“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

This week’s prayer focus: Needing One Another (Week Two)

“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work:  If one falls down, his friend can help him up.  But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!”
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis is week two of praying about our need for one another.  In the midst of this COVID-19 pandemic it is good to be reminded to pray for one another and to pray about our need for one another.  In a time when social distancing requirements and stay at home orders have left many living under a cloud of gloom they can’t quite identify, we need each other now more than ever.  As you pray this week, ask God to give you eyes that see the needs of others.  Pray that you would be the friend who helps others up and that you would have the friends in your life who help you up.  Pray for a spirit of creativity and understanding in learning how to walk this life together with others during these trying times.  Pray for a heart of compassion that notices the unspoken needs of others.  Pray that your interactions with others would be a blessing and encouragement to them in all ways.  Pray that God would be the foundation and center of all your relationships with others as you look to Him to lift each person up in ways that only He can.  Pray that God’s love would be evident in your relationships with others as you make Jesus known with your life.  Pray for your family, your neighbors, your church family, your co-workers, and anyone else God brings to your mind.  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 family as well as 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 understand how much you need others and how much they need you.

Sunday:  Pray for your church staff and leadership as they navigate the many complexities of leading and shepherding in these uncertain times.  Pray for the spiritual and financial health of the congregation to remain strong during this time of not being able to meet together physically.  Pray that God would work through you in a mighty way to encourage others this week.

Monday:  Submit to One Another.  Pray for the humility from God that will help you to consider the needs of others above your own.  Pray that your relationship with Jesus would help you to submit to others.  Pray that God would purify you of the selfish thoughts and actions that prevent you from seeing the needs of others in the way that God would want.  “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.”  Ephesians 5:21 (NIV)

Tuesday:  Teach and Admonish One Another.  Pray that you would both give and receive teaching and admonishment.  Pray for a heart that allows the riches of God’s Word dwell within you as it directs your life.  “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.”  Colossians 3:16 (NIV)

Wednesday:  Forgive One Another.  Pray for a spirit of understanding that can see the difficulties others go through.  Pray that God would help you look beyond the faults of others.  Pray that the forgiveness you have received from God would help you to forgive others.  “Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”  Colossians 3:13 (NIV)

Thursday:  Encourage One Another.  Pray that you would continually find ways to encourage others each day.  Pray for wisdom in knowing and doing the things each day that would be an encouragement to others.  Pray that your heart would not be hardened by sin.  “But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.”  Hebrews 3:13 (NIV)

Friday:  Spur One Another On.   Pray that nothing would deter you from knowing and sharing the hope that you have in Christ.  Pray that your faith in God would challenge others to love and good deeds even as their faith challenges you to be more Christ-like.  “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.  And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.”  Hebrews 10:23-24 (NIV)

Saturday:  Fellowship With One Another.   Pray for wisdom in finding ways to fellowship with others through these times of social distancing and restrictions.  Pray that you would seek out fellowship with others who are walking in the light of Jesus.  “If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth.  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.”  1 John 1:6-7 (NIV)