“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)