“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

A Loving Response!

“You are my portion, O LORD; I have promised to obey your words.  I have sought your face with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise.  I have considered my ways and have turned my steps to your statutes.  I will hasten and not delay to obey your commands.  Though the wicked bind me with ropes, I will not forget your law.  At midnight I rise to give you thanks for your righteous laws.”
Psalm 119:57-62

This week’s prayer emphasis will focus on our response to God’s love.  While much time, effort, and money will be spent by individuals this week trying to express their love toward one another, the psalmist gives us some great insight into how to respond to God’s love in ways that are good and right.  As you pray this week, ask God to help you live with a greater awareness of His love.  Pray that you would seek to live with a loving response that is first directed toward God.  Pray that your response to God would shape and direct your love for others.  Pray for the wisdom and courage needed to love others with a love that accurately reflects God’s love for you.

“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 to respond to Him, and to others, in love.

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:  A Loving Promise.  Pray that knowing God as yours, and yourself as His, would lead you to promise your life to Him.  Pray that having the Lord as your God would cause you to not only make, but keep a promise to obey His words.  Pray that you would live with a growing desire to know God’s words in a way that expresses your love for Him.  “You are my portion, O LORD; I have promised to obey your words.”  Psalm 119:57 (NIV)

Tuesday:  A Loving Search.  Pray that God’s love would lead you to seek Him in all circumstances of life.  Pray that God’s graciousness is known by you as you seek His face wholeheartedly.  Pray that God’s promises would lead you to not only search for Him with a whole heart, but to share Him with others.  “I have sought your face with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise.”  Psalm 119:58 (NIV)

Wednesday:  A Loving Walk.  Pray that an examination of your ways would direct your walk to follow the ways of God.  Pray that your walk with God would be directed by His love for you and your love for Him.  Pray that God would direct your walk in ways that shows His love to others through you.  “I have considered my ways and have turned my steps to your statutes.”  Psalm 119:59 (NIV)

Thursday:  A Loving Obedience.  Pray that your life would be emptied of excuses so that you would promptly obey the commands of God.  Pray for the courage to obey God even when those around you encourage you not to.  Pray that your promptness in obeying God would help others to see and know your love for Him.  “I will hasten and not delay to obey your commands.”  Psalm 119:60 (NIV)

Friday:  A Loving Remembrance.  Pray that the distractions of the world we live in would never keep you from remembering the law of God.  Pray for the courage to remain faithful to the laws of God even when wickedness seems to surround you.  Pray that the people around you would know you as one who lives by God’s laws.  “Though the wicked bind me with ropes, I will not forget your law.”  Psalm 119:61 (NIV)

Saturday:  A Loving Thankfulness.  Pray that words of thanksgiving would always be on your lips for the righteousness that God has expressed in His laws.  Pray that an attitude of thankfulness would always fill you as you consider God’s righteousness extended toward you through Jesus.  Pray that the people around you would be attracted to Jesus because of your loving thankfulness.  “At midnight I rise to give you thanks for your righteous laws.”  Psalm 119:62 (NIV)