“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

This week’s prayer focus: Inheritance!

“He said to me: ‘It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life.  He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son.’”
Revelation 21:6-7 (NIV)

This week’s prayer guide will focus on some aspects of the inheritance we have as children of God.  While the word “inheritance” makes most people first think of money and possessions, as God’s children we have an inheritance that is greater than what any amount of money could buy.  Just as so much of who we are and how we live is inherited from our parents, our true identity in the heavenly realm is inherited from a Father who loves us.  As you pray, ask God to help you live according to the inheritance you have in Christ.  Pray that you would understand that, while free to you, the cost of your inheritance was the blood of Jesus.  Pray that you would share your inheritance as freely as you have received it.  Pray that your inheritance in Christ would have more value to you than any other inheritance you may receive.  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 use the inheritance you have in Christ as a blessing 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:  An Inheritance of God’s Kingdom.  Pray that your treatment of “the least of these” around you today would cause the King to welcome you to the kingdom.  “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.’”  Matthew 25:34 (NIV)

Tuesday:  An Inheritance that is Guaranteed.  Pray that the presence of God’s Spirit within you would give you assurance of the guarantee God has made regarding your inheritance.  “Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession — to the praise of his glory.”  Ephesians 1:13-14 (NIV)

Wednesday:  An Inheritance from the Lord.  Pray that you would be diligent about the work you do as you look to God for His reward as you serve Him.  “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.  It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”  Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV)

Thursday:  An Inheritance of Salvation.  Pray that you would live with an awareness of how you may “entertain angels unaware” and of how they minister to you.  Pray that their presence would remind you of the salvation you have inherited through Jesus.  “Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?”  Hebrews 1:14 (NIV)

Friday:  An Inheritance that Lasts.  Pray that you would live with the knowledge that your inheritance from God is one that will remain for eternity.  “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade — kept in heaven for you.”  1 Peter 1:4 (NIV)

Saturday:  An Inheritance of Blessing.  Pray that you would be a blessing to others, especially those who mistreat you, as you inherit a blessing from God.  “Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.”  1 Peter 3:9 (NIV)