practice of prayer

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Lifestyle of Prayer: Excel!

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“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

This week’s prayer focus:  Excel!

“But just as you excel in everything — in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us — see that you also excel in this grace of giving.”
2 Corinthians 8:7 (NIV)

What are some things that you are good at doing?  Are there things that others say you excel in?  How much work, or effort, is usually required to excel in a given area?  This week’s prayer focus will use a list of things that Paul states the Corinthian Christians excel in, or need to excel in.  Paul’s letter was not only written to the Corinthians, but as scripture it is useful to us for training in all righteousness.  As you pray this week, ask God to give you His grace and the courage necessary to excel in the things that matter to Him.  Pray that you would be diligent applying each day’s topic to your life with the work necessary for you to become good at it.  Pray that your pursuit of excelling in these areas would come from the very source and foundation of all things excellent — Jesus Christ.   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 about each day about the things that God wants you to excel in through the power of His Spirit within 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:  Excel in Faith.  As you pray for God to increase your faith, look for the situations He will give that requires your trust of Him to grow.  Pray that your trust of God would cause others to know you as one who excels in faith.  “The apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith!’”  Luke 17:5 (NIV)

Tuesday:  Excel in Speech.  Pray that God would put a guard over your mouth so that your speech is pleasing to Him.  Pray that your speech would bring about good days for you and for the people around you in this life and the life to come.  “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech.”  1 Peter 3:10 (NIV)

Wednesday:  Excel in Knowledge.  Pray that your life would be lived in pursuit of a greater knowledge of Christ.  Pray that your excelling in knowledge would not puff you up but would help others know Jesus.  “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever!  Amen.”  2 Peter 3:18 (NIV)

Thursday:  Excel in Complete Earnestness.   Pray that there would be nothing fake about your pursuit of God and relationship with Him through Jesus.  “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)

Friday:  Excel in Love for One Another.  Pray that you would daily learn from the love that Jesus excelled at.  Pray that you would desire to excel in your love for Christ and for one another.  “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”  1 Corinthians 13:13 (NIV)

Saturday:  Excel in the Grace of Giving.  Pray that a recognition of God’s ownership of everything would help you to excel in the gift of giving He has placed in your life.  “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”  Luke 6:38 (NIV)

 

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Lifestyle of Prayer: Enough!

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“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

This week’s prayer focus:  Enough!

“Since the people began to bring their contributions to the temple of the LORD, we have had enough to eat and plenty to spare, because the LORD has blessed his people, and this great amount is left over.”
2 Chronicles 31:10 (NIV)

How often have you said or thought, “There just isn’t enough to _______”?  Many people spend their entire life believing they’ve been short-changed somehow.  They can give you a list of things they would have done or accomplished if only they had enough — enough time, enough money, enough courage, enough compassion, enough wisdom, enough _______.  This week’s prayer focus is on some things that we can have enough of through our relationship with Christ.  When we live life believing we have enough, we learn to share as God wants us to.  When we share, the people around us who are in need have enough because of God’s provision.  As you pray this week, ask God to help you recognize the “enough” He has given and spend time listening for how He would have you use it.  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 each day praying about who Jesus is according to scripture and about who He is 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:  Enough for Each Day.  Pray that you would recognize the provision that God supplies as being enough for your day.  “Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions.’”  Exodus 16:4 (NIV)

Tuesday:  Enough to Satisfy.  Pray that you will see what God has given you as being enough to fully satisfy.  “The LORD will reply to them: ‘I am sending you grain, new wine and oil, enough to satisfy you fully; never again will I make you an object of scorn to the nations.’”  Joel 2:19 (NIV)

Wednesday:  Enough Trouble for Each Day.  Pray that you would seek God’s kingdom and righteousness in a way that helps you overcome the trouble that each day brings.  “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”  Matthew 6:33-34 (NIV)

Thursday:  Enough to Be Like Your Teacher and Master.   Pray that you would be filled with a humility that seeks to be like Jesus.  “A student is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.  It is enough for the student to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master.”  Matthew 10:24-25a (NIV)

Friday:  Enough to Be a Disciple.  Pray that you would recognize full surrender is what is enough to be a disciple of Jesus.  “And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.  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)

Saturday:  Enough Wisdom to Judge Disputes.  Pray that you would be filled with wisdom that is enough to help fellow believers get along with each other.  “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)

 

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Lifestyle of Prayer: New Testament Sacrifice!

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“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

This week’s prayer focus:  New Testament Sacrifice!

“Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”
Ephesians 5:1-2 (NIV)

Mention the word sacrifice today and people tend to get a little nervous.  Not that they are often concerned with having to kill an animal and offer it to God, but because sacrifice has often become a church buzz-word for “give more money”.  Because our mind goes to our wallet, the excuses pour out rather quickly.  We quote the verses, “It is better to obey than sacrifice”, “Sacrifice I did not desire”, and even use the excuse that sacrifice is an Old Testament concept and we’re a New Testament people.  I believe sacrifice is a very Biblical concept and this week our prayer focus will be on sacrifice from a New Testament perspective.  We are called to imitate God in the same manner that Jesus did — who loved us enough to give of Himself sacrificially to meet a need we could never meet on our own.  As you pray this week, pray that God would instruct you in the areas of sacrifice He is calling you to.  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 each day praying about who Jesus is according to scripture and about who He is 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:  God’s Example of Sacrifice.  Pray that the love of God, shown through the sacrifice of Jesus, would serve as an example for the way you love others.  “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.  Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”  1 John 4:10-11 (NIV)

Tuesday:  Living Sacrifice.  Pray that you would consider yourself to be a living sacrifice offered to God.  Pray that you would understand this sacrifice to be worship.  “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God — this is your spiritual act of worship.”  Romans 12:1

Wednesday:  Acceptable Sacrifice.  Pray that you would grow in the grace of giving to meet needs in a way that presents an acceptable sacrifice to God.  “I have received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.”  Philippians 4:18 (NIV)

Thursday:  Sacrifice of Praise.  Pray that the name of Jesus would always be on your lips in a way that praises God.  Pray that your sacrifice of praise would help others to know Jesus.  “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise — the fruit of lips that confess his name.”  Hebrews 13:15 (NIV)

Friday:  Pleasing Sacrifice.  Pray that you would always remember the good you ought to do — then do it.  Pray that you would make the most of opportunities around you to share with others in a way that pleases God.  “And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”  Hebrews 13:16 (NIV)

Saturday:  Spiritual Sacrifice.  Pray that you would always allow God to build you into the house that He desires for you to be — a house where spiritual sacrifices are offered.  “You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”  1 Peter 2:5  (NIV)

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Lifestyle of Prayer: God’s Indescribable Gift!

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“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

This week’s prayer focus:  God’s Indescribable Gift!

“And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you.  Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!”
2 Corinthians 9:14-15 (NIV)

With the Christmas holiday behind us, it is good to reflect on gifts given and received.  Perhaps you have gifts that will be returned because they weren’t right for you.  I pray that there are gifts you will cherish because you know they represent the heart of the giver.  As Christians, God has given us what Paul calls an “indescribable gift”.  In context, he seems to connect this gift with the “surpassing grace” of God.  I believe Jesus is at the heart of this great gift.  This week our prayer focus will be on the indescribable gift we have through our relationship with Jesus.  As you pray, remember that His presence ought to be evident in your life at all times — not just when it is seasonally appropriate.  Pray that God’s grace in your life would overflow in such a way that the people around you would recognize it.  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 each day praying about who Jesus is according to scripture and about who He is 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:  JESUS.  Pray that you would recognize the indescribable gift of God in your life through the presence of Jesus.  Pray that God’s gift would cause you to seek Him for all that you need.  “Jesus answered her, ‘If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.’”  John 4:10 (NIV)

Tuesday:  Joy.  Pray that you would experience and share true joy because of the gift of Jesus in your life.  Pray that the people around you would see the joy of Christ in you.  “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:  Energy.  Pray that you would be faithful in doing the good works God has created for you to do as you use the energy of Jesus within you.  Pray that you would trust the power of God to work within you to accomplish what you cannot. “To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.”  Colossians 1:29 (NIV)

Thursday:  Salvation.  Pray that you would always value the salvation you receive through Jesus Christ.  Pray that the people around you would know God’s desire for them to be saved.  “For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.”  1 Thessalonians 5:9 (NIV)

Friday:  Uniqueness.  Pray that Jesus would always be the one you look to for your salvation.  Pray that the people around you would come to know Jesus as the only way to be saved.  “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)

Saturday:  Surrender.  Pray that you would surrender everything to the Lordship of Jesus.  Pray that you would have a greater understanding of both the cost and reward of being a disciple of Jesus.  “In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.”  Luke 14:33 (NIV)

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Lifestyle of Prayer: Unto Us!

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“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

This week’s prayer focus:  Unto Us!

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.  And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
Isaiah 9:6 (NIV)

“’She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.’  All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:  ‘The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel’ — which means, ‘God with us.’” 
Matthew 1:21-22 (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 bring back a focus on some scriptures regarding the birth of Jesus and the names He was to be called.  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 each day praying about who Jesus is according to scripture and about who He is 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: Wonderful Counselor.  Pray that your relationship with Jesus reveals His presence, the Wonderful Counselor, living in you.  Pray that you would seek God’s counsel in everything you do.  “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”  John 14:26 (NIV)

Tuesday: Mighty God.  Pray that your life submits fully to the authority and might of God.  Pray that your life would show to others that you believe in a mighty God.  “But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God.”  Luke 22:69 (NIV)

Wednesday: Everlasting Father.  Pray that your life shows a trust in an eternal Father and Savior.  Pray that the people around you would know true hope because of an everlasting Father.  “’I tell you the truth,’ Jesus answered, ‘before Abraham was born, I am!’”  John 8:58 (NIV)

Thursday: Prince of Peace.  Pray that you would seek peace with God who desires to bring all people to peace with Him through Jesus.  Pray that the people around you would see God’s peace evident in your life.  “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”  Luke 2:14 (NIV)

Friday: Jesus.  Pray that you completely experience the cleansing power of the name of Jesus who came to save His people from their sins.  Pray that the people around you would call on the One who saves.  “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners — of whom I am the worst.”  I Timothy 1:15 (NIV)

Saturday:  Immanuel.  Pray that your life is a constant reminder to those around you that God is with us and has come to help His people.  “They were all filled with awe and praised God. ‘A great prophet has appeared among us,’ they said. ‘God has come to help his people.’”  Luke 7:16 (NIV)

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Lifestyle of Prayer: Not Afraid!

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“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

 

This week’s prayer focus:  Not Afraid!

“I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more.  But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell.  Yes, I tell you, fear him.”
Luke 12:4-5 (NIV)

As a follow-up to last week’s prayer focus of fear, this week’s prayer focus is Not Afraid!  While we need to have a “reverent fear” or “holy fear” of God, He also repeatedly tells us to not be afraid.  Often it seems as if we are afraid of people and have no fear of God.  As we pray about not being afraid, we will look at some of the reasons that God tells us to have no fear of the people of this world.  God has promised to fill us with His peace through the power of His Word and His Spirit as we learn to trust Him and not be afraid.  As you pray this week, ask God to help you to have a greater trust of Him when He calls you to not be afraid.  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 each day praying about, writing down, and doing how God would have you live out that day’s aspect of prayer.  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: Trust in God makes me Not Afraid.  Pray that your trust in God would grow so that you can praise Him and His Word when you are tempted to be afraid.  “When I am afraid, I will trust in you.  In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid.  What can mortal man do to me?”  Psalm 56:3-4 (NIV)

Tuesday: God’s Presence makes me Not Afraid.  Pray that you would learn to recognize God’s presence in your life as a reason to not be afraid.  Pray that the people around you would recognize God’s presence living in you so they could learn to not be afraid.  “The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid.  What can man do to me?”  Psalm 118:6 (NIV)

Wednesday: Salvation from God makes me Not Afraid.  Pray that you would live with a confidence of salvation from God that keeps you from being afraid.  “Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid.  The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.”  Isaiah 12:2 (NIV)

Thursday: God’s Rescue makes me Not Afraid.  Pray that your remembrance of the ways God has rescued you will help you to not be afraid in times of trouble.  Pray that you would help others to know of God’s rescue from being afraid.  “‘Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,’ declares the LORD.”  Jeremiah 1:8 (NIV)

Friday: God’s Good News makes me Not Afraid.  Pray that you would live out the joy of the good news of Jesus and share it in ways that others would know they need not be afraid.  “But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.”  Luke 2:10 (NIV)

Saturday:  God’s Peace makes me Not Afraid.  Pray that the presence of God’s Spirit within you would fill you with a peace that helps you to not be afraid.  “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”  John 14:27 (NIV)

 

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Lifestyle of Prayer: Godly Fear!

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“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

 

This week’s prayer focus:  Godly Fear!

“I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more.  But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell.  Yes, I tell you, fear him.”
Luke 12:4-5 (NIV)

This week’s prayer focus is on Fear!  There are times that an unhealthy fear dominates our life and we need to hear the repeated message that God gives throughout the Bible of “do not be afraid!”  The other side of the pendulum is when we don’t have the fear of God that we ought to have.  While the Bible contains many calls to not be afraid, it also contains a consistent message of our need to have a “reverent fear” or “holy fear” of God.  As a Christian, this is not an “afraid” fear but rather an expression of utmost respect and honor.  As you pray this week, ask God to help you see healthy fear from His perspective.  Pray that your fear of God would lead you to be the best representative of Jesus that He would have you to be.  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 each day praying about, writing down, and doing how God would have you live out that day’s aspect of prayer.  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: Fear of God that Leads Us to Do Right.  Pray that you would reject favoritism and prejudice as you understand God’s acceptance of all who fear Him and make the choice to do what is right.  “Then Peter began to speak: ‘I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right.’”  Acts 10:34-35 (NIV)

Tuesday: Fear that Causes the Lord’s Name to be Honored.  Pray that God’s victory over evil would cause a fear that causes His name to be held in highest honor.  “When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, they were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor.”  Acts 19:17 (NIV)

Wednesday: Fear that Leads to Persuading Others.  Pray that your personal knowledge of a fear of the Lord would compel you to make every attempt to persuade others to see their need for Christ.  “Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience.”  2 Corinthians 5:11 (NIV)

Thursday: Fear as a Holy Expression of Faith.  Pray that you would have a complete obedience to God as you express your faith in holy fear.  “By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.”  Hebrews 11:7 (NIV)

Friday: Fear as Proper Respect of God.  Pray that your life would show a proper respect to all of those around you.  Pray that your respect of others would come from a respect that has a proper fear of God.  “Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.”  1 Peter 2:17 (NIV)

Saturday:  Fear that Leads to Praise.  Pray that constant praise would flow from your lips and life as your fear of God reveals to you His great love.  “Then a voice came from the throne, saying: ‘Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, both small and great!’”  Revelation 19:5 (NIV)

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Lifestyle of Prayer: Feasting!

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“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

 

This week’s prayer focus:  Feasting!

“On this mountain the LORD Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine — the best of meats and the finest of wines.  On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; he will swallow up death forever.  The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove the disgrace of his people from all the earth.  The LORD has spoken.” 
Isaiah 25:6-8 (NIV)

Yes, you read it correctly, this week’s prayer focus is on feasting!  Many of us have probably done quite a bit of that over the past few days, with more likely on the way as the Christmas and New Year’s Holidays approach.  When we think of our spiritual life and food, most often it is fasting that comes to mind so we prefer not to connect food with our prayer life.  While fasting should have great importance in the life of each Christian, feasting is also a tool given by God that can bring joy and benefit into the lives of believers and those around us if we pay attention to God’s instructions about feasting.  As you pray this week, ask God to help you feast with joy and purpose as you honor him with your feasts.  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 each day praying about, writing down, and doing how God would have you live out that day’s aspect of prayer.  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: Feast of Celebration.  Pray that you would understand, and have, the Father’s heart in celebrating the finding and restoration of those who are lost.  Celebrate the lost who return home.  “‘Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate.  For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.”  Luke 15:23-24 (NIV)

Tuesday: Feast of Contentment.  Pray that you would understand the feasting of contentment that comes from living with a cheerful heart.  “All the days of the oppressed are wretched, but the cheerful heart has a continual feast.  Better a little with the fear of the LORD than great wealth with turmoil.”  Proverbs 15:15-16 (NIV)

Wednesday: Feast of Joy.  Pray that your desire, and practice, of feasting would bring joy not only to yourself, but to those around you as well.  “Be joyful at your Feast — you, your sons and daughters, your menservants and maidservants, and the Levites, the aliens, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns.”  Deuteronomy 16:14 (NIV)

Thursday: Feast of Remembrance.  Pray that you would always remember the purpose behind the various feasts that you celebrate.  Be sure to teach about the reminders God has given. “Celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread, because it was on this very day that I brought your divisions out of Egypt. Celebrate this day as a lasting ordinance for the generations to come.”  Exodus 12:17 (NIV)

Friday: Feast of Giving.  Pray that you would be filled with a heart of giving in the way you feast.  “But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”  Luke 14:13-14 (NIV)

Saturday:  Feast of the Kingdom.  Pray that you would always live a life surrendered fully to Christ in preparation for your place at the feast in the kingdom of God.  “People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God.  Indeed there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last.”  Luke 13:29-30 (NIV)

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Lifestyle of Prayer: Thankfulness!

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“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

This week’s prayer focus:  Thankfulness!

“Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Ephesians 5:19-20

As we approach the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday, it seems fitting to bring back a former prayer guide focused on being thankful.  It is  too easy to let the cares of the world steal our joy and thankfulness, so this week we will pray about a variety of reasons to be thankful as well as things to be thankful for.  God connects our attitudes and conversations with one another with our life of thankfulness to Him.  As you pray, ask God to help you live a life of thankfulness each day.  Pray that you would see His gifting in your life as reason to be thankful.  Pray that your sharing of God’s gifting in your life would cause others to give thanks to God.  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 each day praying about, writing down, and doing how God would have you live out that day’s aspect of prayer.  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: Thankful for Faithful Reputation.  Thank God for those people who inspire you because of their reputation of faith in Jesus.  Pray that you would be one whose faithful reputation inspires others.  “First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world.”  Romans 1:8 (NIV)

Tuesday: Thankful for Changed Lives.  Thank God for the desire and strength to turn from sin and live obediently to the truth.  Pray that the people around you would wholeheartedly obey the teaching of the gospel.  “But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted.”  Romans 6:17 (NIV)

Wednesday: Thankful for Received Grace.  Thank God for His amazing grace that He offers to all who would accept it.  As you pray, recognize it is that same grace extended to you that allows you to be thankful for the people around you.  Pray that the people around you would see God’s grace extended through you.  “I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus.”  1 Corinthians 1:4 (NIV)

Thursday: Thankful for Real Victory.  Thank God for the victory over sin and death, as well as for the daily victories, through Jesus.  Pray that the people around you would experience true victory through a relationship with Jesus.  “But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”  1 Corinthians 15:57 (NIV)

Friday: Thankful for Shared Concern.  Thank God that He draws believers to a common concern for one another and pray that you would always remember it.  Pray that you would be filled with a concern for others.  “I thank God, who put into the heart of Titus the same concern I have for you.”  2 Corinthians 8:16 (NIV)

Saturday:  Thankful for Generous Giving.  Thank God for the ability, and opportunity, to supply the needs of one another through His provision.  Pray that your giving would cause others to give thanks to God.  “This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.”  2 Corinthians 9:12 (NIV)

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Lifestyle of Prayer: Contentment!

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“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

Special focus this week:  Making the Most of Every Opportunity

While much of the world’s attention is on the horrific events in Paris, it is not the only place or people in this world experiencing loss of life at the hands of terrorists.  As you pray for Paris and the recovery of the many who are wounded physically, as well as the many more who are wounded emotionally and spiritually, pray that you would be the light of the world wherever you are.  In doing so, the true message of the peace that can only be found in Christ will be seen and heard by those who need it.  Pray that you would make the most of every opportunity because the days that we live in are evil.

This week’s prayer focus:  Contentment!

“You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, and you shall not desire your neighbor’s house, his field or his male servant or his female servant, his ox or his donkey or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”
Deuteronomy 5:21 (NIV)

This week we will focus our prayer time on God’s command to not covet!  I believe that the very heart of this command is a need for each of us to learn contentment.  Contentment is a very godly character quality but one that is difficult to live — especially in a culture that is so focused on convincing people that they need what others have and they need more.  As you pray this week, ask God to help you rejoice in the happiness of others.  Pray that you would learn a spirit of contentment that comes from a complete trust in God.  Pray that the things of this world, and the things that others have, would not become a snare to you.  Ask God to teach you how to be content with what He has given and strive to make the most of it for His glory.  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 each day praying about, writing down, and doing how God would have you live out that day’s aspect of prayer.  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:  Contentment from a Fear of the Lord.  Pray that you would have contentment through a life lived with a fear of the Lord.  Pray that  your fear of the Lord would be such that you can rest contented.  “The fear of the LORD leads to life:  Then one rests content, untouched by trouble.”  Proverbs 19:23 (NIV)

Tuesday:  Contentment with Your Income.  Pray that you would learn to live within your means and be content with the pay you have agreed to.  “Then some soldiers asked him, ‘And what should we do?’  He replied, ‘Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely — be content with your pay.’”  Luke 3:14 (NIV)

Wednesday:  Contentment in All Circumstances.  Pray that your relationship with Christ would teach you the secret of being content in all circumstances.  “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.”  Philippians 4:12 (NIV)

Thursday:  Contentment with Godliness.  Pray that you would seek to live a life of godliness and experience great gain as you become content with godliness being the center of your life.  “But godliness with contentment is great gain.”  1 Timothy 6:6 (NIV)

Friday:  Contentment with Basic Needs.  Pray that you would have God’s view of necessities and learn to be content even if that is all you have.  “But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.”  1 Timothy 6:8 (NIV)

Saturday:  Contentment with  God’s Presence.  Pray that knowing God is with you would bring you great contentment.  Pray that the allure of money would not distract you from finding contentment with God’s presence.  “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 (NIV)