“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

Knowing the Bible!

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV)

This week’s prayer focus is about knowing, and using, the Bible as the Word of God.  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 make use of 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 know the Bible as His Word.  Pray that God would help you accurately evaluate how much time you spend reading, studying, and meditating on the Word of God so that you would know how to Grow in His Word.  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.

“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 know His Word and live according to its usefulness.

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: Origin of God’s Word.  Pray that you would have a proper view of Scripture as the Word which came from God and not from man.  Pray that God’s Spirit would give you insight into what He has spoken through His Word.  “For prophecy [God’s Word] 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: Useful for Teaching.  Pray that you would hold fast to God’s Word as useful in teaching you how to live a life pleasing to God.  Pray that your devotion to the Word of God would come from the heart of a student even as it prepares you to teach others.  “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: Useful for Rebuking.  Pray that you would listen to the wise rebuke of God’s Word in your life.  Pray that you would use God’s Word as a proper tool in wisely rebuking others when it is necessary.  Pray that the rebuke of God’s Word would turn you away from the many attractions of foolishness.  “It is better to heed a wise man’s rebuke than to listen to the song of fools.”  Ecclesiastes 7:5 (NIV)

Thursday: Useful for Correcting.  Pray that you would heed the correction that God desires to give you through His Word.  Pray that God’s Word would be the basis for any correction of others that He might lead you to.  Pray for a proper awareness of God’s Word as a  means of discipline in your life.  “Blessed is the man whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.”  Job 5:17 (NIV)

Friday: Useful for Training.  Pray that you would reject the myths of the world and seek to be trained by God’s Word.  Pray that your desire to be godly would lead you to God’s Word as your training manual.  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:  Useful for 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 your task of helping others to be equipped for the work God has created for them.  “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)