“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

 This week’s prayer focus: The Great Commission!

“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.  Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.  Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.  There is one body and one Spirit — just as you were called to one hope when you were called — one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” 
Ephesians 4:1-6 (NIV)

“Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.'”
Matthew 28:18-20

A Lifestyle of Prayer should be just that — a lifestyle, not simply an event.  View prayer as your first priority, not as the last resort.  It is my prayer that these weeks of “topical” prayer guides have been training and equipping you in the practice of prayer. 

This week’s prayer focus is on the work we are called to do — the great commission found in Matthew 28.  As we begin the week celebrating 15 years as a congregation at Deer Run, it will be good to spend time focused on praying about, and then doing, the mission we were called here to accomplish.   As you pray, listen for what God would have you to do.  

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 the work God has called you to through the great commission.  With that focus in mind, pray for yourself, your family, your friends, neighbors, and all the “one anothers” we’ve been praying for over the past weeks.  Thank you!

Sunday: Pray for Tom Lemler and the work God is doing through Impact Prayer Ministry.

Monday: Authority.  Pray that God’s authority would be taken seriously by all believers — especially in regards to fulfilling His commission.  “Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.'”  Matthew 28:18

Tuesday: As you Go.  Pray that God would help you to see the opportunities in your daily life to proclaim a living faith in Jesus.  “As you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near.'”  Matthew 10:7

Wednesday: Make Disciples.  Pray that everything about you is surrendered to Jesus and that you would not “cheapen” the cost of discipleship.  “In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.”  Luke 14:33

Thursday: Immerse into Christ.  Pray that you would recognize, and help others recognize, the importance of dying with Christ in order to be raised with Christ.  “Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?”  Romans 6:3

Friday: Teach Faithfully.  Pray that your teaching remains impartial and true to the Word of God.  “‘Teacher,’ they said, ‘we know you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are.'”  Matthew 22:16

Saturday:  Constant Presence.  Pray that you would recognize the constant presence of God and never replace Him with a temporary god.  “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