justice

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Lifestyle of Prayer: Justice

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“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

This week’s prayer focus:  Justice

“This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another.  Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor.  In your hearts do not think evil of each other.’”
Zechariah 7:9-10 (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 our prayer emphasis will focus on some of what the Bible says about justice and how it ought to be evident in our life.  God has a lot to say about His justice, about the way we ought to treat others with justice, and about the consequences of rejecting true justice.  As you pray this week, ask God to help you see and practice justice with all fairness and impartiality.  Pray that the people around you would receive justice as they turn to God to make all things right.  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 praying each day about God’s view justice and how that looks lived out in your life.  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:  Follow Justice.  Pray that you would know the gift of God to you as you follow justice as a way of life.  “Follow justice and justice alone, so that you may live and possess the land the LORD your God is giving you.”  Deuteronomy 16:20 (NIV)

Tuesday:  Administer Justice.  Pray that you would be filled with godly wisdom to administer justice in every role of authority that you have.  “When all Israel heard the verdict the king had given, they held the king in awe, because they saw that he had wisdom from God to administer justice.”  1 Kings 3:28 (NIV)

Wednesday:  Maintain Justice.  Pray that you would have the courage to constantly work at maintaining justice in all situations.   Pray that the people around you would see justice maintained in their life.  “Blessed are they who maintain justice, who constantly do what is right.”  Psalm 106:3 (NIV)

Thursday:  Seek Justice.  Pray that you would actively seek justice, not only for yourself but for those who need your voice to speak for them.  “Stop doing wrong, learn to do right!  Seek justice, encourage the oppressed.  Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.”  Isaiah 1:17 (NIV)

Friday:  Shepherd with Justice.  Pray that the people whom God has put in your life for you to watch over would receive justice from you.  Pray that  you would seek out those who need justice.  “I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice.”  Ezekiel 34:16 (NIV)

Saturday:  Proclaim Justice.  Pray that your Christ-like living would include proclaiming justice both near and far.  Pray that God would be delighted by the way you proclaim justice.  “Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations.”  Matthew 12:18 (NIV)

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Lifestyle of Prayer: Compassion!

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“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

 This week’s prayer focus:  Compassion!

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.”
2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIV)

As I read the above verse, I had to consider how much of God’s characteristic of compassion is evident in my life.  The Bible says much about God’s desire to show compassion to people who would be lost without it!  For our Lifestyle of Prayer focus this week, we will look at some scriptures about God’s expression of compassion and pray about how we will show compassion to others.  As Christians we want to be obedient to God and to live like Christ, so this week we will pray about how our expression of compassion reflects the nature of God.  As we continue to grow in A Lifestyle of Prayer, it is important to remember prayer should be a lifestyle, not an event.  Continue to pray for the family.  View prayer as your first priority, not as the last resort. 

“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 praying each day about having a heart of compassion that reflects the character of God.   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: Compassion Through True Justice.   Pray that you would see justice through the eyes of mercy and compassion.  Pray that you would learn to see justice as the process of making things right rather than a desire for revenge.  “This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another.'”  Zechariah 7:9  (NIV)

Tuesday: Compassion for the Helpless.  Pray that you would have a heart of compassion for the people around you who have no spiritual leader.  “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”  Matthew 9:36 (NIV)

Wednesday: Compassion for the Sick.  Pray that you would find ways to minister to and serve the sick.  Pray that your compassion for them would be genuine and helpful.  “When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.”  Matthew 14:14 (NIV)

Thursday: Compassion for the Hungry.  Pray for eyes that see those who are hungry.  Pray for the compassion to share both physical and spiritual food with the people who hunger.  “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat.”  Mark 8:2 (NIV)

Friday: Compassion for the Lost/Missing.  Pray that you would be filled with a tender compassion for the people you know who are lost and/or missing from the fellowship of believers.  “So he got up and went to his father.  But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.”  Luke 15:20 (NIV)

Saturday:  Clothed with Compassion.  Pray that you would daily put on the clothing of compassion and the characteristics that are fitting for God’s chosen people.  “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”  Colossians 3:12 (NIV)

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Lifestyle of Prayer: The Fatherless

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“A Lifestyle of Prayer” 

 This week’s prayer focus: The Fatherless!

“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)

“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”
James 1:27 (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 fatherless. God has a lot to say about His concern for the fatherless or orphans. As we pray to be more Christ-like, we must pray that our response to the fatherless would be the same as God’s. There are many in our community who live as fatherless regardless of the presence of a dad in their life. Pray that God would equip us to help men to live as fathers and to be fathers for those who have none.  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 praying about each day’s specific focus of your response to “the fatherless”. Pray for those on the front lines of representing Jesus to the fatherless — youth workers, school teachers, school counselors, school staff, coaches, and all others who have consistent contact with young people each day.  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: Defend. Pray for the courage to stand up for the fatherless when it comes to them having their needs met. “He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the alien, giving him food and clothing.” Deuteronomy 10:18 (NIV)

Tuesday: Provide Justice. Pray that you would make the most of every opportunity to see that the fatherless around you receive justice. “Do not deprive the alien or the fatherless of justice.” Deuteronomy 24:17 (NIV)

Wednesday: Rescue. Pray that you would have ears to hear the cries of the fatherless. As you hear their cries, pray that you would rescue them in their time of need.  “Because I rescued the poor who cried for help, and the fatherless who had none to assist him.” Job 29:12 (NIV)

Thursday: Help. Pray that you would accurately reflect the character of God as you provide help to the fatherless. “The victim commits himself to you; you are the helper of the fatherless.” Psalm 10:14 (NIV)

Friday: Sustain. Pray that God would fill you with an attitude of generosity as He provides ways for you to sustain the fatherless. Pray that you would be one to watch over their needs. “The LORD watches over the alien and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.” Psalm 146:9 (NIV)

Saturday: Show Compassion. Pray that your approach to the fatherless around you would be filled with the same compassion that God has for them. “We will never again say ‘Our gods’ to what our own hands have made, for in you the fatherless find compassion.” Hosea 14:3(NIV)