“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

 This week’s prayer focus:  One Thing!

“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)

“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)

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 we will pray about some “One Thing”s that God emphasizes in His Word.  As you consider each day’s topic, pray that God would help you to see the application lesson of that “One Thing” in your life and in the lives of those you pray for.  It is so easy to get distracted and miss the importance of the “One Thing”s that God directs us to.  As you pray, pray for clarity and focus to pursue God whole-heartedly.  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 for godly wisdom in applying that day’s quality for yourself, your family, your friends, neighbors, and all the other “one anothers” in your life.  Thank you!

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

Monday: One Request.  Pray that your requests of God would be refined to that which is most important.  “One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.”  Psalm 27:4

Tuesday: One Reputation.  Pray that your work as an ambassador of Jesus Christ would uphold the reputation of God.  “One thing God has spoken, two things have I heard: that you, O God, are strong, and that you, O Lord, are loving.  Surely you will reward each person according to what he has done.”  Psalm 62:11-12

Wednesday: One Need.  Pray that you would hear, and listen to, God — asking Him to reveal any “one thing” that stands between you and Him.  “When Jesus heard this, he said to him, ‘You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.'”  Luke 6:9 

Thursday: One Admission.  Pray that you would have the courage to admit any areas of blindness so that Jesus can bring sight to you.  “He replied, ‘Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!'”  John 9:25

Friday: One Goal.  Pray that you would not be distracted by your past, or the present, as you press on to reach the goal of eternal life.  “Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 3:13-14

Saturday:  One Reminder.  Pray that God would help you to not judge His timetable but to learn patience for those who are lost.  “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.”  2 Peter 3:8