“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

Chosen To Be Patient!

“For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has?  But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.”
Romans 8:24-25 (NIV)

You’ve likely been warned about praying for patience but I want to remind you that living with patience is not only instructed by God but it is also part of His gift to us.  This week we will be praying about some qualities that God wants to grow within us as we live with patience.  We will also spend time praying about how God has equipped us to live with patience.  Part of the beauty that is present in all of God’s instructions, including living with patience, is that the ability to follow His instructions comes from Him.  While commanding us to be patient may seem like an impossible instruction to obey, He gives us everything we need to walk in complete obedience.  As you pray this week, ask God to help you see the value of waiting patiently on Him each day.  Pray that you would allow the gifting of His Spirit to work within your life to produce a patience that doesn’t come naturally.  Pray that you would live with patience in such a way that others can imitate your obedience to God.

“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 live with patience.

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:  Patient As You Cry Out To God.   Pray that  you would be confident of God listening to your cries even as you wait for His answer.  Pray that you would not become weary in the waiting as you cry out to God.  Pray that your life would be an example to others as they learn to wait while they cry out to God.  “I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry.”  Psalm 40:1 (NIV)

Tuesday:  Patient In the Midst Of Suffering.  Pray that you would learn patient endurance through the example of others being comforted in their distress.  Pray that you would live as an example to others as you live with patience in the midst of suffering.  “If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer.”  2 Corinthians 1:6 (NIV)

Wednesday:  Patient Through God’s Spirit.  Pray that you would know God’s presence as you live with patience.  Pray that a growing patience in your life would be the result of God’s Spirit living within you.  “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”  Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV)

Thursday:  Patient With Everyone.  Pray that you would live with patience in every manner of interaction with others.  Pray that your patience with others would allow you to warn, encourage, and help them in appropriate ways according to their need.  “And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.”  1 Thessalonians 5:14 (NIV)

Friday:  Patient To Receive What Is Promised.  Pray that you would know the difference between patience and laziness — and choose patience.  Pray that your active waiting would prepare you to receive what God has promised to those who live by faith.  “We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.”  Hebrews 6:12 (NIV)

Saturday:  Patient As You Wait On the Lord’s Coming.  Pray that you would not become weary in doing good as you wait for the Lord’s return.  Pray that your patience would lead you to do the work which is appropriate for the current season.  “Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains.”  James 5:7 (NIV)