“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

This week’s prayer focus:  Value Life!

“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’  But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.”
Matthew 5:21-22 (NIV)

This week we will focus our prayer time on the character quality of Valuing Life!  Jesus taught that the command to not murder was intended to go far beyond a simple prohibition of taking a physical life.  God’s desire is that we would learn to value life and express that value in the way we treat others.  Life has inherent value because it is a part of God’s creative handiwork.  We can see the result of a society that rejects God — life quickly loses value because we have nothing left to base that value on.  Pray that you would value life and speak up for those who can’t speak for themselves.  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, and writing down, how God would have you live out that day’s aspect of prayer.

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:  Value the Choice of Life.  Pray that your value of life would be seen in the choices you make.  Pray that the people around you would choose life for the benefit of future generations. “This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live.”  Deuteronomy 30:19 (NIV)

Tuesday:  Value the Path of Life.  Pray that your diligence in walking the path of life would show the world the great value you place on this path.  “You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”  Psalm 16:11 (NIV)

Wednesday:  Value a Blameless Life.  Pray that you would be blameless in your interactions with others so they would see the value of a blameless life and the value you place on their life.  “Vindicate me, O LORD, for I have led a blameless life; have trusted in the LORD without wavering.”  Psalm 26:1 (NIV)

Thursday:  Value the Fountain of Life.  Pray that you would share with others the life you have found in Christ.  Pray that you would value the lives of the people around you enough to help them see the fountain of life.  “For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.”  Psalm 36:9 (NIV)

Friday:  Value the Brevity of Life.  Pray that you would value, and make good use of, the days that you live on earth.  Pray that an understanding of the brevity of life would help you make the most of the opportunities that God gives  you.  “Show me, O LORD, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting is my life.”  Psalm 39:4 (NIV)

Saturday:  Value the Words of Life.  Pray that you would always share the words of life so that no one dies separated from God as a result of not hearing these words from you.  Pray that the people around you would value the words of life.  “Simon Peter answered him, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.  We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.’” John 6:68-69 (NIV)