“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

A Time To Act!

 “No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.”
Luke 16:13 (NIV)

This week’s prayer focus will have us praying about how God would have us to act.  While it can be relatively easy to claim devotion to God, our actions reveal who we really serve.  Proverbs tells us that “even a child is known by their actions”.  As God’s child, our actions ought to reflect His nature more than our own flesh.  As you pray this week, ask God to help you accurately evaluate your actions.  Pray that you would learn what pleases God and then do it.  Pray that you would not only have a greater understanding of your actions, but would have purity in the motives behind your actions.  Pray for the courage to live by faith in a way that can be seen through what you do.  Pray that you would make the most of each moment God gives 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 to help you act in the ways you should.

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: Act Generously.  Pray that your eyes would be opened to the needs of those around you.  Pray for wisdom to understand the good that is necessary in every situation.  Pray for a spirit of generosity to guide your responses to the needs of the people around you.  “Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act.”  Proverbs 3:27 (NIV)

Tuesday: Act Justly.  Pray that you would know what is just and right.  Pray for a desire to do what God wants.  Pray for an understanding of justice done God’s way.  Pray for wisdom and courage to act justly in a way that reflects God’s nature.  “And what does the LORD require of you?  To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”  Micah 6:8  (NIV)

Wednesday: Act Wisely.  Pray for a humility that requests wisdom from God so that you would know how to act among unbelievers.  Pray that you would not miss the opportunities which exist to represent Jesus.  Pray that the people around you would see the wisdom of  God in the way you live.  “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.”  Colossians 4:5 (NIV)

Thursday: Act Faithfully.  Pray for actions that would be produced by your faith in God.  Pray that the profession of your faith with your words would be backed up by the way you live.  Pray that you would grow in a faith that is made complete by what you do in response to what Jesus has done.  “You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.”  James 2:22 (NIV)

Friday: Act Prepared.  Pray that you would be mentally prepared to act in ways that represent Jesus well.  Pray for a spirit of self-control to guide you in all your preparations of life.  Pray for a steadfast hope that is based on the grace of God.  “Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.”  1 Peter 1:13 (NIV)

Saturday:  Act With Love.  Pray that the way you love people would reflect the way that God loves you.  Pray that your love for God would be more than just words.  Pray for a heart of understanding that will guide you in loving people with a genuine desire to benefit them.  “Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.”  1 John 3:18 (NIV)