“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

God’s Gift, Your Gift!

“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will focus on a topic which requires great humility in us for it to be seen as a good thing.  While referring to someone as thinking they are God’s gift to mankind is usually a reference to attitudes and actions of arrogance, when we live in the humility of God’s Spirit we find God really has created us as His gift.  It is this humility that helps us understand the gift doesn’t choose either the giver or the recipient.  There will not be much that is as affirming in your life as knowing God has chosen you as His gift to others through the good works He created in advance for you to do.  As you pray this week, ask God to help you see the value He places on the workmanship of His hands.  Pray that you would learn to communicate to others the precious gift of God that they are.  Pray that you would live as one who does the will and works of God in such a way that others praise Him for His wonderful gifts.  Pray that you would always view the children in your family, your church, and your community as the gifts from God that they are.

“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 be a good steward of the gifts He has given.

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: A Gift To Your Parents.  Pray that you would view all children as the gift that God says they are.  Pray that you would live as one who is God’s gift to your parents regardless of your age or their level of deserving such a gift.  Ask God to help you know how to be the gift that is “just right” for the time at hand.  “Behold, children are a gift of the LORD; The fruit of the womb is a reward.”  Psalm 127:3 (NASB)

Tuesday: A Gift To Serve Others.  Pray that your life as God’s gift to others would be displayed in the way you serve them.  Pray for the humility necessary to serve others according to their need rather than according to your desire.  “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.”  1 Peter 4:10 (NIV)

Wednesday: A Gift That Comes From God.  Pray that you would always acknowledge God as the source of every good gift, even when that gift may appear to come from you.  Pray that you would pour yourself into the lives of others as a gift to them from God.  “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”  James 1:17 (NIV)

Thursday: A Gift That Is Enough.  Pray that you would live with an understanding that God has created you to be enough for the need He has called you to meet.  Pray that you would be willing to give fully based on what you have rather than based on what you want.  “For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.”  2 Corinthians 8:12 (NIV)

Friday: A Gift Of Yourself.  Pray that your life as God’s gift would be a result of first giving yourself to the Lord.  Pray that your obedience to God would lead you to give of yourself to Him and to those around you who need what He has placed in you.  “And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God’s will.”  2 Corinthians 8:5 (NIV)

Saturday:  A Gift Of Love.  Pray that you would live fully within the love of God so what you share with others is that which is greatest.  Pray that God would transform your heart so that pure love would be your motive in all of your interactions with people.  Pray that God’s love would be at the center of what He gives to others through you.  “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”  1 Corinthians 13:13 (NIV)