“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

This week’s prayer focus: Living Free!

“Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.” 1 Peter 2:16 (NIV)

This week’s prayer focus will be about living free.  While scripture teaches that “those whom the Son has set free, shall be free indeed”, God’s Word also makes it clear that we must be careful how we use our freedom.  God wants each one of us to live free in ways that build up and encourage one another.  Many times, at least in the American culture that I live in, we equate freedom with independence.  In God’s kingdom, our freedom comes through complete surrender to Him and an acknowledgement of our total dependence on the work Christ has done on our behalf.  Our freedom in Christ allows us to serve people in ways that benefit them according to their need.  We live with this kind of freedom through faith and by God’s grace, knowing that there is “no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”  As you pray this week, ask God to help you understand how the freedom that He offers is different from the world’s view of freedom.  Pray that you would be careful how you use your freedom.  Pray that you would know true freedom that is found through gazing into the perfect law of God’s Word and doing what it says.  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 using the freedom you have in Christ to serve Him and 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:  Live Free to Proclaim Freedom to Others.  Pray that you would proclaim freedom to others because it is the right thing to do.  Pray that you would repent of any attitudes that would hold others captive in your thoughts.  “Recently you repented and did what is right in my sight: Each of you proclaimed freedom to his countrymen. You even made a covenant before me in the house that bears my Name.”  Jeremiah 34:15 (NIV)

Tuesday:  Live Free by God’s Spirit.  Pray that you would walk by the Spirit as you live in the freedom He gives.  Pray that you would know the presence of God dwelling within you through His Spirit.  “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”  2 Corinthians 3:17 (NIV)

Wednesday:  Live Free to Serve One Another.  Pray that you would be careful in how you use your freedom.  Pray that all selfishness would be banished from your life as you serve others.  “You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.”  Galatians 5:13 (NIV)

Thursday:  Live Free to Approach God.  Pray that you would live with the confidence to approach God in perfect freedom.  Pray that your freedom would be used to help others know that they can also approach God with confidence through Jesus Christ.  “In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.”  Ephesians 3:12 (NIV)

Friday:  Live Free by God’s Perfect Law.  Pray that you would be more than a casual observer of God’s Word, that you would gaze into it intently.  Pray that you would not only look intently into God’s Word, but that you would do what it says.  “But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it — he will be blessed in what he does.”  James 1:25 (NIV)

Saturday:  Live Free to Serve God.  Pray that your life would be lived daily as a servant of God.  Pray that you would not use your freedom to hide sin in your life.  “Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.”  1 Peter 2:16 (NIV)