“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

This week’s prayer focus: Living With Courage!

“But Jesus immediately said to them:
‘Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.’”
Matthew 14:27 (NIV)

This week’s prayer focus is about living with courage.  Throughout scripture, we are commanded to take courage.  From the repeated message to Joshua to “be strong and courageous” to the words of Jesus, “Take courage! It is I.”, spoken to a group of frightened disciples; having courage seems to be something that followers of Jesus need to be reminded of.  For the Christian, living with courage is possible because we know the One who is in us is greater than the one who is in the world.  God’s desire is that we be filled with a courage that comes from Him, but He also desires that others are filled with courage because of His presence in us.  We encourage one another, or fill one another with courage, as we share life and God’s Word in ways that are caring, constructive, and convicting — I know, sounds like a three-point sermon in the making, right?  As you pray, ask God to fill you with courage to live each day as you walk in obedience to Him.  Pray that His presence would not only fill you with courage, but would give you the ability to encourage others.  Pray that a life of courage would lead you to do the right things at all times.  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 living with courage.

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:  Living With Courage to Pray.  Ask God to fill you with a view of Him that would require courage to approach Him in prayer.  Pray that you would be filled with the courage to trust your requests to the goodness of God.  “You, my God, have revealed to your servant that you will build a house for him. So your servant has found courage to pray to you.”  1 Chronicles 17:25  (NIV)

Tuesday:  Living With Visible Courage.  Pray that your relationship with Jesus would fill you with a courage that is visible.  Pray that your courage would help others to see Jesus in you.  “When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.”  Acts 4:13 (NIV)

Wednesday:  Living With Courage to Believe God.  Pray that you would have the courage to take God at His word in all things.  Pray that your faith would increase as you live with a courageous belief in God.  “So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me.”  Acts 27:25 (NIV)

Thursday:  Living With Courage to Speak.  Pray that you would  have the courage to speak about your life in Christ no matter where you are.  Pray that others would be encouraged to speak the word of God because of the courage they see in you.  “Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.”  Philippians 1:14 (NIV)

Friday:  Living With Sufficient Courage.  Pray that God would fill you with courage that is sufficient for each day.  Pray that your hope in Christ would give you enough courage to exalt Him in all circumstances. “I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.”  Philippians 1:20 (NIV)

Saturday:  Living With Courage to Hold On To.  Pray that you would always hold on to the courage that God desires to place within you.  Pray that the faithfulness of Jesus over the things entrusted to Him would fill you with a courage that you will never let go of.   “But Christ is faithful as a son over God’s house. And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast.”  Hebrews 3:6 (NIV)