“A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.”  
Luke 6:40 (NIV) 

As we continue to grow in A Lifestyle of Prayer, it is important to remember prayer should be a lifestyle, not an event.  This week our prayer focus will be on Spiritual Training.  To be like Jesus, we must be fully trained by Jesus and live according to that training.  I believe this is a great follow-up to last week’s focus on living a life that is truly set apart for God’s exclusive use.  As one who is sanctified, your training will equip you to daily live a life that reflects the One who is training you.  As you pray this week, listen for how God would have you live a life of continual spiritual training.  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) 

Extra Prayer Focus:  Pray each day this week that the bureaucratic red-tape surrounding a new drug, GM604, would be dissolved so that individuals with ALS, such as my friend Anita, would be allowed the chance to see if it would help them.

Please spend time praying each day for God’s work of spiritual training to be present 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:  Trained to be like your Teacher.  Pray that you would pay close attention to where your training is coming from.  Pray that you would become more like Jesus because you are being trained by His Word.  “A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.”  Luke 6:40 (NIV)

Tuesday:  Trained for an Eternal Crown.  Pray that you would not lose sight of the results to be had through your spiritual training.  “Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.”  1 Corinthians 9:25 (NIV)

Wednesday:  Trained in Godliness.  Pray that you would train your mind and body to be godly in all things.  “Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly.  For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”  1 Timothy 4:7-8 (NIV)

Thursday:  Trained by Scripture.  Pray that God’s Word would be the standard for all of your spiritual training.  “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”  2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV)

Friday:  Trained to Distinguish Good from Evil.  Pray that your constant exposure to the things of God would help you to easily know the difference between something that is good and something that is evil.  “But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.”  Hebrews 5:14 (NIV)

Saturday:  Trained by Discipline.  Pray that you would understand, and welcome, God’s discipline in your life as part of your spiritual training.  “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)