“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

This week’s prayer focus: Blessings Redefined (Week 1)!

“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)  

A Lifestyle of Prayer should be just that — a lifestyle, not simply an event.  View prayer as your first priority, not as the last resort.  It is my prayer that these weeks of “topical” prayer guides are a tool to train and equip you in the practice of prayer.  This week we return to a focus on the Sermon on the Mount, particularly the Beatitudes, as a prayer guide!  Pray that God would give you a greater understanding of His view of being blessed.  As you pray  about each day’s topic, pray that you will see beyond the ordinary and that God will use that characteristic in your life to bring blessing to you and to others through you.  Pray for the people in your life.  Pray for your family, your neighbors, your church family, your co-workers, and anyone else God brings to your mind.  Pray also that the blessings of these qualities would be ever-increasing in your life.  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) 

As you pray this week, ask God to help you see blessings from His perspective.  Pray that others would know a life lived with Jesus and the blessings it contains.

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: Blessed are the Poor In Spirit.  Pray that your acknowledgement of need in your spiritual life would lead you to Jesus.  Pray that the poverty you feel in  your spirit would be filled with God’s Spirit.  “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”  Matthew 5:3 (NIV)

Tuesday: Blessed are Those Who Mourn.  Pray that your realization and expression of loss would lead you to the comfort of God’s love.  Pray that your mourning would receive God’s comfort so you may comfort others.  “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”  Matthew 5:4 (NIV)

Wednesday: Blessed are the Meek.  Pray that you would live daily with the power of God in control of your life.  Pray that godly meekness would be learned and practiced as you possess a great power that is used with control in your life.  “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.”  Matthew 5:5 (NIV)

Thursday: Blessed are Those Who Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness.   Pray that your hunger and thirst for the things of God would fill you with His righteousness.  Pray for opportunities to share with others from that which God has filled you.  “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”  Matthew 5:6 (NIV)

Friday: Blessed are the Merciful.  Pray that God would fill you with an understanding of your need for mercy in such a way that you would show mercy to others.  Pray that God’s mercy would be received by those you pray for today.  “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.”  Matthew 5:7 (NIV)

Saturday:  Blessed are the Pure In Heart.  Pray that your desire to see God would lead you to a cleansing of your heart through the blood of Jesus.  Pray that your dealings with others would come from a pure heart.  Pray that God would purify the hearts of those you pray for today.  “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”  Matthew 5:8 (NIV)