saturday:  Pure Actions.  Pray that God would help you to see how your actions are reflecting Him to the world.  Pray that the people around you will know you as God’s child because of the way you live your life.  “Even a child is known by his actions, by whether his conduct is pure and right.” Proverbs 20:11 (NIV)

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Lifestyle of Prayer: Revival

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“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

 This week’s prayer focus: Revival!

“When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
2 Chronicles 7:13-14 (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.  Most Christians seem to be in agreement that we need revival in our land.  With such agreement, it would seem that we should be experiencing revival on a daily basis!  This week we will pray about various aspects of God reviving us as individuals so that our land is revived through the presence of Christ living in us.  As you are growing in the practice of prayer, I also encourage you to grow in the practice of journaling your prayers, your requests, your praises, and make note of how you see God working in each.  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 each day praying about, and writing down, how God would have you live out that day’s aspect of prayer.    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: Revived to Call on the name of God.  Pray for a steadfast faith that constantly calls upon the name of the Lord.  Pray that the people around you today would see God’s face shining upon you.  “Then we will not turn back from You; Revive us, and we will call upon Your name.  Restore us, O Lord God of hosts; Cause Your face to shine, And we shall be saved!” Psalm 80:18-19 (NKJV)

Tuesday: Revived by God’s Word.  Pray that you would turn to God’s Word for revival in times you feel down.  Pray that the people around you today would recognize God’s Word alive in your life.  “My soul clings to the dust; Revive me according to Your word.” Psalm 119:25 (NKJV)

Wednesday: Revived in God’s Way.  Pray that you would be revived in God’s way as you turn away from all that is worthless.  Pray that the people around you would see you walking in God’s way.  “Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things, And revive me in Your way.”  Psalm 119:37 (NKJV)

Thursday: Revived in Righteousness.  Pray that your desire for God’s laws would revive His righteousness in you.  Pray that the people around you today would recognize God’s precepts at work in your life.  “Behold, I long for Your precepts; Revive me in Your righteousness.”  Psalm 119:40 (NKJV)

Friday: Revived according to God’s Justice.  Pray that your cries to God would seek for Him to make things right in your life.  Pray that the people around you today would look to God for true justice.  “Hear my voice according to Your lovingkindness; O Lord, revive me according to Your justice.”  Psalm 119:149 (NKJV)

Saturday:  Revived according to God’s Loving-kindness.  Pray that your love of God’s laws would revive you according to His love.  Pray that the people around you would see God’s love through your obedience to His precepts.  Consider how I love Your precepts; Revive me, O Lord, according to Your lovingkindness.” Psalm 119:159 (NKJV)

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Lifestyle of Prayer: PRAYER

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“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

 This week’s prayer focus: PRAYER!

“When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
2 Chronicles 7:13-14 (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.  As we come off of the National Day of Prayer and a prayer emphasis I was privileged to lead, this week we will return to the instructions given to Solomon for God’s people to know how to return to Him when they have strayed.  As you are growing in the practice of prayer, I also encourage you to grow in the practice of journaling your prayers, your requests, your praises, and make note of how you see God working in each.  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 each day focused around the various elements of faith that God calls us to — and has put within us.  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 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: Pursue.  Spend time with God considering, even writing out, what it would look like for you to pursue God wholeheartedly.  Pray that your whole heart would be involved in seeking God.  “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”  Jeremiah 29:13 (NIV)

Tuesday: Repent.  As you pray, listen for God to reveal not just actions but even thoughts for which you need to turn to Him in repentance.  Pray that you would turn to God for the strength and courage to change the things that need changed in your life.   “Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart.”  Acts 8:22 (NIV)

Wednesday: Act.  Spend the necessary time listening to God so that your prayers result in God-led action.  Pray that you would see and respond to the opportunities that God gives you.  “If one of you says to him, ‘Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?”  James 2:16 (NIV)

Thursday: Yield.  Empty yourself daily of your will so that the focus of your prayers would be fully yielded to God.  Pray that God’s will would not only be done, but that it is your priority.  “He went away a second time and prayed, ‘My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.'”  Matthew 26:42 (NIV)

Friday: Encourage.  Pray that you would be filled with, and share, encouragement as you cry out to God as a way of life.  Pray for wisdom in using the stories of your struggles to encourage others.  “You hear, O LORD, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry.”  Psalm 10:17 (NIV)

Saturday:  Rejoice!  Recognize, and rejoice, in the greatness of God being found by all who would seek Him.  Pray for a heart that constantly rejoices as you live in the presence of God.  “Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.”  Psalm 105:3 (NIV)