“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

Keeping Watch!

“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.” 
Matthew 25:13 (NIV)

This week’s prayer guide will focus on the instruction of Jesus for us to keep watch.  As Jesus taught during the week leading up to His crucifixion, He spent time instructing His followers to keep watch.  His teaching found in the twenty-fifth chapter of Matthew is a good reminder for all of us to live life keeping watch.  When we learn to watch, we often find ourselves learning to also wait as we long for the very thing we don’t yet see.  As you pray this week, ask God to open your eyes to the things He would have you see.  Pray for a heart, mind, and spirit that keep watch and are not distracted by the noise of the world.  Pray that you would be an active participant in keeping watch rather than a passive bystander to what goes on around you.  Pray for godly patience as your watching for the return of Christ requires you to wait.  Pray that keeping watch would help you to be found ready when Christ returns.

“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 keep watch as you wait for the return of  Christ.

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:  Watch With Wisdom.  Pray that you would be filled with godly wisdom as you watch for the return of Christ.  Pray that your wisdom would lead you to be prepared as your watching is done in a period of waiting.  Pray that God would help you share with others about the wisdom of preparation.  “The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps.”  Matthew 25:4 (NIV)

Tuesday:  Watch With Awareness.  Pray that you would live with an awareness of the importance of what you have in Christ.  Pray about how God wants you to hold fast to that which you have, even as you share with others about the coming return of Christ.  “’No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you.  Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’”  Matthew 25:9 (NIV)

Wednesday:  Watch With Trust.  Pray about how you are using the things entrusted to you by God as you watch for the return of Christ.  Pray that you would be a trusted servant of God as you faithfully use the gifts He has placed in your life.  “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them.”  Matthew 25:14 (NIV)

Thursday:  Watch With Compassion.  Pray that your watching for the return of  Christ would be done with an eye toward the needs of others.  Pray about how you can express compassion for others in all that you do.  “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in.”  Matthew 25:35 (NIV)

Friday:  Watch With Humility.  Pray that your deeds of compassion would be done with humility.  Pray for a humility which serves others with no expectation of recognition.  Pray that you would love others as an expression of your love for Christ.  “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?’”  Matthew 25:37 (NIV)

Saturday:  Keep On Watching.  Pray that you would persevere in waiting and watching for the return of  Christ.  Pray that nothing would distract you from taking care of the Master’s business as you watch for His return.  Pray that your faithfulness to Jesus would endure as you keep on watching for His return.  “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.”  Matthew 25:19 (NIV)