“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

This week’s prayer focus:  Repentance

“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
2 Peter 3:9 (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 our prayer emphasis will focus on repentance.  The Bible says all have sinned but the unfortunate truth is that we not only have sinned, we still sin even after coming to Christ.  Therefore, repentance is not only for the unsaved, but perhaps more importantly, it is for those of us who seek to walk with Christ daily.  Repentance is more than a change of action, although the Bible is clear that it must be visible in our actions.  It is a complete change of heart — a change of thinking about that which we are repenting of.  As you pray this week, pray that you would see the need for repentance in your life and that you would learn to see the things you are repenting of from God’s perspective. Pray for a unity of spirit among believers in general and among your church family in particular.  

“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 about the things you need to repent of, the attitude you should have in repentance, and the joyful benefit of repentance that can be seen in your deeds.  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:  Repent in Godly Sorrow.  Pray that the sorrow you experience when doing wrong would be Godly sorrow that leads you to repentance.  “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.”  2 Corinthians 7:10 (NIV)

Tuesday:  Repent in Obedience.  Pray that you would be obedient to God’s command to repent even of acts done in ignorance.  “In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.”  Acts 17:30 (NIV)

Wednesday:  Repent of Pride.  Pray that God would help you to identify and repent of all traces of sinful pride in your life.  “Then Hezekiah repented of the pride of his heart, as did the people of Jerusalem; therefore the LORD’s wrath did not come upon them during the days of Hezekiah.”  2 Chronicles 32:26 (NIV)

Thursday:  Repent of Wickedness.  Pray that  you would turn to God and repent of all aspects of wickedness — even wickedness that currently only resides in your thoughts.  “Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart.”  Acts 8:22 (NIV)

Friday:  Repent for Refreshment.  Pray that your repentance would bring a time of refreshment in your life as you experience the penalty of your sins being wiped away.  “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.’”  Acts 3:19 (NIV)

Saturday:  Repent for Restoration.  Pray that you would experience God’s restoration in your life as you turn to Him in repentance.  “Therefore this is what the LORD says: ‘If you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me; if you utter worthy, not worthless, words, you will be my spokesman.”  Jeremiah 15:19 (NIV)