“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

The Fullness of Time!

“But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.”
Galatians 4:4-5 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will be about recognizing the fullness of time and how we ought to respond to God.  When I think about God acting throughout history at just the right time, it is generally hindsight which makes that clear.  As we enter the Christmas season, we find the arrival of Jesus was not some haphazard event but rather one that had been carefully planned by God to happen at just the right time.  As you pray this week, ask God to help you understand the current times so that you would know what to do.  Pray for courage to make the most of the time which God has given you.  Pray not only for a general understanding of the times, but also pray each day for a greater awareness of what it is time for that day.  Pray each day for a godly commitment to do the things which need to be done now and for the patience to wait upon the Lord regarding the times He says to wait.  Pray that you would trust God to do all things at the right time.

“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 understand the times and know what to do.

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:  Time To Believe.  Pray that you would live with each moment of your life being a time to believe.  Pray that your belief in the good news of Jesus would always lead you to repent.  Pray about how you take the good news to others in a way that they would understand the time is now.  “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!”  Mark 1:15 (NIV)

Tuesday:  Time To Worship.  Pray that God would always be at the center of your worship.  Pray that the ways you express to God His worth to you would always come from a heart filled with His truth.  “Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.”  John 4:23 (NIV)

Wednesday:  Time To Be Generous.  Pray that you would have an accurate view of what plenty and need look like from God’s perspective.  Pray that you would know this as a time to be generous and as a time to have your needs met generously.  “At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need.”  2 Corinthians 8:14 (NIV)

Thursday:  Time To Prepare for Harvest.   Pray that you would know each moment as a time to do good in a way that prepares for the time of harvest.  Pray for a persevering spirit that continues to do good in all circumstances as you trust God to bring about the harvest at the right time.  “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”  Galatians 6:9 (NIV)

Friday:  Time For Discipline.  Pray that you would accept the discipline of  God as you long for the harvest of righteousness and peace that it produces.  Pray that your interactions with others would be marked by the training of God’s discipline.  “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”  Hebrews 12:11 (NIV)

Saturday:  Time To Be Humble.  Pray that your desire to be lifted by God would help you know now as a time of humility.  Pray for God’s help in seeing yourself, and Him, accurately in relationship to one another.  Pray about how you humility can grow as you choose to live under God’s mighty hand.  “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.”  1 Peter 5:6 (NIV)