“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

Hearing the Word!

“Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.  But I ask: Did they not hear? Of course they did: ‘Their voice has gone out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.’”
Romans 10:17-18 (NIV)

This week’s prayer focus is about hearing God’s Word in a way that makes it useful in our life.  In Paul’s second letter to Timothy, we have a list of some of the things that God says Scripture is useful for if we were to hear it and apply it to everything we do.  Sadly, many have come to view Scripture as more inspirational than transformational.  In reality, it is only truly inspirational if it inspires us to draw near to God and be transformed.  As you pray this week, ask God to help you accurately evaluate how much time you spend hearing through your reading, studying, and meditating on the Word of God.  Pray that your love for God’s Word would grow as your understanding of its usefulness grows.  Pray that the usefulness of  God’s Word in your life would cause you to share it at every opportunity.  Pray that you would not only be a hearer of God’s Word, but that you would also be a doer and sharer of it.

“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 grow in faith as you hear His Word.

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: Hearing the Origin of God’s Word.  Pray that you would hear Scripture as coming from God and not from man.  Pray that God’s Spirit would give you insight into what He has spoken through His Word.  Pray that your response to  God’s Word would reflect its origin.  “For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”  2 Peter 1:21 (NIV)

Tuesday: Hearing the Teaching.  Pray that you would hear God’s Word as useful in teaching how to live a life pleasing to God.  Pray for wisdom in putting the teaching of God’s Word into practice.  Pray that your devotion to the Word of God would prepare you to teach.  “For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the LORD, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel.”  Ezra 7:10 (NIV)

Wednesday: Hearing the Rebuking.  Pray that you would hear the wise rebuke of God’s Word in your life.  Pray that you would always have a proper response when you hear the rebuke of God’s Word.  Pray that you would use God’s Word in wisely rebuking others when it is necessary.  “It is better to heed a wise man’s rebuke than to listen to the song of fools.”  Ecclesiastes 7:5 (NIV)

Thursday: Hearing the Correction.  Pray that you would hear the correction that God desires to give you through His Word.  Pray that you would learn to welcome the correction of God’s Word in your life.  Pray that God’s Word would be the basis for any correction of others that you do.  “Blessed is the man whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.”  Job 5:17 (NIV)

Friday: Hearing the Training.  Pray that you would hear the training God wants to do in you through His Word.  Pray that you would reject the myths of the world and seek to be trained by God’s Word.  Pray that you would cling to God’s Word as the true source of training in godliness.  “Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly.”  1 Timothy 4:7 (NIV)

Saturday:  Hearing the Equipping.  Pray that the application of God’s Word in your life would equip you for every good work He desires.  Pray that you would make God’s Word the very core of equipping others for the work God has created for them to do.  “May the God of peace . . . equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”  Hebrews 13:20-21 (NIV)