“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

Captive Thoughts!

“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
2 Corinthians 10:5 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will focus on praying about our thoughts as we follow God’s instructions to take every one of them captive.  We are each shaped by the things which enter our mind, and especially by those things that we allow our thoughts to dwell upon.  While it is impossible to shield ourselves completely from the arguments and pretensions which are opposed to Christ, with the help of God’s Spirit we can take captive every thought so that our actions would more accurately reflect Christ.  As you pray this week, ask God to help you be aware of everything that enters your mind.  Pray that each thought would be evaluated and dealt with in a way that is obedient to Christ.  Pray each day that you would choose to set your mind on things above so that the ways of God become the standard by which you take each thought captive.

“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 taking every thought captive.

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:  Thoughts Which Are Full Of Faith.  Pray that your thoughts of God would lead  you to actions of faith.  Pray that your accounts of how Jesus has worked in your life would lead others to think and believe that He would help them.  “When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought, ‘If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.’”  Mark 5:27-28 (NIV)

Tuesday:  Thoughts Which Are Known By God.  Pray that you would live life with a greater awareness of how completely God knows your thoughts.  Pray that you would be more diligent in filling your thoughts with the things of God as you seek Him through His Word and prayer.  Pray for a greater honesty with God about your thoughts.  “Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and had him stand beside him.”  Luke 9:47 (NIV)

Wednesday:  Thoughts Which Unite.  Pray that you would pursue agreement with others with Jesus as the basis for that unity.  Pray for a thought life that is united with Christ in such a way that divisive spirits have no place to dwell.  “I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.”  1 Corinthians 1:10 (NIV)

Thursday:  Thoughts Which Mature.   Pray for a maturing growth which makes you think differently than you once did.  Pray for the courage to choose thoughts that show maturity when they are spoken and acted upon.  Pray that you would reject childish thoughts.  “When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.”  1 Corinthians 13:11 (NIV)

Friday:  Thoughts Fixed On Jesus.  Pray that Jesus would be central in your thoughts so that His ways influence everything you think about.  Pray that having your thoughts fixed on Jesus would help others grow in holiness and a pursuit of a heavenly calling.  “Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess.”  Hebrews 3:1 (NIV)

Saturday:  Thoughts Judged By God’s Word.  Pray that you would always accept God’s judgments regarding your thoughts.  Pray that God’s Word would always be central in shaping the things that enter and are allowed to stay in your mind.  “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”  Hebrews 4:12 (NIV)