practice of prayer

by

Lifestyle of Prayer: Salvation!

i

“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

This week’s prayer focus: Salvation!

“Sing to the LORD, all the earth;
proclaim his salvation day after day.”
1 Chronicles 16:23 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will be about salvation.  The Bible talks about salvation being both something the believer already has and something that is yet to be received.  In context, its use has a lot to do with what we’re being saved from and what we’re being saved to.  I suspect that differing uses of the word adds to some of the confusion about what it takes to be saved, what it means to be saved, and how a person can stay saved.  I view the differences somewhat like a person lost in the midst of a vast ocean and bobbing around in shark-infested waters.  When the Coast Guard comes along and snatches us out of those waters, we are saved.  As we ride with them across the open waters, our eyes are looking ahead to our arrival home — the culmination of our salvation.  Yet that journey often requires work and self-discipline to stay on the boat so that we don’t make the foolish choice of jumping off or allowing the storms of the world to wash us overboard.  As you pray this week, ask God to give you a greater appreciation for the salvation you have through Jesus.  Pray that you would hold fast to that salvation as you look forward to its fulfillment with Christ.  Pray each day for the individuals of your congregation and for the body of Christ as a whole.

“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 know the fullness of His salvation.

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:  The Knowledge of Salvation.  Pray that you would have a knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of sins that you have in Jesus.  Pray that you would freely share the knowledge of salvation to others who need to experience the forgiveness of their sins.  “To give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins.”  Luke 1:77 (NIV)

Tuesday:  The Name of Salvation.  Pray that you would always look to Jesus as the only One who can bring salvation to you and to others.  Pray that your sharing the message of salvation with others would always be done in the name of Jesus.  “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”  Acts 4:12 (NIV)

Wednesday:  The Power of Salvation.  Pray that you would know the power of God that brings salvation.  Pray that you would not be ashamed to share the message of the gospel as the power of salvation for all who believe.  “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.”  Romans 1:16  (NIV)

Thursday:  The Time of Salvation.   Pray that you would know today as a day of God’s favor toward you.  Pray that you would share with others the urgency of realizing the time of salvation is now.  “For he says, ‘In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.’  I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.”  2 Corinthians 6:2 (NIV)

Friday:  The Protection of Salvation.  Pray that you would daily live in the salvation of God as protection to your mind.  Pray that you would help others know the protection that the salvation of God brings to a person, both now and into eternity.  “Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”  Ephesians 6:17 (NIV)

Saturday:  The Growth of Salvation.  Pray that you would crave the spiritual food of God’s Word so that you would grow up in your salvation.  Pray that you would share God’s Word with others so that they could grow in salvation according to the goodness of the Lord.  “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.”  1 Peter 2:2-3 (NIV)

by

Lifestyle of Prayer: Answer!

i

“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

This week’s prayer focus: Answer!

“But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.  Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.  But do this with gentleness and respect.”
1 Peter 3:15 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will be about the answers we give and how we give them.  While many Christians are familiar with the verse which tells us to “be prepared to give an answer”, it is easy to miss the context that this instruction is given in regard to the hope we have in Christ even in the midst of suffering.  We all know someone that has to have an answer for everything — we may even be that someone.  God wants us to have an answer, and He’s given us an answer, but He desires that we share our answer in ways that are good and proper.  As you pray this week, ask God to help you be ready with answers that are from Him.  Pray that He would fill you with His Spirit and with wisdom to know when the answers need spoken and when you ought to be silent.  Pray that God would purify your heart and mind of any desire to have answers that only come from you.  Pray that your answers would be filled with the things God wants them to contain.  Pray each day for the individuals of your congregation and for the body of Christ as a whole.

“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 have answers that come from Him.

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:  Answer with Gentleness.  Pray that God’s Spirit would produce a gentleness in all of your answers.  Pray that you would turn away the wrath of people, and of God, by the way you give answers with gentleness.  Pray for a spirit of gentleness to be present in all your conversations.  “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”  Proverbs 15:1 (NIV)

Tuesday:  Answer with Consideration.  Pray that you would give thought to your answers before you speak.  Pray that the consideration you give to your answers would show a heart of righteousness to those who hear you.  “The heart of the righteous weighs its answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil.”  Proverbs 15:28 (NIV)

Wednesday:  Answer with Honesty.  Pray that you would always give honest answers that show genuine love for God and for people.  Pray that you would know the embrace of God through the honesty of the answers you give and receive.  Pray that your desire for truth and honesty would always lead you go God.  “An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.”  Proverbs 24:26  (NIV)

Thursday:  Answer with  Answers from Jesus.   Pray that you would spend time with Jesus on a regular basis so the answers you give are the answers that come from Him.  Pray that the answers you give from Jesus would influence others to listen to Him and to obey what He says.  “They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go.”  Mark 11:6 (NIV)

Friday:  Answer with Kindness.  Pray that you would answer with kindness, especially when it seems undeserved.  Pray that the answers you give would point people to Jesus even in the midst of extreme opposition.  “When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; when we are slandered, we answer kindly.”  1 Corinthians 4:12-13 (NIV)

Saturday:  Answer with Appropriateness.  Pray that the grace God has shown to you would be evident in the answers you give to others.  Pray that God would direct your conversations in such a way that your answers are always appropriate.  “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”  Colossians 4:6 (NIV)

by

Lifestyle of Prayer: Love!

i

“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

This week’s prayer focus: Love!

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
John 13:34-35 (NIV)

Much time, effort, and money will be spent in the United States this week by people trying to find ways to express their love to one another.  While some of those expressions may hit their mark, many will fall short of the love God desires for each of us to have.  This week we will spend some time praying about the love God has expressed toward us and about how we can live in that love in such a way that we share it with others.  God has always instructed His people to love, so it must have been a little confusing to the disciples when Jesus told them He was giving them a new command — a command to love one another.  I believe the new part of the command, new because it had not been seen in such a clear way ever before, was to love as Jesus loved.  As you pray this week, ask God to help you evaluate how you love.  Pray that you would be so filled with God’s love that loving like Jesus would become more natural each day.  Pray for wisdom and courage to express this kind of love to the people around  you.  Pray each day for the individuals of your congregation and for the body of Christ as a whole.

“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 love like Jesus loves.

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:  Love God.  Pray that your love of God would always be the top priority of all the love you have.  Pray that God’s love for you would be the standard for the love you have for Him.  “Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  This is the first and greatest commandment.”  Matthew 22:37-38 (NIV)

Tuesday:  Love Your Neighbor.  Pray that you would focus more on loving your neighbor as God would want than on trying to define who that neighbor is — or isn’t.  Pray that  you would be the neighbor that shows love to all those in need.  “The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”  Mark 12:31 (NIV)

Wednesday:  Love Your Enemies.  Pray that the love of God within you would extend to those you disagree with — even with those who would be considered enemies.  Pray that the love God expressed toward you while you were an enemy would be expressed by you to those who may treat  you poorly.  “But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.”  Luke 6:27-28 (NIV)

Thursday:  Love that Leads to Obedience.   Pray that you would be filled with a love that seeks to do the things that you know please God.  Pray that you would live with an obedient spirit that desires to obey the commands of God as an expression of your love.  “If you love me, you will obey what I command.”  John 14:15 (NIV)

Friday:  Love that Honors Others.  Pray that your love for others would be sincere as you look for the things that benefit them.  Pray that the way you honor others would reject evil and seek what is good.  “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.  Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.”  Romans 12:9-10 (NIV)

Saturday:  Love that Resolves Sin.  Pray that you would know the love of God that has resolved the multitude of sins in your life.  Pray that the way you love others would not use their sin against them but would help them be able to resolve that sin with God.  “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.”  1 Peter 4:8 (NIV)

by

Lifestyle of Prayer: Desire of the Heart!

i

“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

This week’s prayer focus: Desire of the Heart!

 “Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.”
Psalm 37:4 (NIV)

This week’s prayer focus is a part two look at a verse from last week as we consider the godly desires of our heart that come from delighting ourselves in the Lord.  While it can be very easy and tempting to pursue the desires of our own heart, God wants us to first delight in Him in a way that transforms our desires.  It is when we allow God to fill every part of our life that we find Him being the center of all our desires.  As you learn to delight in the Lord, pray that God would fulfill every desire that He places within you.  Pray that God’s Spirit would help you examine the desires that are within you so that He may cleanse you of any that are not of God.  Pray that you would faithfully pursue the desires that God does place within you.  Pray that you would seek the good of others as you live out the desires that He as put within you for their good.  Pray that God would be praised and honored as you find your heart’s desire.  Pray each day for the individuals of your congregation and for the body of Christ as a whole.

“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 follow the desires of your heart that have been placed there by Him.

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:  Direction of the Heart.  Pray that you would know the direction God has placed within your heart.  Pray that you would place your heart in the hands of God to allow Him to direct it at all times.  “The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases.”  Proverbs 21:1 (NIV)

Tuesday:  Expressions of the Heart.  Pray that you would fill your heart with the things of God so that the expressions of your heart are good.  Pray that  your desire would be to honor God with the words that come from your mouth.  “The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.”  Luke 6:45 (NIV)

Wednesday:  Surrender of the Heart.  Pray that you would desire to give God complete reign over your heart.  Pray that your heart’s desire would be fully surrendered to God as you return to Him whenever your desires stray.  “‘Even now,’ declares the LORD, ‘return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.’”  Joel 2:12 (NIV)

Thursday:  Inclinations of the Heart.  Pray that your heart would always be inclined to the ways of God.  Pray that the inclinations of your heart would be a blessing to  you and to those around  you.  “Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always, so that it might go well with them and their children forever!”  Deuteronomy 5:29 (NIV)

Friday:  Rejoicing of the Heart.  Pray that your heart would be filled with the desire to “rejoice in the Lord always.”  Pray that your communication with those around you would express the rejoicing of your heart at all times.  “Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord.”  Ephesians 5:19 (NIV)

Saturday:  Endurance of the Heart.  Pray that you would gain a courageous heart as you consider the endurance of Jesus on your behalf.  Pray that you would have the desire to endure to the end as you anticipate the reward God has promised.  “Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”  Hebrews 12:3 (NIV)

by

Lifestyle of Prayer: Delight!

i

“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

This week’s prayer focus: Delight!

 “Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.”
Psalm 37:4 (NIV)

This week’s prayer focus is about the delight we ought to have as God’s children.  The Bible teaches that God delights in us and rejoices over us with singing!  Since God shows such delight in us, and we are created in His image, perhaps we should be more delightful than what we sometimes are.  Since God commands us to delight in various things, the act of doing so is a choice He wants us to make.  Many times we tend to view delight as our response to good circumstances rather than as our response to a good God.  We find ourselves filled with delight when God acts the way we want Him to and not so delightful when things don’t go our way.  As we pray this week, we will be looking at some things that scripture says should bring us delight or that we should delight in.  As you pray, ask God to be the delight of your life in all circumstances.  Pray that your delight in the Lord would be contagious and attractive to those around you.  Pray that you would know God’s delight in you as you consider how He desires to fill you with delight.  Pray each day for the individuals of your congregation and for the body of Christ as a whole.

“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 delight in Him and in the life He calls you to live.

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:  Delight in God’s Salvation.   Pray that you would give serious consideration to just how delightful God’s salvation is.  Pray that you would rejoice with delight as you consider both what God has saved you from and what He has saved you to.  “Then my soul will rejoice in the LORD and delight in his salvation.”  Psalm 35:9 (NIV)

Tuesday:  Delight in the Works of God.  Pray that God would help you to see His mighty works in ways that bring you great delight.  Pray that you would find delight in considering the mighty works of God in creation and in the lives of people, including you.  “Great are the works of the LORD; they are pondered by all who delight in them.”  Psalm 111:2 (NIV)

Wednesday:  Delight in the Counsel of God’s Word.  Pray that you would know God’s laws as a delight to your life.  Pray that you would find delight in seeking out and applying the counsel of God’s Word.  Pray that you would be a delight to others as you share the counsel received from God’s Word.  “Your statutes are my delight; they are my counselors.”  Psalm 119:24 (NIV)

Thursday:  Delight Through Discipline.  Pray that you would know the delight that God desires as a result of discipline.  Pray that your willingness to accept discipline would make you a delight to God and to others.  “Discipline your son, and he will give you peace; he will bring delight to your soul.”  Proverbs 29:17 (NIV)

Friday:  Delight in the Teachings of Jesus.  Pray that you would gaze deeply into the teachings of Jesus and find great delight as you listen to Him.  Pray that you would allow God’s Spirit to make the words of Jesus a delight in your life.  “David himself calls him ‘Lord.’ How then can he be his son?” The large crowd listened to him with delight.”  Mark 12:37 (NIV)

Saturday:  Delight in Weaknesses.  Pray that you would see the work of God displayed in your weaknesses so that you may delight in them.  Pray that your delight in what God is doing in the midst of unpleasant circumstances would fill you with great endurance as you live for Him.  “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)

by

Lifestyle of Prayer: Precious Things!

i

“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

This week’s prayer focus: Precious Things!

“My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place.  When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body.  All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.  How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!  How vast is the sum of them!”
Psalm 139:15-17 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will be on some things that God’s Word describes as precious.  In Psalm 139, David considers the incredible miracle of life and concludes that the very thoughts of God are to be seen as precious.  I believe God wants us to give serious thought to the things we consider precious, and even more thought to how they line up with what He considers precious.  The preciousness of all human life is based on being created in God’s image and is not increased nor decreased by one’s gender, race, social status, bank account, or any other external temporary factor.  When we diminish the preciousness of any life, we diminish the value of all.  When we cling to the values that God sees as precious, we increase the value we place upon all people.  As you pray, ask God to help you see the preciousness that He has revealed both in His Word and in His children.  Pray that you would seek, protect, and cherish those things that God views as precious.  Pray each day for the individuals of your congregation and for the body of Christ as a whole.

“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 see the preciousness of the things He views as precious.

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: Precious Law.  Pray that you would live in a way that reveals how precious God’s law is to you.  Pray that the preciousness of God’s law would guide how you value everything else.  “The law from your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold.”  Psalm 119:72 (NIV)

Tuesday: Precious Wisdom.  Pray that you would desire wisdom above all of the world’s treasures.  Pray that your pursuit of wisdom, and your use of it each day, would reveal its preciousness to others.  “Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her.”  Proverbs 8:10-11  (NIV)

Wednesday: Precious Cornerstone.  Pray that you would know the great value of having Jesus as a precious cornerstone in your life.  Pray that your life would be built in a true manner as you build on the sure foundation of Christ.  “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who trusts will never be dismayed.”  Isaiah 28:16  (NIV)

Thursday: Precious Blood.  Pray that you would live with an understanding of just how great a price was paid for your redemption.  Pray for an understanding of the preciousness of the blood of Christ that is able to free you from emptiness.  “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.”  1 Peter 1:18-19 (NIV)

Friday: Precious Faith.  Pray that you would hold fast to a faith in God that is as precious as His righteousness.  Pray that you would share with others about the faith you have in Christ so they too would know how precious it is.  “To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours.”  2 Peter 1:1 (NIV)

Saturday:  Precious Promises.  Pray that you would know the preciousness of God’s promises that allow you to be joined with Him.  Pray that you would hold fast to His promises as He delivers you from the corruption of evil desires.  “Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.”  2 Peter 1:4 (NIV)

by

Lifestyle of Prayer: Find!

i

“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

This week’s prayer focus: Find!

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”
Matthew 7:7-8 (NIV)

With the previous prayer guide being about some things we ought to seek, it seemed fitting to follow that up with a focus on some things we need to find.  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.  Pray each day for the individuals of your congregation and for the body of Christ as a whole.

“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 the things He would have you seek.

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.  “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.  “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.  “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)

by

Lifestyle of Prayer: Seek!

i

“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

This week’s prayer focus: Seek!

“Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the LORD, until he comes and showers righteousness on you.”
Hosea 10:12 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will be on some things that God says we ought to seek.  In the middle of a chapter describing the sin and rebellion of the people of Israel against God, the above verse stands out like a ray of sunshine giving hope in the midst of an intensely dark time.  We rarely seek something until we realize it is missing and/or we have a great desire for it.  In the midst of our brokenness, God calls for each of us to prepare for a harvest of righteousness as we seek Him.  As you pray this week, spend some time examining how you relate to God through your actions.  Pray about what it would look like to sow righteousness as you seek God.  Pray for a greater understanding of how your actions determine both what you seek and what you find.  Pray for a shower of righteousness to fall upon you and upon others as you seek God.  Pray each day for the individuals of your congregation and for the body of Christ as a whole.

“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 seek first His kingdom and righteousness.

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: Seek God’s Face.  Pray that your heart would be inclined to seek God’s face in all you do.  Pray that such an inclination of your heart would result in a continual seeking of God’s face each day that you live.  Pray that nothing would hinder you from fully seeking God’s face.  “My heart says of you, ‘Seek his face!’  Your face, LORD, I will seek.”  Psalm 27:8 (NIV)

Tuesday: Seek Justice.  Pray that you would examine your attitudes and actions as you seek God’s view of justice.  Pray that you would be involved in seeking godly justice for those who need someone to stand for them.  Pray for the wisdom to speak and act appropriately on the behalf of others.  “Stop doing wrong, learn to do right!  Seek justice, encourage the oppressed.  Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.”  Isaiah 1:17 (NIV)

Wednesday: Seek Wholeheartedly.  Pray that your desire to know God would be greater than any other desire.  Pray that you would seek God with your whole heart as you trust Him to keep His promise to be found.  Pray for the courage to wholeheartedly seek God in every situation.  “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”  Jeremiah 29:13 (NIV)

Thursday: Seek the Good of Others.  Pray that you would look to the needs of others as you determine your actions.  Pray that selfishness would have no part in your life as you seek the good of others in a way that honors God.  Pray for the wisdom that would know the good that others need.  “Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.”  1 Corinthians 10:24 (NIV)

Friday: Seek Earnestly.  Pray that God would fill you with the faith necessary to earnestly seek Him.  Pray that you would know the eternal reward that comes to those who earnestly seek God in faith.  “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”  Hebrews 11:6 (NIV)

Saturday:  Seek Peace.  Pray that you would recognize the things that hinder peace and turn away from them.  Pray that you would live a life that seeks and pursues peace.  Pray that you would not be the cause of a lack of peace among people, as far as it depends upon you.  “He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it.”  1 Peter 3:11 (NIV)

by

Lifestyle of Prayer: Open Your Eyes!

i

“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

This week’s prayer focus: Open Your Eyes!

“’Don’t be afraid,’ the prophet answered. ‘Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.’  And Elisha prayed, ‘O LORD, open his eyes so he may see.’ Then the LORD opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.”
2 Kings 6:16-17 (NIV)

As we turn the page of the calendar and begin a new year, this week’s prayer focus is about the need to open our eyes.  As an amateur photographer, I constantly find things that are “hidden in plain sight” — things that are often missed because no one is looking for them.  As we walk with God, it is important that we ask Him to open our eyes to the work He is doing — work that is often unnoticed by us as it takes place in the heavenly realms.  When we pray with our eyes wide open, we allow our prayers to align with God’s will and desire so that we join with Him in the work He has called us to do.  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.  Pray each day for the individuals of your congregation and for the body of Christ as a whole.

“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 things He would have you see.

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: Open Your Eyes to Your Need.  Pray that you would see the nakedness that is brought about by sin.  Pray that your eyes would be open to your need for a lasting 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: Open Your Eyes to God’s Provision.  Pray that your eyes would be opened in order to see God’s provision in your life.  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: Open Your Eyes to God’s Messengers.  Pray that God would open your eyes to see the messages that He delivers.  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: Open Your Eyes to Wonder.  Pray that your eyes would be opened in order to see the incredible wonder that God delivers each day through His Word and through creation.  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: Open Your Eyes to  God’s Promises.  Pray that you would see God’s promises as you meditate on His Word.  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:  Open Your Eyes to the Harvest.  Pray that your eye would be open to the opportunities that exist around you to share the gospel message.  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)

by

Lifestyle of Prayer: The Greatest Gift!

i

“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

This week’s prayer focus: The Greatest Gift!

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  Love never fails.  And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.
But the greatest of these is love.”
1 Corinthians 13:4-8, 13 (NIV)

The greatest gift of Christmas is the one God gave to mankind when His love was expressed in the sending of Jesus to save people from their sins.  This week our prayer focus will be about our expression of that greatest gift as we experience and share God’s love with others.  The world has tried to define and explain love in a lot of ways, but nothing comes close to matching Jesus as the definition and 1 Corinthians 13 as the explanation.  As you pray this week, ask God to help you experience the greatest gift ever given.  Pray that you would learn to love in the way that God has loved.  Pray for the courage to grow in the attributes of true love.  Pray that you would live with the Christmas spirit all year as you love others as Christ has loved you.  Pray each day for the individuals of your congregation and for the body of Christ as a whole.

“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 receiving and giving the greatest gift of love.

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: Love That is Patient and Kind.  Pray that God’s kindness would be expressed to others as you patiently show them His love.  Pray that you would experience, and show to others, a love that longs for people to be right with God.  “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)

Tuesday: Love That is Humble.  Pray that you would experience the grace of God as you humbly love the people around you.  Pray that God would remove the pride from your life that causes love to not be expressed.  “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)

Wednesday: Love That Cares About Others.  Pray that you would take the time to learn about the true needs of the people around you.  Pray that your desire would be to express love that truly cares about the needs of others above your own.  “Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”  Philippians 2:4 (NIV)

Thursday: Love That is Truthful.  Pray that you would always be mindful about how your words and actions match . . . or don’t match.   Pray that the love you have received from Christ would be shared with others in ways that are practical and in words that are truthful. “Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.”  1 John 3:18 (NIV)

Friday: Love That Overcomes.  Pray that you would be filled with a love from God that helps you to overcome the trials of life.  Pray that the love you share with others would help them to persevere through difficulties.  “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.”  James 1:12 (NIV)

Saturday:  Love That Never Fails.  Pray that you would fully know the love of God that never fails.  Pray that you would grow in compassion as you express your love for others in ways that do not fail.  “Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.”  Lamentations 3:22 (NIV)