“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

This week’s prayer focus:  On Guard

“No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.  Be on guard! Be alert ! You do not know when that time will come.  It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with his assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.   Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back — whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn.  If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping.  What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!'”
Mark 13:32-37 (NIV)

Anyone that has ever been in a battle understands the need for constant vigilance — to always be on guard.  But the truth is, we are all in a daily battle that is taking place over the eternal destination of our souls.  Paul writes of our need to wage war, not with the weapons of the world, but with the spiritual armor of God.  This week our prayer focus will be on our need to constantly be On Guard.  As you pray, ask God to help you be aware of the attempts of the enemy to destroy you.  Pray that your relationship with Jesus would fill you with His presence in a way that gives you the strength, wisdom, and courage to always be on guard.  Pray that your desire to know Christ and the power of His resurrection would be greater than any other desire you have.  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 how you are doing at living life On Guard.

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:  On Guard Against Betrayers.  Pray that God would protect your heart and mind from the damage caused by betrayers.  Pray that your trust of God would fill you with peace.  “Be on your guard against men; they will hand you over to the local councils and flog you in their synagogues.”  Matthew 10:17 (NIV)

Tuesday:  On Guard Against False Teaching.  Pray that God would help you to be devoted to His teachings so that false teaching would not deceive you.  “For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and miracles to deceive the elect — if that were possible.  So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time.”  Mark 13:22-23 (NIV)

Wednesday:  On Guard Against Hypocrisy.  Pray that God would surround you with people whose lives match their words.  Pray that you would always be on guard against the temptation to be someone different than who God says you are.  “Jesus began to speak first to his disciples, saying: ‘Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.’”  Luke 12:1 (NIV)

Thursday:  On Guard Against Greed.  Pray that you would always be on guard against the desire to measure yourself, and others, by the things that are owned.  “Then he said to them, ‘Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.’”  Luke 12:15 (NIV)

Friday:  On Guard Against Opposition.  Pray that God would help you to see the source of any opposition you face.  Pray that you would be on guard against those who would oppose the message of the gospel.  “Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done.  You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message.”  2 Timothy 4:14-15 (NIV)

Saturday:  On Guard Against Error.  Pray that the confidence you have in Christ would not make you blind to the temptation of error others may entice you with.  “Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position.”  2 Peter 3:17 (NIV)