“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

This week’s prayer focus: #PraySTRONG!

“This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty.”
Zechariah 4:6 (NIV)

As we finish out one year and move into the next, our prayer emphasis this week will begin a focus from Impact Prayer Ministry that I am calling #PraySTRONG 2020.  The “#______Strong” hashtag is often used on social media to rally a community or group of people around a person or cause.  Our main goal should be to lift up Jesus as the One we all must rally around, but prayer is one of the primary ways that we can come together to align ourselves with God’s will.  In fact, the prayer life of Jesus was so noticeable that it is the one thing the disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to do.  As you pray this week, ask God to help you learn to pray according to His power and might rather than your own.  Pray that you would learn to have a strength in your prayers that comes from obedience rather than an American mindset of boldness.  Pray for the humility needed to seek God’s will rather than your own when you gather with others to pray.  Pray that others would see the transforming power of Jesus as they notice your lifestyle of prayer.  Pray for a spirit of unity among brothers and sisters in Christ as we grow in our love for one another.  Pray each day for the individuals of your congregation and for the body of Christ as a whole.

Missions Focus:  Pray for the work Tom Lemler is doing with Impact Prayer Ministry.  Pray for the effectiveness of the Impact Prayer Ministry resources as they are used around the world.  Pray for increased opportunities and support that will allow Impact Prayer Ministry to do all that is within God’s will.

“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 grow strong in His mighty power.

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: Pray Submissively.  Pray that you would daily grow in submission to God’s will being done in your life.  Ask God to refine and shape your prayers so that they things you ask Him to do, and ask Him for, are things that are according to His will rather than your own desires.  “Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”  Matthew 6:10 (NIV)

Tuesday: Pray Truthfully.  Pray that honesty would be the foundation and substance of your conversations with God.  Pray that the strength of your prayers would flow from an honesty in regard to your need for God’s mercy.  Ask God to help you be truthful as you pray for others.  “He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’“ (NIV)

Wednesday: Pray Repentantly.  Pray that you would always approach God with a heart that desires to change.  Ask God to help you become more trusting of His goodness as you change the direction of your life to have faith like a little child.  “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”  Matthew 18:3 (NIV)

Thursday: Pray Observantly.  Pray that God would open your eyes to see both the need and His provision for that need as you look at the people around you.  Ask God to open your eyes to see the opportunities for harvest that exist and to give you the wisdom to pray about your role in that harvest.  “I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.”  John 4:35 (NIV)

Friday: Pray Noticeably.  Pray that you would live in such a way that God is noticed in your life.  Ask God to help you to have a prayer life that draws attention to Him.  Pray about how your communication with God helps others to see His goodness and love.  “Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”  Matthew 5:16 (NIV)

Saturday:  Pray Globally.  Pray that you would be actively involved as a worker in God’s harvest field.  Pray for those who have answered the call to go to the “uttermost parts of the world” to share the good news of Jesus.  Ask God to help you have clarity in how you represent Him to the people around you wherever you go.  “Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”  Matthew 9:38 (NIV)