Month: November 2014

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Lifestyle of Prayer: Giving!

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“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

 

This week’s prayer focus:  Giving!

“In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.'”
Acts 20:35

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 prepare to begin a study series on taking God at His word, we will focus our lifestyle of prayer this week on Giving.  While giving can be a controversial topic to speak about in many churches, our giving is something we ought to speak with God about on a regular basis!  Just as we’ve been talking about the need for prayer to be a lifestyle, giving ought to be a way of life for every believer as well. 

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 for God’s direction in responding to that day’s giving focus.  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: Give To Those in Need.  Pray that you would recognize the expectation of Jesus that you give to the needy without seeking notice.  Pray that God would help you find ways to truly help those in need.  “But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.”  Matthew 6:3 (NIV)

Tuesday: Give What You Owe.  Pray that you would not overlook any area of what you owe as you give.   Pray that God would use you as a blessing to others as you give what you owe.  “Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.”  Romans 13:7 (NIV)

Wednesday: Give Cheerfully.  Pray that you would listen intently to God so that your giving is done with cheerful obedience because you “get to”.  Pray that your cheerfulness in giving would be a genuine expression of thanksgiving to God.  “Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”  2 Corinthians 9:7 (NIV)

Thursday: Give Thanks.  Pray that God would continue to grow within you a heart of thanksgiving in all that you do.  Pray that you would learn to give thanks in all circumstances.  “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”  Colossians 3:17 (NIV)

Friday: Give An Answer.  Pray that your life in Christ is lived in a way that people notice and that you are ready to give an answer about your hope.  “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.”  1 Peter 3:15 (NIV)

Saturday:  Give Everything.  Pray that God would reveal to you anything you have held back from His control and then fully surrender it to Him.  “In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.”  Luke 14:33 (NIV)

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Lifestyle of Prayer: Give Thanks!

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“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

 

This week’s prayer focus:  Give Thanks!

“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

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 approach the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday, it seems fitting that this week’s prayer focus is on being thankful.  It is  too easy to let the cares of the world steal our joy and thankfulness, so this week we will pray about a variety of reasons to be thankful as well as things to be thankful for.  God connects our attitudes and conversations with one another with our life of thankfulness to Him.  Pray each day for the individuals of Deer Run as well as the body of Deer Run.  Continue to use the prayer guides/lists from the past weeks.

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 for God’s direction in responding to that day’s thankfulness focus.  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: Thankful for Faithful Reputation.  Thank God for those people who inspire you because of their reputation of faith in Jesus.  Pray that you would be one whose faithful reputation inspires others.  “First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world.”  Romans 1:8 (NIV)

Tuesday: Thankful for Changed Lives.  Thank God for the desire and strength to turn from sin and  live obediently to the truth.  Pray that the people around you would wholeheartedly obey the teaching of the gospel.  “But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted.”  Romans 6:17 (NIV)

Wednesday: Thankful for Received Grace.  Thank God for His amazing grace that He offers to all who would accept it and recognize it is that same grace that allows you to be thankful for the people around you.  Pray that the people around you would see God’s grace extended through you.  “I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus.”  1 Corinthians 1:4 (NIV)

Thursday: Thankful for Real Victory.  Thank God for the victory over sin and death, as well as for the daily victories, through Jesus.  Pray that the people around you would experience true victory through a relationship with Jesus.  “But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”  1 Corinthians 15:57 (NIV)

Friday: Thankful for Shared Concern.  Thank God that He draws believers to a common concern for one another and pray that you would always remember it.  Pray that you would be filled with a concern for others.  “I thank God, who put into the heart of Titus the same concern I have for you.”  2 Corinthians 8:16 (NIV)

Saturday:  Thankful for Generous Giving.  Thank God for the ability, and opportunity, to supply the needs of one another through His provision.  Pray that your giving would cause others to give thanks to God.  “This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.”  2 Corinthians 9:12 (NIV)

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Lifestyle of Prayer: Weakness!

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“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

 

This week’s prayer focus:  Weakness!

“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 focus on praying about some things that God says about Weakness.  God’s view of weakness seems to be radically different from that of most people today.  In the times when I am overcome with weakness, I need to remember the help that God gives through His Spirit, His power, and His people.  As you pray this week, jot down situations where you know you have seen God use your weakness for His glory.  Make a note of weakness that you continue to struggle with seeing how God will ever use them.  Write down ways that you can be a help and encouragement to the people around you who also struggle with their weaknesses.  Pray that you would seek God with the action steps you need to take in each of those journaled areas.  Continue to use the prayer guides/lists from the past weeks.

“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.  And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.”
Romans 8:26-27 (NIV)

Please spend time praying each day for God’s direction in responding to that day’s weakness focus.  With that focus in mind, pray for yourself, your family, your friends, neighbors, and all the other “one anothers” in your life.  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: Our Weakness in Prayer Helped by the Spirit.  Pray that you would trust the Spirit to know your heart in prayer when you struggle with the words to use.  “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.”  Romans 8:26 (NIV)

Tuesday: Boasting in Weakness.  Pray that you would use God’s working in your weaknesses as opportunities to tell others about the power of Jesus.  Pray that any boasting you do would be based on God’s glory and not yours.  “If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.”  2 Corinthians 11:30 (NIV)

Wednesday: Grace that is Sufficient for our Weakness.  Pray that you would trust and allow God’s power to be perfected in your weakness through His grace.  “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”  2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)

Thursday: Delighting in Weakness that Makes us Strong.  Pray that you would learn to see the value of weaknesses and difficulties to show the strength of Christ to the world.  “That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”  2 Corinthians 12:10 (NIV)

Friday: Living by God’s Power through Weakness.  Pray that you would live according to the power of the resurrection in the midst of your weaknesses.  “For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God’s power. Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God’s power we will live with him to serve you.”  2 Corinthians 13:4 (NIV)

Saturday:  One who Understands our Weakness.  Pray that you would always cast all your cares on Jesus, the one who understands and sympathizes with our weaknesses.  “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are–yet was without sin.”  Hebrews 4:15 (NIV)

 

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Lifestyle of Prayer: Protection Revisited!

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“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 again pray for wisdom to properly use the armor God has given us.  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” in your life.  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: Protected by 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: Protected by 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: Protected by the 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: Protected by 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: Protected by 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:  Protected by the 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.

 

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Lifestyle of Prayer: Peace Revisited (Week 2)!

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“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

 

This week’s prayer focus:  Peace!

“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. I have not often repeated these weekly prayer guides, but this week is a return to the second part of a two-week focus on praying for peace from God’s perspective because I need the reminder.  It seems nearly everyone loves the idea of peace, but few actually obtain it because we want peace according to our definition and standards rather than God’s.  Use the suggestions each day but most of all allow God’s Word to soak into your life and direct how you pray and who you pray for.  As you pray, pay attention to any changes and/or actions God would be calling you to make in that area.  Pray for a unity of spirit among believers in general and among your church family in particular.  View prayer as your first priority, not as the last resort.  Continue to use the prayer guides/lists from the past weeks.

“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.  Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.  Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” 
Ephesians 4:1-3 (NIV)

” 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: Choose peace.  Pray for courage to choose peace whenever possible.  Pray that the peace you choose would be contagious.  “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”  Romans 12:18 (NIV)

Tuesday: Work at peace.  Pray for the strength to continually work at peace.  Pray that your efforts would lead to peace for yourself and others.  “Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.”  Romans 14:19 (NIV)

Wednesday: Live in peace.  Pray for a unity among believers that will help each one to live in peace.  Pray that God’s peace would be evident to others.  “Finally, brothers, good-by. Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.”  2 Corinthians 13:11  (NIV)

Thursday: Spirit produced peace.  Pray that peace would be an obvious part of the fruit God’s Spirit is producing in you.  Pray that you would not be a hindrance to peace.  “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”  Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV)

Friday: Peace beyond understanding.  Pray for peace to exist in times when the world would say peace makes no sense.  Pray that this peace will guard your heart and mind during times of struggle.  “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 4:7 (NIV)

Saturday:  Peace from discipline.  Pray that you would allow God’s discipline in your life to produce a harvest of peace.  Pray that the training you receive at God’s hand would spread peace to others.  “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”  Hebrews 12:11 (NIV)