“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

Thankful For One Another!

“To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ — their Lord and ours: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
1 Corinthians 1:2-3 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will focus on being thankful for one another.  Who do you think of when you read that line?  I suspect that most of the time we think of those that we are already thankful for and dismiss the idea in our mind that it should apply to anyone else.  Especially within the body of Christ, God’s desire is that we learn to be thankful for every one of the “one anothers”.  A good starting point for learning to do that is to practice being thankful for what God has done, is doing, and will do in their life.  As you pray this week, ask God to  help you grow in thankfulness for all “who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ”.  Pray that God would help you to see His work in the lives of others — especially in the lives of those you have difficulty being thankful for.  Pray that your interactions with others would exemplify the grace and peace that God has given through Jesus Christ.

“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 being thankful for others.

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:  Thankful For God’s Grace In Others.  Pray for a growing awareness of how God’s grace is at work in the lives of the people around you.  Pray that you would learn to be thankful for others as you see them through the eyes of God’s grace.  Pray that you would be a living example to others of how God’s grace leads to thankfulness.  “I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus.”  1 Corinthians 1:4 (NIV)

Tuesday:  Thankful For God’s Enrichment In Others.  Pray that your knowledge and words would be filled by the presence of God.  Pray that you would be thankful for the people around you as they seek God to enrich them in the depths of knowledge and His wisdom.  “For in him you have been enriched in every way — in all your speaking and in all your knowledge.”  1 Corinthians 1:5 (NIV)

Wednesday:  Thankful For God’s Testimony In Others.  Pray that you would be one who shares your testimony of God’s work in you through both your words and your actions.  Pray that the sharing of your testimony would be confirmed through the lives of those you interact with.  Pray with thanksgiving for the testimony of Christ seen in others.  “Because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you.”  1 Corinthians 1:6 (NIV)

Thursday:  Thankful For God’s Gift In Others.  Pray for contentment with both God’s gifts and His timing in your life and the lives of others.  Pray that you would be thankful for the way God amply supplies that which we lack.  Pray for a growing thankfulness for the way God has gifted others.  “Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.”  1 Corinthians 1:7 (NIV)

Friday:  Thankful For God’s Strength In Others.  Pray with thankfulness for the strength which God provides.  Pray that the people around you would have a strength of faith that endures.  Pray for a heart that rejoices in the strength and victory others find through Jesus.  “He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.”  1 Corinthians 1:8 (NIV)

Saturday:  Thankful For God’s Fellowship In Others.  Pray that you would continually walk in fellowship with God and in fellowship with others.  Pray that you would grow in thankfulness for the people around you who trust in God’s faithfulness.  Pray that you would be a messenger of God’s faithfulness in calling people into relationship with Himself through Jesus Christ.  “God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.”  1 Corinthians 1:9 (NIV)