“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

Special focus this week:  Making the Most of Every Opportunity

While much of the world’s attention is on the horrific events in Paris, it is not the only place or people in this world experiencing loss of life at the hands of terrorists.  As you pray for Paris and the recovery of the many who are wounded physically, as well as the many more who are wounded emotionally and spiritually, pray that you would be the light of the world wherever you are.  In doing so, the true message of the peace that can only be found in Christ will be seen and heard by those who need it.  Pray that you would make the most of every opportunity because the days that we live in are evil.

This week’s prayer focus:  Contentment!

“You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, and you shall not desire your neighbor’s house, his field or his male servant or his female servant, his ox or his donkey or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”
Deuteronomy 5:21 (NIV)

This week we will focus our prayer time on God’s command to not covet!  I believe that the very heart of this command is a need for each of us to learn contentment.  Contentment is a very godly character quality but one that is difficult to live — especially in a culture that is so focused on convincing people that they need what others have and they need more.  As you pray this week, ask God to help you rejoice in the happiness of others.  Pray that you would learn a spirit of contentment that comes from a complete trust in God.  Pray that the things of this world, and the things that others have, would not become a snare to you.  Ask God to teach you how to be content with what He has given and strive to make the most of it for His glory.  Pray for a unity of spirit among believers in general and among your church family in particular.  

“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, writing down, and doing 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:  Contentment from a Fear of the Lord.  Pray that you would have contentment through a life lived with a fear of the Lord.  Pray that  your fear of the Lord would be such that you can rest contented.  “The fear of the LORD leads to life:  Then one rests content, untouched by trouble.”  Proverbs 19:23 (NIV)

Tuesday:  Contentment with Your Income.  Pray that you would learn to live within your means and be content with the pay you have agreed to.  “Then some soldiers asked him, ‘And what should we do?’  He replied, ‘Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely — be content with your pay.’”  Luke 3:14 (NIV)

Wednesday:  Contentment in All Circumstances.  Pray that your relationship with Christ would teach you the secret of being content in all circumstances.  “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.”  Philippians 4:12 (NIV)

Thursday:  Contentment with Godliness.  Pray that you would seek to live a life of godliness and experience great gain as you become content with godliness being the center of your life.  “But godliness with contentment is great gain.”  1 Timothy 6:6 (NIV)

Friday:  Contentment with Basic Needs.  Pray that you would have God’s view of necessities and learn to be content even if that is all you have.  “But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.”  1 Timothy 6:8 (NIV)

Saturday:  Contentment with  God’s Presence.  Pray that knowing God is with you would bring you great contentment.  Pray that the allure of money would not distract you from finding contentment with God’s presence.  “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’”  Hebrews 13:5 (NIV)