“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

Giving Help!

“God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.”
Hebrews 6:10 (NIV)

This week’s prayer focus is about giving help to others.  Helping others is not just a good idea, it is a God idea!  God continually sets the example by helping us in our times of need and did so in the ultimate way by sending His Son, Jesus, to redeem us from our greatest need.  As we build for revival, it is important that we not only ask for God’s help, but that we would give help so we can all be revived together.  In times of great disaster, many people are convicted of their need to help and are often eager to find ways to do so.  I believe God wants us to not overlook those times, but to look beyond the disasters and see how He would have us help others each day even without a news team showing us how bad things are.  As  you pray this week, ask God to fill you with a compassion that leads to a desire to help others.  Pray that this desire would take root and grow into an action that produces fruit.  Pray that God would be honored in the way you help others.  Pray that God’s work in you would lead you to help others in ways that make Jesus visible.

“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 reveal how He desires for you to help 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:  Give Help According to Your Ability.  Pray that God would help you to accurately evaluate your ability to help others.  Pray that you would free yourself from the trap of comparison as you help others according to the ability God has given you.  Pray that your ability to help would be multiplied by God’s ability in you.  “The disciples, each according to his ability, decided to provide help for the brothers living in Judea.”  Acts 11:29 (NIV)

Tuesday:  Give Help To the Weak.  Pray that you would be mindful of the many ways in which a person might be weak.  Pray that you would have the courage to do the hard things that help those who are weak.  “In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.'”  Acts 20:35 (NIV)

Wednesday:  Give Help By Your Prayers.  Ask God to help you to remember to pray for those who need His help.  Pray that you would pay attention during your prayer time for how God would have you help others.  “He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers.”  2 Corinthians 1:10-11 (NIV)

Thursday:  Give Help According To Need.  Pray that it would not only be  your actions, but also your words that help others according ot their need.  Pray that you would seek wisdom in knowing what others really need before you try to offer help.  “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”  Ephesians 4:29 (NIV)

Friday:  Give Help In Conflict.  Pray that you would be a peacemaker when the people around you don’t get along.  Pray that your help would encourage others to resume their work for the gospel.  “Yes, and I ask you, loyal yokefellow, help these women who have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel.”  Philippians 4:3  (NIV)

Saturday:  Give Help Through Encouragement.  Pray that you would be a help to those who encourage you.  Pray that you would know the encouragement of being a helper to all you encounter.  Pray that your testimony of God’s grace would encourage others.  “With the help of Silas, whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it.”  1 Peter 5:12 (NIV)