“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

This week’s prayer focus: Refuge!

“But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy.  Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you.  For surely, O LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.”
Psalm 5:11-12 (NIV)

This week’s prayer focus is on the refuge we have available to us in Christ.  Each day we will pray about some aspect of the refuge God has promised to be for those who draw near to Him.  As we consider God as our refuge, we will also pray about how we should reflect His character by being a refuge for those in need.  Throughout scripture God has given His people instruction to care for the foreigner, the alien, the stranger — the refugee, if you will — but he also calls for His people to seek Him for wisdom in knowing the difference between those in need and those being deceitful in their claims (i.e. Joshua 9).  As you pray this week, trust God to be your refuge in all of your times of need as well as in your times of contentment.  Pray that you would live in such a way that your life would show others the true value of seeking refuge in God.  Pray that your compassion would outweigh your cynicism when it comes to providing refuge for those in need.  Pray that God would fill you with wisdom that would be able to see truth.

“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 pray each day that your life would be lived in a way that takes refuge in God and shares that same refuge with those in need.

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:  Refuge From Pursuers.  Pray that you would recognize all forms of danger that pursue you.  Pray that you would find refuge in God when that which pursues you tries to separate you from Him.  “O LORD my God, I take refuge in you; save and deliver me from all who pursue me.”  Psalm 7:1 (NIV)

Tuesday:  Refuge From Oppression.  Pray that you would be able to endure any oppression because of the refuge you have in God.  Pray that you would be one who provides a refuge for those around you who are oppressed as you share with them about a God of refuge.  “The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.”  Psalm 9:9 (NIV)

Wednesday:  Refuge From Shame.  Pray that your relationship with God would be a refuge from shame as you live in righteousness.  Pray that you would share a message of righteousness that would be a refuge from shame for others.  “In you, O LORD, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness.”  Psalm 31:1 (NIV)

Thursday:  Refuge From Condemnation.  Pray that you would live as a servant of God who is redeemed from condemnation.  Pray that you would not be one who condemns those who take refuge in God.  “The LORD redeems his servants; no one will be condemned who takes refuge in him.”  Psalm 34:22 (NIV) 

Friday:  Refuge From the Wicked.  Pray that you would be rescued from the wicked as you take refuge in God.  Pray that the people around you would experience the refuge of God when the wicked come against them.  “The LORD helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him.”  Psalm 37:40 (NIV)

Saturday:  Refuge From Death.  Pray that you would have confidence in the refuge you have from death that has been provided through Christ.  Pray that you would proclaim the message of hope that God has provided a refuge from death.  “When calamity comes, the wicked are brought down, but even in death the righteous have a refuge.”  Proverbs 14:32 (NIV)