“It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you.  For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.  Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.”  
1 Thessalonians 4:3-8 (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 our prayer focus will be on God’s desire for His children to be set apart — sanctified.  We are instructed by scripture to not be of the world even as we live in the world.  I believe the key to being able to do that is to live a life that is truly set apart for God’s exclusive use.  As you pray this week, listen for how God would have you live in a way that honors His calling for you to be sanctified.  Continue to pray for one another each day.  Continue to pray for the work of our supported missions.  Continue to pray for the family.  View prayer as your first priority, not as the last resort.

“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)

Please spend time praying each day for God’s work of sanctification to be complete 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:  Sanctified by Truth.  Pray that you would spend consistent time in God’s Word so that its truth will stand out in your life.  “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.  As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.”  John 17:17-18 (NIV)

Tuesday:  Sanctified for an Inheritance.  Pray that you would always be mindful of the inheritance that awaits those who are being built up by God’s grace.  “Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.”  Acts 20:32 (NIV)

Wednesday:  Sanctified by Faith.  Pray that your faith in Jesus will set you apart to proclaim forgiveness of sins to those who would have their eyes opened.  “I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.”  Acts 26:17-18 (NIV)

Thursday:  Sanctified by the Holy Spirit.  Pray that you would pay attention to the work of the Holy Spirit in your life.  “I have written you quite boldly on some points, as if to remind you of them again, because of the grace God gave me to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles with the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.”  Romans 15:15-16 (NIV)

Friday:  Sanctified in Christ Jesus.  Pray that you would live as part of the body which has been sanctified in Christ Jesus.  “To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ — their Lord and ours.”  1 Corinthians 1:2 (NIV)

Saturday:  Sanctified by the God of Peace.  Pray that you would know a complete peace as one who has been thoroughly sanctified by God.  “May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”  1 Thessalonians 5:23 (NIV)