“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

This week’s prayer focus: Wisdom From Heaven!

 “But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.  Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.” 
James 3:17-18 (NIV)

This week’s prayer focus is on some qualities of wisdom that God says identifies it as wisdom from heaven.  Our society is filled with opportunities for information and knowledge, but wisdom — godly wisdom seems to be in short supply.  We value wealth and possessions to such an extent that somehow we define wisdom according to a person’s ability to accumulate “stuff”.  God says that wisdom from heaven is nothing like the wisdom of man.  And the good news is that He promises to give wisdom from heaven to all who would ask.  As you pray, ask God to change your heart and perspective regarding true wisdom.  Pray that you would no only ask God for wisdom, but that you would ask Him for the courage to use the wisdom He gives.  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 living a life that is filled with the wisdom that comes from God.

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: Wisdom that is Pure.  Pray that you would evaluate all appearance of wisdom according to the purity of God’s Word.  Pray that you would be careful not to contaminate the purity of the wisdom from heaven as you put it into practice.  “But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure.”  James 3:17 (NIV)

Tuesday: Wisdom that Loves Peace.  Pray that you would use wisdom to pursue peace.  Pray that God’s wisdom poured into you would empower you to be a peacemaker.  “The LORD gave Solomon wisdom, just as he had promised him. There were peaceful relations between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them made a treaty.”  1 Kings 5:12 (NIV)

Wednesday: Wisdom that is Considerate.  Pray that your considerate treatment of all people would reflect godly wisdom.  Pray for the wisdom to consider others better than yourself.  “Remind the people to . . . to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men.”  Titus 3:1-2 (NIV)

Thursday: Wisdom that is Submissive.  Pray that the wisdom from heaven would remove all traces of pride from your life as you submit to others.  Pray that God’s grace would help you be submissive.  “. . . In the same way be submissive to those who are older.  All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’”  1 Peter 5:5 (NIV)

Friday: Wisdom that Produces Mercy and Good Fruit.  Pray that you would know the freedom that comes from God’s mercy.  Pray that wisdom would bear the good fruit of mercy in your life.  “Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!”  James 2:12-13 (NIV)

Saturday:  Wisdom that is Impartial and Sincere.  Pray that you would treat everyone with impartiality as people created in God’s image.  Pray that your reverent fear would lead to sincerity in the way you treat others.  “Since you call on a Father who judges each man’s work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear.”  1 Peter 1:17 (NIV)