“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

 This week’s prayer focus: Favor!

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.   He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
Luke 4:18-19 (NIV)

As we continue to grow in A Lifestyle of Prayer, it is important to remember prayer should be a lifestyle, not an event.  View prayer as your first priority, not as the last resort.  This week we will focus our prayer emphasis on the subject of favor.  Jesus stated that He was the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy of one coming to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.  How does the Lord’s favor impact how you respond to Him and to the people around you?  Pray that you would have a better understanding and practice of favor extended and received.  Pray each day for the individuals of the church congregation you attend as well as for the body of believers that meet together.

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 spend time each day praying about, and writing down, how God would have you live out that day’s aspect of prayer.    Thank you!

Sunday:  Pray for your church, its staff and leadership, and for all of the preaching and teaching that takes place.  Pray for me (Tom Lemler) and the work of Impact Prayer Ministry.

Monday: Favor in Giving.  Pray that your giving is done in a manner that God looks upon with favor.  Pray that the people around you would see that God comes first in your life.  “Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering.”  Genesis 4:4 (NIV)

Tuesday: Favor through Humility.  Pray that you would always humbly seek God’s favor.  Pray that the people around you would see both your humility and God’s favor upon you.  “In his distress he sought the favor of the LORD his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers.”  2 Chronicles 33:12 (NIV)

Wednesday: Favor of God’s Protection.  Pray that your pursuit of God’s righteousness would shield you with God’s favor.  Pray that the people around you would see God’s favor upon you as you pursue righteousness through Jesus.  “For surely, O LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.”  Psalm 5:12 (NIV)

Thursday: Favor of Salvation through God’s Love.  Pray for a confidence of salvation through God’s love and favor.  Pray that the people around you would come to know Gods love and favor resulting in salvation for them.  “But I pray to you, O LORD, in the time of your favor; in your great love, O God, answer me with your sure salvation.”  Psalm 69:13 (NIV)

Friday: Favor with God and Man.  Pray that your life would always grow in finding favor with God and man.  “Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.  Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.”  Proverbs 3:3-4 (NIV)

Saturday:  Favor as a community of Believers.  Pray that your interaction with other believers would be blessed with God’s favor.  “Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”  Acts 2:46-47 (NIV)