“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

This week’s prayer focus: Body Building!

“Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.  From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.”
Ephesians 4:15-16

This week’s prayer focus is about the responsibility each Christian has in doing their part to build up the body of Christ.  While each of us have different gifting and abilities, we each have an obligation to use them to help the entire body grow.  God doesn’t expect your part from me or my part from you, but he does expect that we will each do our part to build up the body of Christ.  Body building in the physical realm takes commitment and effort.  The same is true in spiritual body building.  As  you pray this week, ask God to help you evaluate the condition of the spiritual body so that you can more accurately see the work that needs done.  Pray that you would pay attention to the part that you ought to be doing, rather than concerning yourself with what someone else should do.  Pray for a healthy and mature body of Christ as each member submits to the Head.  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 doing your part to build up the body of Christ.

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: Building With Grace.  Pray that you would recognize the power of God’s grace to continually build you up for the inheritance that is yours.  Pray that you would build up others as you share God’s grace with them.  “Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.”  Acts 20:32 (NIV)

Tuesday: Building Your Neighbor.  Pray that you would serve your neighbor in the name of Jesus so that he would be built up according to his need.  Pray that you would trust God to use your neighbor in Christ to build you up according to your need.  “Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.”  Romans 15:2 (NIV)

Wednesday: Building The Church.  Pray that you would use, and grow, in the gifts God has given you and that your use of them would build up the church.  Pray for an atmosphere that would encourage people to excel in the gifts that build up the body.  “So it is with you.  Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church.”  1 Corinthians 14:12 (NIV)

Thursday: Building With Speech.  Pray that you would set a guard on your mouth so that your speech would build up those who listen.  Pray that you would filter what comes into your ears to that the speech of others would build you up.  “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”  Ephesians 4:29 (NIV)

Friday: Building Through Encouragement.  Pray that your interactions with people would be an encouragement that builds them up.  Pray that God would surround you with people who encourage you in your walk with Him.  “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”  1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NIV)

Saturday:  Building In Faith.  Pray that your faith would be put into action in a way that builds up yourself and those around you.  Pray that you would seek God through His Spirit so that you would be built up in faith through prayer.  “But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit.”  Jude 1:20 (NIV)