“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

This week’s prayer focus: Life In Christ!

“And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.  He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.  I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.”
1 John 5:11-13 (NIV)

This week’s prayer focus is on the life we have in Christ.  As we reflect on the lessons learned from the events leading up to, and including, the resurrection of Jesus, it is good to examine  how well our life reflects the price that was paid.  Most of us have things that we protect and value because of the worth that we have given them.  We may even have things that we like to display for others to admire and appreciate because of how much they mean to us.  Nothing should have more value to us or be appreciated in a greater way than the life we have in Christ.  As you pray this week, ask God to help you more fully understand the treasure that has been given through the eternal life you have in Christ.  Pray that you would know and practice appropriate ways to not only protect that treasure, but to display it in ways that attract others to Jesus.  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 life you have in Christ.

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:  A Worthy Life.  Pray that your life would bear good fruit because of the life you have in Christ.  Pray that you would live a worthy life through the fruit God produces in you.  “And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God.”  Colossians 1:10 (NIV)

Tuesday:  A Respected Life.  Pray that God would help you to stay focused on the work He has created for you to do.  Pray that you would live your life in Christ in a way that is respected.  “Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.”  1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 (NIV)

Wednesday:  A Good Life.  Pray that you would seek a good life defined by a wisdom and understanding that comes from God.  Pray that your daily tasks would always be done with humility.  “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.”  James 3:13 (NIV)

Thursday:  A Supplied Life.  Pray that you would look to God to supply all that you need to live a godly life.  Pray that you would daily worship God as your supplier of everything good.  “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.”  2 Peter 1:3 (NIV)

Friday:  A Proclaimed Life.  Pray that your daily experience with the life of Christ in you would lead you to proclaim this life to others.  Pray for the courage share what God is doing in your life.  “The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us.”  1 John 1:2 (NIV)

Saturday:  A Sacrificial Life.  Pray that you would always remember the great sacrifice that Jesus made on your behalf.  Pray that you would live that same spirit of sacrifice in your interactions with the people around you.  “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.”  1 John 3:16 (NIV)