“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

 This week’s prayer focus:  Comfort!

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.”
2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (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 ways that God comforts us and on the purpose of His Comfort!  As children of God, He comforts us not simply so that we are comforted but so we have a greater capacity to comfort others.  Pray that you would courageously take the message, and practice, of God’s comfort everywhere you go.   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: Comfort when facing Death.  Pray that the guidance and discipline of God would bring you comfort when the shadow of death surrounds you.  Pray that the people around you would be comforted by the presence of God when they mourn.  “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”  Psalm 23:4 (NIV)

Tuesday: Comfort during Suffering.  Pray that you would be comforted by God’s promises during times of suffering.  Pray that you would share God’s promises with the people around you who are suffering.  “My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.”  Psalm 119:50 (NIV)

Wednesday: Comfort in God’s Laws.  Pray that your knowledge of, and obedience to, God’s laws would bring you comfort.  Pray that you would comfort others through God’s laws.  “I remember your ancient laws, O LORD, and I find comfort in them.”  Psalm 119:52 (NIV)

Thursday: Comfort through God’s Love.  Pray that God’s love would fill you with great comfort.  Pray that you would have opportunity to share God’s love with others to bring comfort to them.  “May your unfailing love be my comfort, according to your promise to your servant.” Psalm 119:76 (NIV)

Friday: Comfort through our Relationship with Christ.  Pray that you would experience overflowing comfort through your relationship with Christ.  Pray that they comfort you have received will overflow into the lives of others.  “For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.”  2 Corinthians 1:5 (NIV)

Saturday:  Comfort through Forgiveness.   Pray that you would be comforted by forgiving and being forgiven.  Pray that your forgiveness of others would be a comfort to them.  “Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.” 2 Corinthians 2:7 (NIV)