“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

 This week’s prayer focus:  Friendship!

“Two are better than one, because they have a good return or their work:  If one falls down, his friend can help him up.  But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!”
Ecclesiastes 4 9-10 (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 time on some things that God says about friendship.  God created us for community and declared at creation that it is not good for man to be alone.  Even knowing that, most of us struggle at times with having healthy friendships.  This week we will look at, and pray about, some characteristics that go into friendships that honor God.  Pray that your church congregation is a place where each person is a valued part of the family, regardless of how they fit in their “real” family.

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:  Face to Face Friendship.  Pray that you would always seek the face of God in the midst of your friendships.  Pray for those who are watching your face to face relationship with God.  “The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent.”  Exodus 33:11 (NIV)

Tuesday:  Intercessory Friendship.  Pray that you would be diligent in lifting the needs of your friends before God.  Pray that you would have people in your life that intercede on your behalf.  “My intercessor is my friend as my eyes pour out tears to God; on behalf of a man he pleads with God as a man pleads for his friend.”  Job 16:20-21 (NIV)

Wednesday:  Careful Friendship.  Pray that you would choose your friendships carefully.  Pray that you would be the kind of friend that leads people in the correct direction.  “A righteous man is cautious in friendship, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.”  Proverbs 12:26 (NIV)

Thursday:  Pleasant Friendship.  Pray that your friends would be refreshed by godly counsel from you.  Pray for friendships that bring joy and enjoyment.  “Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of one’s friend springs from his earnest counsel.”  Proverbs 27:9 (NIV)

Friday:  Sacrificial Friendship.  Pray that you would continually learn to put the needs of your friends above your own.  Pray that your friends would have a greater understanding of God’s love because of your sacrificial friendship.  “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”  John 15:13 (NIV)

Saturday:  God’s Friendship.  Pray that your actions would always show a belief in God that would make you known as God’s friend.  Pray that you would understand God’s perspective on belief, action, and friendship.  “And the scripture was fulfilled that says, ‘Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,’ and he was called God’s friend.”  James 2:23 (NIV)