“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

A Guarded Heart!

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’  But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”  
Matthew 5:27-28 (NIV)

This week we will focus our prayer time on our need to guard our heart!  The Bible makes it clear that our actions are a reflection of our heart, so it becomes vital that we pay attention to what our heart contains.  Jesus taught that the command to not commit adultery was more about a heart problem than it was a physical problem.  God’s desire is that we would learn to guard our heart and mind from the temptations that want to take root and destroy us.  It is much easier to blame someone else when we give in to temptation than admit we have failed to guard our heart in Christ Jesus.  As you pray this week, ask God to help you to not only guard your heart and mind, but that you would not be a stumbling block in another person’s efforts to guard their heart.  Pray that you would notice all the ways the things you allow into your life influence what you do.  Pray that your heart would always be protected by God’s Spirit within 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 in living with a guarded heart.

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:  Guarded With Truthfulness.  Pray that you would have a heart guarded by words of truth.  Pray that you would both seek truth and speak truth at all times.  Pray that the truth of God’s Word would fill you in such a way that it stands guard over what comes out through your words.   “He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart.”  Psalm 15:2 (NIV)

Tuesday:  Guarded With God’s Counsel.  Pray that you would always heed the instructions of the Lord’s counsel.  Pray that your heart would be protected at all times by the counsel of God’s Word.  Pray that you would know God’s Spirit as the counselor who fills your heart with godly instruction.  “I will praise the LORD, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me.”  Psalm 16:7 (NIV)

Wednesday:  Guarded With a Steadfast Spirit.  Pray that you would not become weary in doing good but that God would put a steadfast spirit within you.  Pray that your heart would be protected by an unrelenting commitment to pursue God.  Pray that you would grow in purity through the steadfast nature of God’s Spirit.  “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”  Psalm 51:10 (NIV)

Thursday:  Guarded With Trust.  Pray that  you would learn to trust God completely even in the midst of bad news.  Pray that your trust of God would protect your heart from pursuing wrong actions.  Pray that your heart would not fail as you grow through the troubles of life.  “He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD.”  Psalm 112:7 (NIV)

Friday:  Guarded With Understanding.  Pray that  you would have an understanding of God’s laws and their purpose in protecting you from sin.  Pray that an understanding of consequences would protect your heart from wrongful pursuits.  Pray for an understanding of obedience to God as a response of love.  “Give me understanding, and I will keep your law and obey it with all my heart.”  Psalm 119:34 (NIV)

Saturday:  Guarded With Obedience.  Pray that your heart would be protected by a desire to obey God’s laws.  Pray that you would always have a steadfast determination to obey the commands of God through your entire life.  Pray that none of the distractions of life would move you from a commitment  to obey God.  “My heart is set on keeping your decrees to the very end.”  Psalm 119:112 (NIV)