“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

This week’s prayer focus: Perfection!

“Finally, brothers, good-by. Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.”  
2 Corinthians 13:11 (NIV)

This week’s prayer focus in on perfection — not that we have already obtained it, but that we are being made perfect in Christ!  While we are often told that perfection is not a reasonable goal, that is only true when we allow mankind to define perfection rather than God.  When God defines perfection; it is not only a reasonable goal, it is a goal each believer must keep in view as they press on.  Perfection from God’s view is that each of us would become more and more like Christ in all we do and say.  As you pray this week, ask God to help you see perfection from His point of view rather than the world’s.  Pray that you would not become weary in the process of becoming perfect.  Pray that your pursuit of Godly perfection would be done in complete humility and not become a stumbling block of pride.

“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 aspect of living a life of perfection that honors God in everything you do.

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: A Perfect Way.  Pray that God would give you the strength to walk in a perfect way each day.  Pray that the people around you would see Christ in you by the way you live.  “It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect.”  Psalm 18:32 (NIV)

Tuesday:  A Perfect Law.  Pray that you would view God’s law as being perfect in all situations.  Pray that your pursuit of living according to God’s perfect law would refresh your soul.  “The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul.  The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple.”  Psalm 19:7 (NIV)

Wednesday:  A Perfect Peace.  Pray that God would give you a perfect peace in all circumstances as you hold fast to Him.  Pray that you would learn to trust God in all things as He fills you with a peace that surpasses understanding.  “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.”  Isaiah 26:3 (NIV)

Thursday:  A Perfect Example.  Pray that you would always look to God as the only perfect example of being perfect.  Pray that your faith would help you believe that God’s command to be perfect is something that can be done.  “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”  Matthew 5:48 (NIV) 

Friday:  A Perfect Unity.  Pray that the love of God within you would draw together all good things in perfect unity.  Pray that your love for others will keep all of the Godly characteristics within you working in unity.  “And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”  Colossians 3:14 (NIV)

Saturday:  A Perfect Gift.  Pray that you would recognize, and honor, the true source of every perfect gift.  Pray that you would recognize life, your life and the lives of others, as being a perfect gift that has come from above.  “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”  James 1:17 (NIV)