“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

This week’s prayer focus: Holding On and Letting Go!
(Week Two)

“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.”
Romans 12:9 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis is week two of a two week series based on devotions I have written in the book, “Holding On and Letting Go”.  In this time period filled with much unknown, it is likely that life will feel rather chaotic at times.  As we enter another week of schools being closed where I live and people voluntarily distancing themselves from one another, I pray often for the children among us who found school to be the one safe and consistent place in their life.  I also pray for those who are easily forgotten and have lost even the limited contact they had with others.  As you pray this week, ask God to help you have eyes that see the people who are the most at risk during this time — whether the risk comes from the virus or their surroundings.  Pray that you would find ways to reach out to others with meaningful help and encouragement.  Pray for the wisdom to know when your mind is full and for the courage to turn off the news at such times as you seek the fullness of God’s presence to bring peace in the midst of chaos.  Pray for those working with the sick.  Pray that God would have mercy and compassion on each of us that would be visible to the world in the way we show mercy and compassion to others.  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 church congregation as well as 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 fill you with wisdom as you learn to hold on and let go.

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: Hold On To Righteousness.  Ask God to help you to always see and do the things which are right.  Pray that your mind would not be clouded by the fog of chaos as you make decisions each day.  Pray that you would not only know the right things to do, but that you would do them.  Pray that the eternal reward of holding on to righteousness would fill you with hope today.  “I will maintain my righteousness and never let go of it; my conscience will not reproach me as long as I live.”  Job 27:6 (NIV)

Tuesday: Let Go Of Fear.  Ask God to help you identify the different fears you have in the midst of your current situation.  Pray that you would have wisdom to know which fears are helping to protect you and which fears are holding you back from what you need to do.  Pray that you would learn to trust God enough to let go of your fears that are stealing your hope.  “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”  1 John 4:18 (NIV)

Wednesday: Hold On To Sound Teaching.  Ask God to refresh your mind with the sound teaching you have learned from Him — and of Him.  Pray that you would see through all the bad advice and hold on to sound teaching as you find hope in the midst of your chaos.  “So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.”  2 Thessalonians 2:15 (NIV)

Thursday: Let Go Of Greed.  Ask God to help you examine your heart and mind for any seeds of greed that you need to let go of.  Pray that you would look to the needs of others even above your own.  Pray that you would know the hope God desires to give as you let go of greed and learn to share.  “Then he said to them, ‘Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.’”  Luke 12:15 (NIV)

Friday: Hold On To The Goal.  Ask God to help you examine the goals you think most important.  Pray that you would evaluate all of your goals in light of the eternal goal that God has taken hold of you for.  Pray that you would hold on to the goals that God has for you even as you endure the chaos of life.  “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.”  Philippians 3:12 (NIV)

Saturday:  Let Go Of Doubt.  Ask God to help you evaluate how much the uncertainties of life have grown into doubt in your mind.  Pray that you would learn to face the unknown with faith rather than doubt.  Pray that God would help you seek His will as you walk, and ask, by faith each day.  “But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.”  James 1:6 (NIV)