“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

Being Blessed!

“Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them.”  
Matthew 5:1-2 (NIV)

This week we begin a focus on the Sermon on the Mount in our Summer With the Son sermon series, so our weekly prayer guides will follow that series beginning with an emphasis on Being Blessed!  While most of us like the idea of being blessed, we often struggle to even understand what that would look like.  When the Bible talks about someone being blessed, the emphasis is not on the “stuff” we often think of as blessings but rather on the attitude of being very happy and filled with joy.  As you pray this week, ask God to give you a greater understanding of His view of being blessed.  As you pray each day, pray that you will see beyond the ordinary and that God will use that characteristic in your life to bring blessing to you and to others through you.  Pray for the people in your life.  Pray for your family, your neighbors, your church family, your co-workers, and anyone else God brings to your mind.  Pray also that the blessings of these qualities would be ever-increasing in your life.  Pray about how God would have your being blessed by Him result in you being a blessing to others.

“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 truly blessed.

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: Blessed are the Poor In Spirit.  Pray that your acknowledgement of need in your spiritual life would lead you to Jesus.  Pray that the poverty you feel in  your spirit would be filled with God’s Spirit as you seek first His kingdom and His righteousness.  “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”  Matthew 5:3 (NIV)

Tuesday: Blessed are Those Who Mourn.  Pray that your realization and expression of loss would lead you to the comfort of God’s love.  Pray that your mourning would receive God’s comfort so you may comfort others.  Ask God to help you be a blessing to those who mourn and seek comfort.  “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”  Matthew 5:4 (NIV)

Wednesday: Blessed are the Meek.  Pray that you would live daily with the power of God in control of your life.  Pray that godly meekness would be learned and practiced as you possess a great power that is used with control in your life.  Pray for humility in the ways you use the inheritance God has given to you.  “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.”  Matthew 5:5 (NIV)

Thursday: Blessed are Those Who Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness.   Pray that your hunger and thirst for the things of God would fill you with His righteousness.  Pray for opportunities to share with others from that which God has filled you.  Pray that the longing in the lives of others would be filled with the presence of God.  “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”  Matthew 5:6 (NIV)

Friday: Blessed are the Merciful.  Pray that God would fill you with an understanding of your need for mercy in such a way that you would show mercy to others.  Pray that God’s mercy would be desired and received by those you pray for today.  “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.”  Matthew 5:7 (NIV)

Saturday:  Blessed are the Pure In Heart.  Pray that your desire to see God would lead you to a cleansing of your heart through the blood of Jesus.  Pray that your dealings with others would come from a pure heart.  Pray that God would purify the hearts of those you pray for today, even as He continues to purify your heart.  “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”  Matthew 5:8 (NIV)