“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

Dying To Live!

“But Peter declared, ‘Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.’  And all the other disciples said the same.” 
Matthew 26:35 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will be about our need to die to self so that we may live for Christ even as He lives in us.  Over the few years Jesus spent with His disciples, He began to slowly reveal His purpose in coming to earth was to die so that they might live.  Just as His death, burial, and resurrection brought life, it is our dying to self so that Christ can live in us which brings us life.  As you pray this week, ask God to help you know the things you must die to in order to experience the fullness of life which is only found in Christ.  Pray that you would not cling to the things of this world which result in eternal death, but rather seek first the things of God’s kingdom which bring eternal life.  Pray that your commitment to dying with Christ would be so steadfast that nothing would move you from it.  Pray that you would always keep your eyes on Jesus as you trust His promise that all who are buried with Him will surely rise with Him.  Pray for the courage to truly live for Christ as you daily choose to die to self.

“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 die to self so that you might truly live.

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:  Die To Live.  Pray that you would understand the importance of taking up your cross daily and choosing to die with Christ.  Pray that your life would be lived for Christ in every way as you choose a life of surrender to Him.  Pray that you would help others know the importance of dying with Christ in order to live.  “Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.”  Romans 6:8 (NIV)

Tuesday:  Die Daily.  Pray that you would choose each day to die to self in a way which serves others and glorifies Jesus.  Pray that your concern for others would be evident in the way you choose to sacrifice your own desires because of your love for them.  “I die every day–I mean that, brothers — just as surely as I glory over you in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  1 Corinthians 15:31 (NIV)

Wednesday:  Die To Gain.  Pray that you would make a deliberate choice to live for Christ in such a way that He is what your life is all about.  Pray that your life in Christ would reveal to you just how much you have gained by dying to self.  Pray that you would not fear physical death at its proper time as you understand the eternal gain.  “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”  Philippians 1:21 (NIV)

Thursday:  Die To This World.  Pray that your decision to be joined with Christ in His death would remind you that you no longer belong to this world.  Pray about how God would have you daily choose His ways rather than following the ways of this world.  “Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules?  Colossians 2:20 (NIV)

Friday:  Die To Sin.  Pray that you would consider yourself to be dead to sin so that you would choose righteousness in all things.  Pray with thankfulness for the work Jesus did on the cross which allows your sin to be put to death.  Pray that you would live as one set free from sin.  “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness.”  1 Peter 2:24 (NIV)

Saturday:  Die In the Lord.  Pray that you would live, and die, in the Lord and receive His blessing when your time on earth is done.  Pray that your work for the Lord would be faithful as you look forward to reaping the reward of rest.  “Then I heard a voice from heaven say, ‘Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’  ‘Yes,’ says the Spirit, ‘they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.’”  Revelation 14:13 (NIV)