“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

This week’s prayer focus: Respect!

“But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.” 
1 Peter 3:15-16 (NIV)

This week’s prayer focus is on some qualities of the respect that ought to be present in our lives as children of God.  Without careful diligence, it is easy to find ourselves treating people and situations without the respect they deserve.  Even the little things like respecting the property of others, cleaning up after yourself, not littering, watching both the subject and language of the words we use around others are sometimes difficult to put into practice.  Respect is important because it should flow from our respect of God and His creation.  As you pray, ask God to fill you with the desire and courage to grow in the way you show respect.  Pray that the respect you give would be done so without partiality.  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 respect that God would have you show to Him and to others.

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: Respect Your Parents.  Pray that you would have a respect for your parents which shows.  Pray that God would help you know how to respect your parents regardless of how respectable they may or may not be.  “Each of you must respect his mother and father, and you must observe my Sabbaths. I am the LORD your God.”  Leviticus 19:3 (NIV)

Tuesday: Respect All Offerings to God.  Pray that your offerings to God would be treated with respect — both by you and by those who administer them.  “Tell Aaron and his sons to treat with respect the sacred offerings the Israelites consecrate to me, so they will not profane my holy name. I am the LORD.”  Leviticus 22:2 (NIV)

Wednesday: Respect God’s Commands.  Pray that you would show proper respect to God’s commands by keeping them.  Pray that you would understand the eternal nature of being rewarded for your respect of God’s commands.  “He who scorns instruction will pay for it, but he who respects a command is rewarded.”  Proverbs 13:13 (NIV)

Thursday: Respect Those Who Work Hard.  Pray that you would take notice of those who work hard among you as leaders in spiritual things.  Pray that you would respect those who must admonish you at times.  “Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you.”  1 Thessalonians 5:12 (NIV)

Friday: Respect Discipline.  Pray that you would the need to give, and receive, appropriate discipline.  Pray that the discipline you experience would cause greater respect for those who administer it.  “Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live!”  Hebrews 12:9 (NIV)

Saturday:  Respect Everyone.  Pray that God would show you how to give the respect due to the people around you.  Pray that your attitude of proper respect would extend to fellow believers, to God, and to political authorities.  “Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.”  1 Peter 2:17 (NIV)