“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

This week’s prayer focus: Celebrate!

“Then all the people went away to eat and drink, to send portions of food and to celebrate with great joy, because they now understood the words that had been made known to them.”
Nehemiah 8:12 (NIV)

Our prayer emphasis this week will focus on the how, what, and why we celebrate.  Just as a Christian ought to grieve in a manner different from those outside of Christ, I believe that our celebrations ought to carry a deeper and greater meaning than those of the world.  When we consider the working of God throughout all time — past, present, and future — we find we have much to celebrate.  In fact, God designed, created, and commanded celebrations so that His people would praise Him not only as individuals, but as a group.  As you pray this week, ask God to fill you with the desire to celebrate.  Pray that He would remind you of all that He is, and has done, so that you know the reasons you have to celebrate.  Pray that you would learn to celebrate as an individual and with others as the body of Christ.  Pray that your celebrations would always honor Christ and make Him know to the world.  Pray for a spirit of unity within your church congregation and within the body of Christ as a whole.  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 to help you celebrate as He would desire.

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 the work of Impact Prayer Ministry.

Monday: Celebrate Through Giving.  Pray that you would know the importance of giving as a part of your celebration of God.  Pray that you would give freely just as God has given freely to you.  “Then celebrate the Feast of Weeks to the LORD your God by giving a freewill offering in proportion to the blessings the LORD your God has given you.”  Deuteronomy 16:10 (NIV)

Tuesday: Celebrate God’s Presence.  Pray that you would always use every means possible to celebrate the presence of God.  Pray that your celebration of God would move beyond a simple routine and be done with all your might.  “David and all the Israelites were celebrating with all their might before God, with songs and with harps, lyres, tambourines, cymbals and trumpets.”  1 Chronicles 13:8 (NIV)

Wednesday: Celebrate Together.  Pray that you would always look for others who are celebrating God so that you can celebrate together.  Pray that you would make it a point to gather with others on a regular basis for the purpose of celebrating Jesus.  “A very large crowd of people assembled in Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread in the second month.”  2 Chronicles 30:13 (NIV)

Thursday: Celebrate Joyfully.  Pray that you would joyfully express the abundant goodness of God in the ways you celebrate.  Pray that your celebrations of God would be filled with great joy as you remember His goodness and  righteousness.  “They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness.”  Psalm 145:7 (NIV)

Friday: Celebrate Deliverance From Death.  Pray that you would not only remember, but also celebrate the price paid to deliver you from the wages of your sin.  Pray that you would always find meaning in celebrating the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus with others.  “The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.”  Matthew 26:18 (NIV)

Saturday:  Celebrate the Lost Being Found.   Pray that you would love all people to such an extent that you can’t help but celebrate when one who has been lost is found.  Pray that you would know just how much God wants you to celebrate — and celebrates with you — when the lost, including you, are found.  “But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.”  Luke 15:32 (NIV)