“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

This week’s prayer focus:  Instruction!

“The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them.”
Matthew 21:6 (NIV)

This week’s prayer focus is on the topic of instruction.  It seems most people don’t like to take, or follow, instruction but everyone is more than happy to give it.  You’re probably familiar with the saying, “If all else fails, read the instructions.”  While somewhat humorous on the surface, far too many Christians try to live their daily walk in such a manner.  We do things on our own and it is not until we are in trouble or “all else has failed” that we bother to read God’s Word and/or pray.  God has a lot to say — not only in the instruction directed toward us, but in the how and why we ought to give and receive instruction.  The disciples had their moments of doubt and responses to Jesus that were less than ideal, but more often than not their response when directly asked by Jesus to do something was, “because you said so, I will do it.”  We spend so much time trying to justify why we don’t follow instructions that I imagine God longs to hear that response from us, “Because You say so, I will do it.”  As you pray this week, ask God to help you joyfully follow His instruction.  Pray that you would be actively involved in passing His instruction along to others.  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 instruction from God that you need to follow and share with others.

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.  Pray for the opportunity I have coming up in a week to put more prayer-based resources into the hands of camp leaders.

Monday:  Competent Instruction.  Pray that you would be filled with the things of God that make you competent to instruct others.  Pray that you would receive instruction from competent sources.  “I myself am convinced, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, complete in knowledge and competent to instruct one another.”  Romans 15:14 (NIV)

Tuesday:  Received Instruction.  Pray that you would take note of those that you receive godly instruction from.  Pray that your received instruction from God’s Word would lead you to a willingness to share.  “Anyone who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with his instructor.”  Galatians 6:6 (NIV)

Wednesday:  Impartial Instruction.  Pray that you would follow God’s instructions without partiality.  Pray that you would also be impartial in the sharing of such instruction with all who need to hear.  “I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favoritism.”  1 Timothy 5:21 (NIV)

Thursday:  Gentle Instruction.  Pray that God would help you to both give and receive instruction with great gentleness.  “And the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.  Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth.”  2 Timothy 2:24-25 (NIV)

Friday:  Careful Instruction.  Pray that you would be prepared to accurately share the instruction of God’s Word.  Pray that you would take great care in the way you handle the Word of God.  “Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage — with great patience and careful instruction.”  2 Timothy 4:2 (NIV)

Saturday:  Foundational Instruction.  Pray that you would accept, and teach, the foundational instruction necessary for a relationship with God through His Son, Jesus.  “Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.”  Hebrews 6:1-2 (NIV)