patience

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Lifestyle of Prayer: Holiness!

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“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

This week’s prayer focus: Holiness!

“As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.  But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’”
1 Peter 1:15-16 (NIV)

Our prayer focus this week is about the holiness of God that ought to be reflected in our life.  Not only does God instruct us to live a life that rejects our evil desires, He says that we do so in order to be more like the One who has called us to Himself.  When Peter writes instructions for God’s children to live holy lives, he backs up the authority for the command with a quote of God telling His people to be holy because He is holy.  We’re His children, we ought to look and act like His children.  As you pray this week, ask God to  help you identify, and reject, the evil desires that are a temptation to you.  Pray that your desire to be more like your Father would be all the motivation you need to live a  holy life.  Pray that you would learn from Jesus on how to live a holy life that draws people to God rather than pushes them away.   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 the holiness of God and His desire for you to reflect that to the world.

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:  Worship God as Holy.  Pray that you would recognize, and express, God’s holiness in your worship of Him.  Pray that He would fill you with an understanding of all holiness coming from Him.  “And they were calling to one another: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.’”  Isaiah 6:3 (NIV)

Tuesday:  Live a Holy Life of Purity.  Pray that God would reveal any impurity in your life so that it can be removed.  Pray that you would actively pursue a life of holy purity.  “For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.”  1 Thessalonians 4:7 (NIV)

Wednesday:  Live as Part of a Holy Family.  Pray that you would be encouraged by being a part of God’s holy family.  Pray that you would recognize God’s holiness in the lives of your brothers and sisters in Christ.  “Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers.”  Hebrews 2:11 (NIV)

Thursday:  Live a Holy Life of Peace.  Pray that your reflection of God’s holiness would help you live at peace with everyone.  Pray that your efforts to live at peace and to be holy would help the people around you see Christ in you.  “Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.”  Hebrews 12:14 (NIV)

Friday:  Live a Holy Life with Anticipation.  Pray that God would help you to keep in mind the end result of all the things that might appear to be valuable.  Pray that your anticipation of Christ’s return would motivate you in living a holy life.  “Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.”  2 Peter 3:11-12 (NIV)

Saturday:  Pray With a Holy Faith.  Pray that you would be filled with a faith that is completely holy.  Ask God to help you grow in your communication with Him through a holiness empowered by His Spirit living in you.  “But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit.”  Jude 1:20 (NIV)

Bonus:  Pray for me (Tom Lemler) and the publishing ministry of Impact Prayer Ministry.  Pray that I would continue to listen to God for direction and that He would give me the time and words to finish the writing assignments He has me working on.

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Lifestyle of Prayer: Wonderful!

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“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

This week’s prayer focus: Wonderful!

“One generation will commend your works to another;
they will tell of your mighty acts.
They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty,
and I will meditate on your wonderful works.”
Psalm 145:4-5 (NIV)

Our prayer focus this week is about our wonderful God.  Sometimes I think wonderful is one of those words that gets thrown around like awesome to describe things that may not always be filled with wonder or awe.  Our God and His works are wonderful not only because they are filled with great wonder, but because they ought to cause us to be filled with wonder as to why He would choose to love us so.  As you pray this week, ask God to help you see Him as completely wonderful.  Pray that you would never tire of the depths of God’s wonder and love.  Pray that you would live in a way that is okay with never completely figuring out God — because you never will.  Pray that God working through you would display His wonder to the people you interact with on a daily basis.  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 the many wonderful things God has done in your life.

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:  Proclaiming God’s Wonderful Deeds.  Pray that your life and words would tell of the wonderful deeds God has done.  Pray that you would live a life of innocence because of God’s wonderful deed accomplished through Jesus.  “I wash my hands in innocence, and go about your altar, O LORD, proclaiming aloud your praise and telling of all your wonderful deeds.”  Psalm 26:6-7 (NIV)

Tuesday:  Experiencing  God’s Wonderful Love.  Pray that you would recognize God’s wonderful love for you that He would rescue you when you were trapped in sin.  Pray that you would share God’s wonderful love with the people around you today.  “Praise be to the LORD, for he showed his wonderful love to me when I was in a besieged city.”  Psalm 31:21 (NIV)

Wednesday:  Obeying God’s Wonderful Law.  Pray that you would have open eyes and an open heart as you examine God’s wonderful law.  Pray that you would set you heart and mind on obeying the laws of God.  “Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.  Your statutes are wonderful; therefore I obey them.”  Psalm 119:18 & 129 (NIV) 

Thursday:  Made in a Wonderful Way.  Pray that you would recognize the incredible work God has done in creating you!  Pray that you would value all life because of the wonderful work God has done in making it.  “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”  Psalm 139:14 (NIV)

Friday:  Receiving Wonderful Counsel.  Pray that you would always turn to God as the source of all wonderful counsel.  Pray that you would apply and share God’s Word when you have opportunity to offer counsel to others.  “All this also comes from the LORD Almighty, wonderful in counsel and magnificent in wisdom.”  Isaiah 28:29 (NIV)

Saturday:  Belonging to a Wonderful Light.  Pray that your life would shine brightly in a dark world because of the wonderful light you belong to.  Pray that you would declare God’s light in the midst of the great darkness we live in.  “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”  1 Peter 2:9 (NIV)

Bonus:  Pray for me (Tom Lemler) and the publishing ministry of Impact Prayer Ministry.  Pray that I would continue to listen to God for direction and that He would give me the time and words to finish the writing assignments He has me working on.

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Lifestyle of Prayer: Wait!

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“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

This week’s prayer focus: Wait!

“Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.  He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.  God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.”
1 Corinthians 1:7-9 (NIV)

Our prayer focus this week is about an aspect of our Christian life that many people would rather not participate in — waiting!  Throughout scripture God calls His people to wait and to trust Him as they do so.  And before you dismiss that idea as being impossible, remember it is God who has given you every gift necessary to be able to wait with strength for the return of Christ.  As  you pray this week, ask God to help you use the gift of His Spirit to help you to wait when necessary.  Pray that you would learn a greater trust of God as you wait for His return.  Pray that your representation of Jesus would gain effectiveness as you wait on Him to work in and through you.  Pray that your practice of waiting would not keep you from doing when God calls you to act.   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 the waiting that God has both called you to and equipped you for.

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:  Wait in Expectation.  Pray with the expectation that God will respond as you lay your requests before Him.  Pray that you would continue to take your requests to God as you wait.  “In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.”  Psalm 5:3 (NIV)

Tuesday:  Wait with Strength.  Pray for the strength required to wait.  Pray that God’s Spirit would fill you with courage as you wait upon Him.  “Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.”  Psalm 27:14 (NIV)

Wednesday:  Wait with Hope.  Pray that God’s help and protection in your life would fill you with hope as you wait.  Pray that the people around you would come to place their hope in God to be their help and shield.  “We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield.”  Psalm 33:20 (NIV)

Thursday:  Wait for God’s Deliverance.  Pray that you would learn to wait on the deliverance that God promises.  Pray that you would reject the temptation to take matters into your own hands when you are wronged.  “Do not say, ‘I’ll pay you back for this wrong!’  Wait for the LORD, and he will deliver you.”  Proverbs 20:22 (NIV)

Friday:  Wait for God’s Blessing.  Pray that you would understand and experience the compassion of God as a great blessing in your life.  Pray that you would be blessed as you wait for God to make all things right.  “Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion.  For the LORD is a God of justice.  Blessed are all who wait for him!”  Isaiah 30:18 (NIV)

Saturday:  Wait for God’s Mercy.  Pray that you would remain in Christ as you wait for the fulfillment of His mercy in your life.  Pray that you would share God’s love with others as you wait for Christ to carry you into life eternal.  “Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.”  Jude 1:21 (NIV)

Bonus:  Pray for me (Tom Lemler) and the publishing ministry of Impact Prayer Ministry.  Pray that I would continue to listen to God for direction and that He would give me the time and words to finish the writing assignments He has me working on.

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Lifestyle of Prayer: Being Strong!

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“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

This week’s prayer focus:  Being Strong!

“But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.”
2 Chronicles 15:7 (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 being strong according to God’s definition.  Throughout scripture God is constantly calling for His children to be strong — at times even commanding them to be strong and courageous.  The strength that God calls for doesn’t always look like the world’s definition of strength so we will pray about adopting God’s view of strength.  As you pray, look for ways that your life can show godly strength to the people around you.  Pray for the courage to live strong each day that God gives you.  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 of being strong 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:  Be Strong in Patience.  Pray that you would have strength and courage in the times that God calls you to wait.  Pray that your times of waiting would strengthen your trust in the Lord. “Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.”  Psalm 27:14 (NIV)

Tuesday:  Be Strong in Hope.  Pray that you would be strong in hope as you continually put your faith in God.  Pray that your life would help others to see a living hope that is found in a relationship with Jesus.  “Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD.”  Psalm 31:24 (NIV)

Wednesday:  Be Strong to the End.  Pray that you would not become weary in doing good and that your strength in Christ would keep you to the end.  “He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.”  1 Corinthians 1:8 (NIV)

Thursday:  Be Strong in Weakness.  Pray that  you would allow the strength of Christ to be seen in the midst of your weaknesses.  “That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”  2 Corinthians 12:10 (NIV)

Friday:  Be Strong in the Lord.  Pray that you would find all of your strength in the Lord and live according to His mighty power.  Pray that the people around you would know your strength comes from the Lord.  “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.”  Ephesians 6:10 (NIV)

Saturday:  Be Strong in Grace.  Pray that you would experience and give grace according to the strength that is found in Jesus.  Pray that your strength would flow from the grace you have received from Christ.  “You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.”  2 Timothy 2:1 (NIV)

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Lifestyle of Prayer: Patience!

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“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

This week’s prayer focus:  Patience!

“A man’s wisdom gives him patience;
it is to his glory to overlook an offense.”
Proverbs 19:11 (NIV)

As we continue to grow in A Lifestyle of Prayer, it is important to remember prayer should be a lifestyle, not an event.  Last week’s prayer focus was on submission so while we are on topics people often like to avoid, this week we will focus on praying about Patience!  God’s Word has a lot to say about His patience and the patience that we ought to have.  As we pray this week, we will look at six verses dealing with some attributes of patience.  God says that it is wisdom that gives us patience, so as we seek to grow in the area of patience perhaps we should ask God for wisdom which He promises to give to us generously and without finding fault.  Pray that you would see patience from God’s point of view and how it is a practice we all should participate in as we seek to be more Christ-like.

“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 that you would have Christ-like patience in your interactions with everyone.  With that focus in mind, pray for yourself, your family, your friends, neighbors, and all those you know.  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: Patience as an Attribute of Love.  Pray that the love of God would abound in your life and overflow in the form of patience as you share God’s love with others.  “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.”  1 Corinthians 13:4 (NIV)

Tuesday: Patience as a Fruit of God’s Spirit.  Pray that you would experience continual growth of the Spirit’s fruit in your life as you exhibit patience in your interactions with others.  “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness.”  Galatians 5:22 (NIV)

Wednesday: Patience with Everyone.  Pray that you would be filled with patience as speak with those who idle, timid, and weak.  “And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.”  1 Thessalonians 5:14 (NIV)

Thursday: Patience in Sharing the Word.  Pray that you would be a “preacher of the Word” by the way you live and speak and that your doing so would be done with great patience.  “Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage — with great patience and careful instruction.”  2 Timothy 4:2 (NIV)

Friday: Patience in Standing Firm to the End.   Pray that you would  never lose sight of your eternal reward and that you would have the patience to stand firm until the end.  “You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.”  James 5:8 (NIV)

Saturday:  Patience with Purpose.   Pray that you would have an understanding of the purpose of God’s patience in wanting people to come to repentance.  Pray that you would adopt that purpose as you are patient with others.  “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”  2 Peter 3:9 (NIV) 

Lifestyle of Prayer: God’s Mercy!
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Lifestyle of Prayer: God’s Mercy!

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“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

This week’s prayer focus:  God’s Mercy!

“Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!”

James 2:12-13 (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 some things that God says about His mercy.  Mercy is one of those characteristics that we all tend to love when it is extended toward us yet find ourselves hesitant to extend it to others.  It is a struggle that requires great submission to the will of God as we pray that He would empower us to be merciful by the power of His Spirit.  As we focus our prayer emphasis on God’s mercy this week, pray that you would both know God’s mercy in your life and express God’s mercy to others.  Pray that you would make a life of mercy a priority each day you live.

 “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 and then show God’s mercy to the people around you.  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: Ministry Through God’s Mercy.  Pray that you would be involved in ministering to others through the mercy of God in your life.  “Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart.”  2 Corinthians 4:1 (NIV)

Tuesday: Patience Shown By God’s Mercy.  Pray that the people around you would see God’s patience displayed through His mercy in your life.  “But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.”  1 Timothy 1:16 (NIV)

Wednesday: God’s Mercy In Our Time Of Need.  Pray that you would have confidence through Jesus in approaching God for mercy in your times of need.  “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”  Hebrews 4:16 (NIV)

Thursday: Wisdom Filled With God’s Mercy.  Pray that you would seek and use true wisdom that is full of mercy.  “But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.”  James 3:17 (NIV)

Friday: New Birth Through God’s Mercy.  Pray that you would rejoice in the new birth you have through the mercy of God.  “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”  1 Peter 1:3 (NIV)

Saturday:  Eternal Life Through God’s Mercy.  Pray that you would never lose sight of the eternal life you have because of God’s mercy being extended to you.  “Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.”  Jude 1:21 (NIV)

 

Check out the audio recordings from the recent Impact Prayer Conference!

https://impactprayer.wordpress.com/prayer-conference-audio/ 

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Lifestyle of Prayer: Clothed In Christ!

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“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

 This week’s prayer focus:  Christian ‘Clothing’!

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.  And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”
Colossians 3:12-14 (NIV)

What are you wearing today?  Why?  What does your choice of clothing say about you?  Like it or not, people often make assumptions about us based on what they see us wearing.  As a Christian, what are you wearing that would help people see Jesus?  This week our Lifestyle of Prayer emphasis will focus on some characteristics that God says we should clothe ourselves with.  Pray that you would live as one chosen by God, holy and dearly loved!  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 being clothed, both inwardly and outwardly, in a way that reflects the character of God as you wrap yourself in His love.   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: Clothed With Compassion.   Pray that your understanding of your own weaknesses would fill you with a compassion for others.  “As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.”  Psalm 103:13-14  (NIV)

Tuesday: Clothed With Kindness.  Pray that you would be observant to the needs of others so that you would show meaningful kindness.  “The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold.”  Acts 28:2 (NIV)

Wednesday: Clothed With Humility.  Pray that you would see the value and importance of others as being greater than your own.  “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.”  Philippians 2:3 (NIV)

Thursday: Clothed With Gentleness.  Pray that God’s presence in your life would clothe you with a gentleness that is obvious to all.  “Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.”  Philippians 4:5 (NIV)

Friday: Clothed With Patience.  Pray for the courage to have patience with people as you wait upon the Lord.  “Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.”  Psalm 37:7 (NIV)

Saturday:  Clothed With Forgiveness.  Pray that the forgiveness that you receive from God would overflow into forgiveness that you extend to others.  “And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”  Mark 11:25 (NIV)