“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

This week’s prayer focus: Being Pure!

“Come out from it and be pure,
you who carry the vessels of the LORD.”
Isaiah 52:11b (NIV)

I believe most Christians, even most people, would agree that being pure is important — at least if the subject of purity is something that they value.  If I were to ask how pure a person thinks their drinking water should be, most people would say that being pure is an absolute necessity.  Yet many times we have learned to settle for less than pure in areas that God would want us to be pure in.  To know that something is pure requires a standard by which all else is measured.  When it comes to being pure, God has not only set the standard, He has given us a personal example in Jesus of what that standard looks like.  This week we will be praying about some things that God says should be pure in the lives of His children.  As you pray, ask God to help you be pure in His sight.  Pray that you would allow Him to continue to refine you as the impurities are removed from your life.  Pray that your desire to be pure would be lived in complete humility as you serve others.  Pray each day for the individuals of your congregation and for the body of Christ as a whole.

“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 for God’s help in being pure as you live as a vessel of God’s Spirit which lives within you.

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: Pure Offering.  Pray that the greatness of God’s name would cause you to examine the purity of your offerings to Him.  Pray that your offerings to God would be pure in every way.  “My name will be great among the nations, from the rising to the setting of the sun. In every place incense and pure offerings will be brought to my name, because my name will be great among the nations,” says the LORD Almighty.”  Malachi 1:11 (NIV)

Tuesday: Pure Heart.  Pray that you would be still before God as you seek His help in having a heart that is pure.  Pray that you would know the blessing of seeing God as you live with a heart that is pure.  “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”  Matthew 5:8 (NIV)

Wednesday: Pure Joy.  Pray that you would know a joy that is made pure through the refining trials of life.  Pray for the strength needed to consider, and pursue, the joy that awaits those who are faithful to the end.  “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds.”  James 1:2 (NIV)

Thursday: Pure Religion.  Pray that you would understand that man’s view of religion is often far different from God’s view of pure religion.  Pray that you would seek to live out a pure religion as you care for people who have no one looking out for them.  “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”  James 1:27 (NIV)

Friday: Pure Wisdom.  Ask God to fill you with a wisdom that comes from above and is far above human wisdom.  Pray that your life would show to those around you what pure wisdom looks like.  “But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.”  James 3:17 (NIV)

Saturday:  Pure Spiritual Milk.  Pray that you would accept no contamination in the spiritual milk of God’s Word that you take into your life.  Pray that you would develop a craving for the purity of God’s Word as you grow in faith.  “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.”  1 Peter 2:2 (NIV)