“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

This week’s prayer focus: Examine!

“Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.  Do not quench the Spirit; do not despise prophetic utterances.  But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-22 (NASB)

This week’s prayer focus is on the need to examine, and be examined.  The Bible teaches that we are examined by God and also need to examine ourselves.  Sadly, many people spend more time examining the food and drink that goes into their body than they do the things that they allow into, and out of, their mind and soul.  It is through prayer and rejoicing that God calls us to examine everything carefully.  This instruction is not only about examining, but about doing so according to the will and power of God.  It is about determining the difference between good and evil so that we will choose to cling to that which is good and reject all that is evil.  As you pray, ask God to fill you with His wisdom as you examine everything with great care.  Pray that you would pay attention to God’s examination of you that He does for your benefit.  Pray that you would spend time with God to honestly examine yourself according to His Word.  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:  Examined By a Holy God.  Pray that you would live each day with an awareness that God is paying attention to you.  Pray that your life reflects Jesus in a way that you pass God’s examination of you.  “The LORD is in his holy temple; the LORD is on his heavenly throne.  He observes the sons of men; his eyes examine them.”  Psalm 11:4 (NIV)

Tuesday:  Examine Your Attitude.  Pray that you would examine your words and actions carefully as they reveal your inner attitude.  “You have planted them, they have also taken root; they grow, they have even produced fruit.  You are near to their lips but far from their mind.  But You know me, O LORD; You see me; and You examine my heart’s attitude toward You.”  Jeremiah 12:2-3a (NIV)

Wednesday:  Examine Your Mind.  Pray that a careful examination of your mind would reveal a pattern of thoughts and actions that honor God.  Pray that your mind would direct you in deeds that deserve a good reward.  “I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve.”  Jeremiah 17:10 (NIV)

Thursday:  Examine the Path You Are On.  Pray that you would examine the path of life you walk each day.  Pray that your careful examination of your ways would always return you to the way of the Lord.  “Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the LORD.”  Lamentations 3:40 (NIV)

Friday:  Examine Your Relationship With Jesus.  Pray that you would examine yourself carefully in regard to your relationship with Jesus.  Pray that you would be refreshed because of your examination and communion with Jesus.  “A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup.”  1 Corinthians 11:28 (NIV)

Saturday:  Examine Your Faith.  Pray that a careful examination of your faith will fill you with the confidence of Christ in you.  Pray that you would cling to God in faith so you would never “fail” that test.  “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you — unless, of course, you fail the test?”  2 Corinthians 13:5 (NIV)