“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

This week’s prayer focus: Words!

“The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.  But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken.  For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” 
Matthew 12:35-37 (NIV)

This week’s prayer focus is about the words we choose to use.  The Bible has a lot to say about how we use words and Jesus taught that we will have to give an account for how we use our words.  Many times I hear people say they can’t help the words they use, but Jesus says that the words which come out of our mouths are a reflection of what is inside of us.  Each day this week we will pray about some of the ways that God wants us to use our words.  As you pray, ask God to transform you from the inside out.  Pray that His Spirit would fill you with words which honor Christ and are beneficial to those who hear them.  Pray that your relationship with Christ would cause you to put a guard on your tongue.   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 about each day’s specific focus on how you use your words.

Sunday: Pray for your church staff, the preaching and teaching that takes place, the church leadership, the volunteers that are helping in so many areas, the spiritual and financial health of the congregation, and the work of the missions ministry of the church.  Pray for me (Tom Lemler) and the work of Impact Prayer Ministry.  

Monday: Choose Encouraging Words.  Pray that you would be greatly encouraged by the time you spend in God’s Word.  Pray that the words you choose each day would be an encouragement to the people around you.  “He traveled through that area, speaking many words of encouragement to the people, and finally arrived in Greece.”  Acts 20:2 (NIV)

Tuesday: Choose Pleasant Words.  Pray that God would help you to hear what your words sound like, both in their tone and content.  Pray that you would represent Christ well by your choice to use pleasant words.  “Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.”  Proverbs 16:24 (NIV

Wednesday: Choose Prayerful Words.  Ask God to help you consider how your words sound to Him.  Pray that the words you use in conversations with others would come from a prayer-filled mouth.  “Hear my prayer, O God; listen to the words of my mouth.”  Psalm 54:2 (NIV)

Thursday: Choose Satisfying Words.  Pray that the words you use would produce a sweet and satisfying harvest.  Pray that your words would also be satisfying to those who hear them.  “From the fruit of his mouth a man’s stomach is filled; with the harvest from his lips he is satisfied.”  Proverbs 18:20 (NIV)

Friday: Choose Timely Words.  Pray that God would fill you with the wisdom to not only know what to speak, but when to speak it.  Pray that you would bring joy to others by your choice of timely words.  “A man finds joy in giving an apt reply — and how good is a timely word!”  Proverbs 15:23 (NIV)

Saturday:  Choose Wise Words.  Pray that your words would be filled with a wisdom that comes from God.  Pray that God would fill you with the humility to share His wisdom in a manner that others will listen to.  “The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks what is just.  The law of his God is in his heart; his feet do not slip.”  Psalm 37:30-31 (NIV)