practice of prayer

November 5, 2023 by Tom

Lifestyle of Prayer: A Time To Act!

“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

A Time To Act!

 “No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.”
Luke 16:13 (NIV)

This week’s prayer focus will have us praying about how God would have us to act.  While it can be relatively easy to claim devotion to God, our actions reveal who we really serve.  Proverbs tells us that “even a child is known by their actions”.  As God’s child, our actions ought to reflect His nature more than our own flesh.  As you pray this week, ask God to help you accurately evaluate your actions.  Pray that you would learn what pleases God and then do it.  Pray that you would not only have a greater understanding of your actions, but would have purity in the motives behind your actions.  Pray for the courage to live by faith in a way that can be seen through what you do.  Pray that you would make the most of each moment God gives you.

“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 pray each day for God to help you act in the ways you should.

Sunday: Pray for your church staff, the preaching and teaching that takes place, the church leadership, the volunteers that are helping in so many areas, the spiritual and financial health of the congregation, and the work of the missions ministry of the church.  Pray for me (Tom Lemler) and the work of Impact Prayer Ministry.

Monday: Act Generously.  Pray that your eyes would be opened to the needs of those around you.  Pray for wisdom to understand the good that is necessary in every situation.  Pray for a spirit of generosity to guide your responses to the needs of the people around you.  “Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act.”  Proverbs 3:27 (NIV)

Tuesday: Act Justly.  Pray that you would know what is just and right.  Pray for a desire to do what God wants.  Pray for an understanding of justice done God’s way.  Pray for wisdom and courage to act justly in a way that reflects God’s nature.  “And what does the LORD require of you?  To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”  Micah 6:8  (NIV)

Wednesday: Act Wisely.  Pray for a humility that requests wisdom from God so that you would know how to act among unbelievers.  Pray that you would not miss the opportunities which exist to represent Jesus.  Pray that the people around you would see the wisdom of  God in the way you live.  “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.”  Colossians 4:5 (NIV)

Thursday: Act Faithfully.  Pray for actions that would be produced by your faith in God.  Pray that the profession of your faith with your words would be backed up by the way you live.  Pray that you would grow in a faith that is made complete by what you do in response to what Jesus has done.  “You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.”  James 2:22 (NIV)

Friday: Act Prepared.  Pray that you would be mentally prepared to act in ways that represent Jesus well.  Pray for a spirit of self-control to guide you in all your preparations of life.  Pray for a steadfast hope that is based on the grace of God.  “Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.”  1 Peter 1:13 (NIV)

Saturday:  Act With Love.  Pray that the way you love people would reflect the way that God loves you.  Pray that your love for God would be more than just words.  Pray for a heart of understanding that will guide you in loving people with a genuine desire to benefit them.  “Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.”  1 John 3:18 (NIV)

October 29, 2023 by Tom

Lifestyle of Prayer: Finding What Seems Lost!

“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

Finding What Seems Lost!

“Now the tax collectors and ‘sinners’ were all gathering around to hear him.  But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, ‘This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.’”
Luke 15:1-2 (NIV)

This week’s prayer focus will have us praying about finding some things which at times appear lost . . . either lost to us or at least very difficult to find.  Being found in Christ completes us with an ongoing process of growth which helps us not only notice what is lost, but gives us direction in finding it.  When we seek the things of God, we ought to expect to find the things He would want to see in us.    What we find is usually determined in part by what we look for and what we look for is often based on what we want to find.    As you pray this week, ask God to direct you in the search for what He would have you find.  Pray that you would not only find what you are looking for, but you would know the purpose God has for the things you find.  Pray that you would not be content with just finding the things God wants you to have, but that you would be faithful in doing the things you find in Him 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 pray each day for God to help you find what seems lost.

Sunday: Pray for your church staff, the preaching and teaching that takes place, the church leadership, the volunteers that are helping in so many areas, the spiritual and financial health of the congregation, and the work of the missions ministry of the church.  Pray for me (Tom Lemler) and the work of Impact Prayer Ministry.

Monday: Find Wisdom.  Pray that you would know the sweetness that comes from the wisdom found in God.  Pray that you would live with hope now, and an eternal hope, through the wisdom you find in Christ.  Pray that the people around you would find wisdom in Christ.  “Know also that wisdom is sweet to your soul; if you find it, there is a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.”  Proverbs 24:14 (NIV)

Tuesday: Find Soul Rest.  Pray that you would learn from Jesus when you find yourself in need of rest for your soul.  Pray that you would know the gentleness and humility that leads to the rest you can find in Jesus.  Pray for the courage to help others find rest in Jesus when their soul is weary.  “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”  Matthew 11:29  (NIV)

Wednesday: Find Your Brother.  Pray that your daily encounters with Christ would lead you to find the people around you who need to know Him.  Pray that the people you find would become brothers and sisters in Christ as you lead them to Jesus.  “The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ (that is, the Christ).  And he brought him to Jesus.”  John 1:41-42  (NIV)

Thursday: Find a Place of Prayer.  Ask God to help you seek out places of prayer that allow for intimate conversations with God.  Pray that you would make prayer a priority as you find that everywhere can be a place of prayer.  “On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there.”  Acts 16:13 (NIV)

Friday: Find What Pleases the Lord.  Pray that you would find what pleases the Lord, and then do it.  Pray that your life would please the Lord as the Spirit produces His fruit in you.  “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.  Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord.”  Ephesians 5:8-10 (NIV)

Saturday:  Find Grace.  Pray that you would be confident in your approach to God as you find grace from Him.  Pray that you would find the help that you, and others, need through the grace God offers.  Pray that others would receive grace from you.  “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)

October 22, 2023 by Tom

Lifestyle of Prayer: Humble Yourself!

“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

Humble Yourself!

“For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Luke 14:11 (NIV)

This week’s prayer focus in on the humility that God calls us to have as His children.  Throughout scripture, God calls us to humble ourselves and to live in humility with one another.  When we voluntarily humble ourselves, God promises to lift us up in ways that we could never do on our own.  True humility is not thinking less of ourselves than we ought to, but it is thinking of ourselves according to our relationship with God.  When we have an accurate view of God and how we relate to Him as His children, we can then have an accurate view of ourselves and of others.  As you pray, ask God to help remove from your life all traces of the pride which elevates self.  Pray that you would daily humble yourself as you ought and allow God to lift you up to the position He has created for you.  Pray that you would be faithful to God in lifting up others as you learn to serve one another in love.  Pray for humility in the way you share Jesus with others.

“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 pray each day for God to help you live with humility.

Sunday: Pray for your church staff, the preaching and teaching that takes place, the church leadership, the volunteers that are helping in so many areas, the spiritual and financial health of the congregation, and the work of the missions ministry of the church.  Pray for me (Tom Lemler) and the work of Impact Prayer Ministry.

Monday: Humility that Leads to Honor.  Pray that you would seek humility that leads to honor rather than seeking honor for yourself.  Pray that a fear of the Lord would give you the wisdom needed to humble yourself before God.  Pray that your humility would not only bring you honor, but that it would lead to you honoring others.  “The fear of the LORD teaches a man wisdom, and humility comes before honor.”  Proverbs 15:33 (NIV)

Tuesday:  Serve with Humility.  Pray that you would serve the Lord with humility in everything you do.  Pray that your humility would carry you through any testing that you face.  Pray for the courage and humility to serve others at all times, especially when it becomes difficult.  “I served the Lord with great humility and with tears, although I was severely tested by the plots of the Jews.”  Acts 20:19 (NIV)

Wednesday:  Unselfish Humility.  Pray that humility would drive selfishness far from you.  Pray that your view of others would be positive because of your life of humility.  Pray for the ability to see and follow the unselfish example of Jesus as you consider how to view others.  “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.”  Philippians 2:3 (NIV) 

Thursday:  Humility that Brings Wisdom.  Pray that you would seek to live with a humility that brings wisdom.  Pray that God would fill you with the desire to reject all forms of pride as you live a life of humility.  Pray that the disgrace of pride would be kept far from you as you choose to gain wisdom through humility.  “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.”  Proverbs 11:2 (NIV)

Friday:  Humility that Comes from Wisdom.  Pray that godly wisdom would lead you to doing good deeds in humility.  Pray that others would see godly wisdom in your life by the way you live with humility.  Pray that the people around you would be filled with a godly wisdom which produces humility.  “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.”  James 3:13 (NIV)

Saturday:  Humility with One Another.  Pray that you would have humility in your relationships with others.  Pray that you would put on humility each day in order to receive grace from God.  Pray that God’s grace is enough motivation for you to live with humility toward others.  “All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’”  1 Peter 5:5 (NIV)

October 15, 2023 by Tom

Lifestyle of Prayer: Turning Around!

“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

Turning Around!

“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)

This week our prayer emphasis will focus on God’s desire that we recognize our own sin and turn around . . . in other words, repent.  The Bible says all have sinned but the unfortunate truth is that we not only have sinned, we still sin even after coming to Christ.  Therefore, repentance is not only for the unsaved, but perhaps more importantly, it is for those of us who seek to walk with Christ daily.  Repentance is more than a change of action, although the Bible is clear that it must be visible in our actions.  It is a complete change of heart — a change of thinking about that which we are repenting of.  As you pray this week, pray that you would see the need for repentance in your life and that you would learn to see the things you are repenting of from God’s perspective.  Pray that you would also learn patience with others, just as God is patient with you and them.  Pray for an attitude of compassion that desires people to avoid condemnation as they turn to Jesus. 

“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 pray each day for God to help you experience the gift of repentance.

Sunday: Pray for your church staff, the preaching and teaching that takes place, the church leadership, the volunteers that are helping in so many areas, the spiritual and financial health of the congregation, and the work of the missions ministry of the church.  Pray for me (Tom Lemler) and the work of Impact Prayer Ministry.

Monday:  Repent in Godly Sorrow.  Pray that the sorrow you experience when doing wrong would be godly sorrow that leads you to repentance.  Pray that the transformation you receive through Christ would lead you to a life lived to the full.  Pray that God would help you live with no regret.  “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.”  2 Corinthians 7:10 (NIV)

Tuesday:  Repent in Obedience.  Pray that you would be obedient to God’s command to repent even of acts done in ignorance.  Pray that your life would be an example to others regarding the importance of repenting.  Pray for a spirit of repentance to spread everywhere.  “In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.”  Acts 17:30 (NIV)

Wednesday:  Repent of Pride.  Pray that God would help you to identify and repent of all traces of sinful pride in your life.  Pray that you would have the courage to lead others through humility rather than pride.  “Then Hezekiah repented of the pride of his heart, as did the people of Jerusalem; therefore the LORD’s wrath did not come upon them during the days of Hezekiah.”  2 Chronicles 32:26 (NIV)

Thursday:  Repent of Wickedness.  Pray that  you would turn to God and repent of all aspects of wickedness — even wickedness that currently only resides in your thoughts.  Pray for a gentleness of spirit that helps you find forgiveness when you turn from all wickedness.  “Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart.”  Acts 8:22 (NIV)

Friday:  Repent for Refreshment.  Pray that your repentance would bring a time of refreshment in your life as you experience the penalty of your sins being wiped away.  Pray that your turning toward God would bring about a time of refreshing which spreads to those around you.  “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.’”  Acts 3:19 (NIV)

Saturday:  Repent for Restoration.  Pray that you would experience God’s restoration in your life as you turn to Him in repentance.  Pray that you would know the value of using worthy words which represent the Lord accurately.  Pray that the people around you would hear God’s Word through you.  “Therefore this is what the LORD says: ‘If you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me; if you utter worthy, not worthless, words, you will be my spokesman.”  Jeremiah 15:19 (NIV)

October 8, 2023 by Tom

Lifestyle of Prayer: Living As Rich!

“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

Living As Rich!

“So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’  For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.  But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
Matthew 6:31-33 (NIV)

What kind of things, or riches, do you find yourself running after each day?  Are they “kingdom of God” things or are they things of the world?  Because we live in the world, there are things that we need but even in our need God wants us to pay close attention to what kind of riches we are seeking.  If we allow Him, God has a way of transforming us through a renewing of our mind so that the things we seek are the things of His kingdom and righteousness.  As you pray this week, ask God to  help you examine the value you place on the riches of this world compared to the value you place on the things of God.  Pray for greater contentment with godly riches as you trust God to supply  your needs for now and for eternity.  Pray that your recognition of the riches God has supplied would lead you to share those types of riches with others.  Pray that your acceptance of godly riches would help you to keep worldly riches in their proper perspective. 

“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 pray each day for God to help you live as one who has true riches.

Sunday: Pray for your church staff, the preaching and teaching that takes place, the church leadership, the volunteers that are helping in so many areas, the spiritual and financial health of the congregation, and the work of the missions ministry of the church.  Pray for me (Tom Lemler) and the work of Impact Prayer Ministry.

Monday: Rich In Love.  Pray that you would know the abundance of God’s love as you experience His compassion and graciousness.  Pray that the richness of God’s love would help you to be slow to anger.  Pray that you would be rich in love as you share the goodness of God with the people around you.  “The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.”  Psalm 145:8 (NIV)

Tuesday: Rich Toward God.  Pray that God would help you to examine your attitude regarding how much you are storing up for yourself versus how rich you are toward God.  Pray that being rich toward God would lead you to go through life with a loose grasp on the things of this world. “This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God.”  Luke 12:21(NIV)

Wednesday: Rich In Generosity.  Pray that you would trust God in a way that allows you to be rich in generosity even when your circumstances make generosity difficult.  Pray that your generosity would flow from the joy that God brings to your life.  “Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.”  2 Corinthians 8:2 (NIV)

Thursday: Rich In Mercy.  Pray that you would know true life because of the richness of God’s mercy.  Pray that the life you have in Christ would lead you to be rich in mercy toward others.  Pray that God’s love would be the basis for how you receive and extend His mercy.  “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions.”  Ephesians 2:4 (NIV)

Friday: Rich In Good Deeds.  Pray that you would not allow money to define how rich you are toward others.  Pray that you would be rich in good deeds as you share of yourself in ways that benefit the needs of others.  Pray that an awareness of God’s goodness toward you would help you be rich in good deeds toward others.  “Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.”  1 Timothy 6:18 (NIV)

Saturday:  Rich In Faith.  Pray that you would be rich in faith regardless of how rich you appear to the world.  Pray that your love of God would fill you with the riches of the kingdom that only faith can produce.  “Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?”  James 2:5 (NIV)

October 1, 2023 by Tom

Lifestyle of Prayer: Learning to Pray!

“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

Learning to Pray!

“One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.’”
Luke 11:1 (NIV)

This week our prayer emphasis will focus on the teaching of Jesus about how we ought to pray.  I believe the disciples had noticed something different about the prayer life of Jesus, something that went beyond the teaching John had done about prayer.  Jesus was consistently making time to talk with His Father in a way that gave that conversation priority.  When you need someone to talk to, who do you go to first?  Why?  Is it easy or difficult for you to think about talking first to God about everything?  Why?  Our prayer emphasis this week will have us praying about the application points from Jesus teaching His disciples to pray.  As you pray, ask God to help you make your conversations with Him a priority in your life.  Pray that you would have a desire to grow in a lifestyle of prayer.  Pray that God would help you to have a relationship with Him that is so special that your desire would always be to go to Him first about everything.

“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 pray each day for God to help you learn to talk to Him first about everything.

Sunday: Pray for your church staff, the preaching and teaching that takes place, the church leadership, the volunteers that are helping in so many areas, the spiritual and financial health of the congregation, and the work of the missions ministry of the church.  Pray for me (Tom Lemler) and the work of Impact Prayer Ministry.

Monday:  Talk Faithfully to God.  Pray that you would not let a day go by without talking to God about your needs for that day.  Pray that you would recognize, and avoid, the distractions that attempt to keep you from praying.  Ask God to help your faithfulness in prayer to be a positive influence that would cause others to have a desire to grow in prayer.  “Give us today our daily bread.”  Matthew 6:11 (NIV)

Tuesday:  Talk Intentionally to God.  Pray that you would talk to God specifically about the things that tempt you.  Pray that you would be more intentional in seeking God’s help to overcome temptation.  Pray that this intentionality would help others know of God’s help in avoiding temptation and being delivered from the evil one.  “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”  Matthew 6:13 (NIV)

Wednesday:  Talk Respectfully to God.  Pray that genuine worship of God would always be evident in your conversations with Him.  Pray that you would always view God as holy.  Pray that your reverence of God would be seen by others in a way that helps His name to be honored among believers and unbelievers alike.  “This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.’”  Matthew 6:9 (NIV)

Thursday:  Talk Submissively to God.  Pray that you would seek God’s will, and submit to it, in all of your requests and petitions.  Pray that you would repent of the pride that keeps you from submitting to God in everything.  Ask God to help the submissiveness in your prayer life reflect His will on earth so that the people around you would seek Him.  “Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”  Matthew 6:10 (NIV)

Friday:  Talk Truthfully to God.  Pray that you would always be truthful with God about the sin in your life and the debt He has paid to remove it.  Pray that you would be truthful in your forgiveness of others.  Ask God to help you show His love in the way you are truthful with your own debts and the debts of others.  “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.”  Matthew 6:12 (NIV)

Saturday:  Talk FIRST to God about Everything.  Pray that you would recognize and experience the benefits of talking first to God about everything.  Pray that God would help you to see things in your prayer life that need to change in order for His truth to be more evident.  “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)

September 24, 2023 by Tom

Lifestyle of Prayer: Go and Make Disciples!

“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

Go and Make Disciples!

“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 (NIV)

This week our prayer emphasis will focus on the work God has called us to do as we go about life.  It can be easy and convenient to think about discipleship being a task for someone else, but God calls each one of us to be a disciple and to make disciples wherever we go in life.  The good news is that God not only tells us what we ought to be doing, He gives us the ability to do it through His Spirit.  As you pray this week, ask God to help you grow in being a disciple at all times and places.  Pray that you would not only follow the instructions of Jesus, but that you would teach them through your words and actions.  Pray for the wisdom necessary to teach accurately the things of God.  Pray for a submissive spirit that consistently pursues the things of God and that seeks to share those things everywhere you go.  Pray that you would be a worker in the kingdom harvest as God adds to His kingdom daily.

“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 pray each day for God to help you understand and fulfill the Great Commission.

Sunday: Pray for your church staff, the preaching and teaching that takes place, the church leadership, the volunteers that are helping in so many areas, the spiritual and financial health of the congregation, and the work of the missions ministry of the church.  Pray for me (Tom Lemler) and the work of Impact Prayer Ministry.

Monday: Authority.  Pray that God’s authority would be taken seriously by all believers — especially in regards to fulfilling His commission.  Pray for a submissive spirit that seeks to honor the authority of Jesus.  Pray that the people around you would see in you the value of following God’s authority.  “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.  Pray that the message of Jesus would be evident in your life so that you would have many opportunities to give an answer for the hope that you have.  “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.  Pray that you would always be learning from the example of Jesus and then teaching out of that relationship.  “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.  Pray that you would view and teach baptism with the same level of importance as Jesus did.  Praise God for the work He accomplishes in us when we are buried and risen 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.  Pray that your growth as a disciple of Jesus would help you to teach His Word accurately.  “‘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.  Pray that the people around you would see a constant presence of God in you.  “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

September 17, 2023 by Tom

Lifestyle of Prayer: Observation!

“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

Observation!

“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”
Luke 9:23 (NIV)

This week our prayer emphasis will focus on some things God would want us to open our eyes to and observe.  As we walk with God, it is important that we ask Him to open our eyes to the work He is doing — and to the work He has for us to do.  As we consider the great cost of being a disciple, we observe that it is not simply a great cost to us but that the greatest cost was paid by God.  It is that recognition that should turn our focus toward Him as we willingly pay the price of surrender in order to receive that which we could never pay for on our own.  When we pray observantly, we learn to take notice of the things around us and we use those visual cues as prayer prompts.  As you pray this week, ask God to open your eyes to see Him.  Pray that you would see God more clearly, others more fully, and yourself more accurately.  Pray that you would live with open eyes as you interact with God and with people.  Pray that your open eyes would help you to see others as God sees them — and yourself as God sees you.  Pray that God’s presence would always be noticed by you and through you.

“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 pray each day for God to open your eyes to the work He desires to do in you and through you.

Sunday: Pray for your church staff, the preaching and teaching that takes place, the church leadership, the volunteers that are helping in so many areas, the spiritual and financial health of the congregation, and the work of the missions ministry of the church.  Pray for me (Tom Lemler) and the work of Impact Prayer Ministry.

Monday: Observe Your Need.  As you pray, ask God to give you clarity in your observation of the great need that is common among people.  Pray that your eyes would be open to your need for a covering that only  God can provide.  “Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.”  Genesis 3:7 (NIV)

Tuesday: Observe God’s Provision.  As you pray, ask God to help you observe all that He has provided as you acknowledge Him as the source of all good things.  Pray that you would see how you could be the instrument of God’s provision in the lives of others.  “Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water. So she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink.”  Genesis 21:19 (NIV)

Wednesday: Observe God’s Message.  As you pray, ask God to help you observe and pay attention to the many ways He communicates His message.  Pray that you would respond with appropriate worship to the message of  God’s Word.  “Then the LORD opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with his sword drawn. So he bowed low and fell facedown.”  Numbers 22:31 (NIV)

Thursday: Observe God’s Word.  As you pray, ask God to help you observe the wonder that is found in His Word.  Pray that the wonder of creation would help you to see the wonder of God throughout His word.  Pray that your eyes would be opened in a way that sees God’s law in a whole new light.  “Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.”  Psalm 119:18 (NIV)

Friday: Observe God’s Promises.  As you pray, ask God to help you watch for the many ways that God keeps and fulfills His promises.  Pray for a life which shares the promises of God.  Pray that you would never tire of looking into the Word of God to consider the incredible promises God makes to His children.  “My eyes stay open through the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promises.”  Psalm 119:148 (NIV)

Saturday:  Observe the Harvest.  As you pray, ask God to give you eyes which are observant to the harvest opportunities around you.  Pray that you would not miss your chances to make the most of every opportunity.  Pray that you would see the urgency of sharing Jesus with the people around you.  “Do you not say, ‘Four months more and then the harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.”  John 4:35 (NIV)

September 10, 2023 by Tom

Lifestyle of Prayer: A Touch of Enough!

“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

A Touch of Enough!

“But Jesus said, ‘Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.’”
Luke 8:46 (NIV)

When it comes to our interactions with people and the judgments we are tempted to pass upon them, God wants to remind us of both the sufficiency and source of what we have.  God says that “every good and perfect gift comes from above.”  The best and most perfect gift that there is, is our relationship with God.  While there is work that we need to do to maintain that relationship and help it to grow, being in relationship with God is His gift to us.  When we understand the sufficiency of what God has given us through Jesus Christ, we ought to be more willing and eager to share it with others knowing there will always be enough for everyone who would call upon the name of the Lord.  As you pray this week, ask God to help you see Him as the source of every good thing in your life.  Pray that you would look to Him to be the source of all that seems to be missing from your life.  Pray that God would convict you in regard to how you use what He has given.  Pray that your “enough” would overflow with generosity into the lives of people who are in need.

“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 pray each day for God’s help in knowing Jesus as enough.

Sunday: Pray for your church staff, the preaching and teaching that takes place, the church leadership, the volunteers that are helping in so many areas, the spiritual and financial health of the congregation, and the work of the missions ministry of the church.  Pray for me (Tom Lemler) and the work of Impact Prayer Ministry.

Monday: Enough Trust.  Pray that you would recognize, and learn from, the times when a lack of trust in God prevented you from accomplishing what you had hoped.  Pray that your trust would be enough to honor God in the sight of the people around you.  “But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, ‘Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.’”  Numbers 20:12 (NIV)

Tuesday: Enough Trouble.  Pray that God would help you to overcome all the temptations of worry.  Pray that you would not only recognize each day’s trouble as being enough, but that you would look to God to be enough for each day.  “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”  Matthew 6:34 (NIV)

Wednesday: Enough Resources.  Pray that you would consider your need for God, and the value He brings to life, when you are deciding if you have enough.  Pray that you would finish your life walking with God because you have found Him to be enough.  “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it?”  Luke 14:28 (NIV)

Thursday: Enough Wisdom.  Pray that you would have enough wisdom from God to help the people around you resolve differences.  Pray that you would seek Godly counsel and wisdom when you are in disagreement with others.  “I say this to shame you. Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers?”  1 Corinthians 6:5 (NIV)

Friday: Enough Grace.  Pray that you would allow God’s grace to carry you through your areas of weakness.  Pray that God would be seen as powerful as He is displayed through your weaknesses.  Pray that you would live with enough grace to be able to extend it to others.  “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’”  2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)

Saturday:  Enough Courage.  Pray that you would have enough courage to make Christ known in your life.  Pray that your courage in Christ would keep you from being ashamed to stand up for Him.  “I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.”  Philippians 1:20 (NIV)

September 3, 2023 by Tom

Lifestyle of Prayer: A Full Life!

“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

A Full Life!

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
John 10:10 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis is on having a great full life . . . and a grateful life.  In fact, it is our grateful life that leads us to a recognition of the great full life God has called us to.  God’s desire is that through His Spirit we would overcome the schemes of the devil so that we have life to the full.  In God’s family, a full life isn’t always one that goes like we want in the moment . . . but it is one that leads to eternal fellowship with God.  As you pray this week, ask God to help you grow in understanding of what a full life looks like from His perspective.  Pray that He would help you to recognize the work of the enemy which is trying to destroy you.  Pray for the courage to pursue life in Christ that endures beyond the temporary nature of this world.  Pray that your grateful, and great full, life would be an example for others to grow in faith and relationship with Jesus.  Pray for humility as you share the abundance of God with people.

“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 pray each day for God’s help in living life to the full.

Sunday: Pray for your church staff, the preaching and teaching that takes place, the church leadership, the volunteers that are helping in so many areas, the spiritual and financial health of the congregation, and the work of the missions ministry of the church.  Pray for me (Tom Lemler) and the work of Impact Prayer Ministry.

Monday: Full of Light.  Pray that the great light of Jesus would fill you with the evidence of His presence.  Pray that you would walk in the light of God’s Word everywhere you go.  Pray that the people around you would see the light of Jesus in you.  “Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be completely lighted, as when the light of a lamp shines on you.”  Luke 11:36 (NIV)

Tuesday: Full of Joy.  Pray that you would know the great joy of being prayed for by Jesus.  Pray that your pursuit of God would fill you with joy as you look forward to eternity with Him.  Pray that the people around you would see the joy of the Lord in your life.  “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them.”  John 17:13 (NIV)

Wednesday: Full of Faith.  Pray that you would  have great faith in the work of Jesus to bring about your salvation.  Pray that your faith in the completed work of Christ would grow and be shared with others.  Pray that you and the people around you would accept the work of God for all people.  “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners — of whom I am the worst.”  1 Timothy 1:15 (NIV)

Thursday: Full of Understanding.  Pray that you would have great understanding which grows as you share your faith.  Pray that your life in Christ would recognize Him as the source all good things.  Pray that the people around you would understand the goodness of God.  “I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.”  Philemon 1:6 (NIV)

Friday: Full of Listening.  Pray that you would be a great listener as you gaze into God’s Word and as you talk with others.  Pray that the essence of your conversations would be centered in how you listen to God.  Pray that the people around you would feel valued as you listen to them.  “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”  Colossians 4:6 (NIV)

Saturday:  Full of Love.  Pray that you would have great love as God fills you with a wisdom that comes from Him.  Pray that your actions toward others would display the love produced by God’s Spirit within you.  Pray that the people around you would know God’s love because of your love.  “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)